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Newsletter
February
2008 Fotogalleri här... NEWS Croatia Airlines Cooperation Agreement signed with tour operator Expedia In the late 2007, Croatia Airlines, the Croatian national airline, and Expedia, one of the leading online tour operators in the world, signed an agreement for extension of business cooperation. By signing the agreement, Croatia Airlines, a regional member of the Star Alliance association, brought its product even closer to the service users. Namely, information about the Croatian national airline’s service is now available across the world at the Expedia.com website. Croatia Airlines and Expedia have successfully cooperated on regional markets so far, and the extended cooperation offers additional benefits for the winter flying schedule to travelers across the world. Croatia Airlines www.croatiaairlines.com INTERESTING FEATURES Zagreb Return of old-town music This year, the popular City Coffee Shop (Gradska kavana), located on the central square in Zagreb – Ban Josip Jelačić Square –continues with its interesting programs on Tuesdays, reserved for nights of romance and old-town music. The program is dedicated to somewhat forgotten Zagreb songs, and the entire project was initiated by the popular Zagreb street musicians united in the Kings of the Street (Kraljevi ulice) band, who will be joined by their colleagues. The Kings of the Street initiated the nights of romance and old-town music in October last year, took a short break during the Christmas holidays, only to return with regular programs in May. Every Tuesday, interested citizens and guests of the City of Zagreb can head for the City Coffee Shop where this interesting musical program begins at 8.30 p.m. Refusing to submit to new musical trends, the Kings of the Street have remained loyal to the retro-program and old hits, preventing such music from becoming forgotten. The locals already know the Kings of the Street will entertain everyone in the room by playing old Zagreb hits and other old-town songs. Thanks to them, such repertoire can be heard on the streets of Zagreb, but it has not been present in local coffee shops until now, at least not the way it used to be years ago. This is exactly why they came up with this kind of repertoire, which will remind the interested visitors of Zagreb’s musical and social past. Zagreb Tourist Board www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr Original feature Zadar gets a monument to the Sun Construction of the monument to the Sun is being completed on Istarska obala in Zadar. This is an original art installation consisting of 300 solar plates incorporated in the stone quay in the shape of a circle, 22 meters in diameter. The Greeting to the Sun, as the monument is referred to, symbolizes the Sun, and the solar plates absorb solar energy in daytime, transforming into magnificent light effects in nighttime. The monument will be incorporated in the Zadar Quay, which has attracted special attention among the tourists over the past two years, and has already been proclaimed one of the trademarks of Zadar. As it happens, the large Sea Organ built into the quay provided the City of Zadar with a distinctive architectural feature, which has eventually become very alluring for tourists. What is without a doubt an unusual name reflects the implementation of an unusual and original ideal. The organ looks simple and unobtrusive. It is designed in the shape of stairs, with openings in the higher part where sound comes through, also spreading from the lateral openings situated at the bottom of the stone front of the final row of stairs. The sound is not produced by bags or air pumps (which would be the case for a regular organ) but waves, and the range of tones and accords produced by waves was designed according to a typical local harmony-singing melody. The “music” resulting from these efforts is always unique and depends on several factors – wind, sea current and tides - so it is no wonder the organ falls completely silent on quiet days. After great pomp and the distinctive originality of the Sea Organ, the image of which has already circled the globe, Zadar will soon be presented with another attractive feature that will certainly make the city different than any other. Zadar Tourist Board Website: www.tzzadar.hr PRESENTING Continental tourism Horseback riding in the nature of Baranja The Ipša family of Baranja decided to launch a continental tourism business on their agricultural estate. Aiming to base their offer on individual, rather than mass tourism, Andrea and Zoran Ipša renovated an almost 90-years-old farm, organized accommodation and started a horseback riding school. The old farm, situated around 20 kilometers from Osijek en route to Novi Čeminac, has been restored to its original condition, and the double and triple bedrooms on it are equipped with furniture exuding the Slavonian ambience. In addition to accommodation, they started a horseback riding school managed by a person licensed by the Croatian Equestrian Federation and the Croatian Olympic Committee. Each attendant has the opportunity to ride through intact nature with an experienced horseback riding instructor. Baranja is a region known for its hunting grounds, so the Ipša family intends to supplement their offer in agreement with hunting concessionaires and use horses for hunting. While visiting hunting grounds or forests, tourists could enjoy the immediate presence of game. In addition to the Ipša family, the Baranja region has an increasing number of people who have recognized the tourist potential of the area that will satisfy even the most demanding visitors. Pleasant and comfortable accommodation and gastronomic delights the locals offer their guests, hunting and fishing, Kopački Rit Nature Park, hansom carriage or off-road vehicle rides, rest & recreation and swimming in Danube are just a small part of what this area has to offer. Osijek-Baranja County Tourist Board www.tzosbarzup.hr Karlovac County The First Photo Monograph of Karlovac County The first monograph of Karlovac County was presented in Karlovac. This Central Croatian county’s photo monograph was created over the past 18 months, and printed in 1000 copies. An English edition is also being prepared. Numerous people worked on this demanding project, dedicating the monograph to the citizens of the Karlovac region, passing travelers, tourists, natural beauty enthusiasts, as well as the generations to come. Karlovac photographers captured all the beauties of the Karlovac region, combining the differences between the specific natural features of Alpine, Panonian and karstic areas. The local rivers of Kupa, Korana, Mrežnica and Dobra, the woody hills of Velika Kapela and Mala Kapela, the greenery of Kordun karst, the transit position and the rich cultural heritage are lasting values, providing the citizens of Karlovac County with a base for the economy and quality of living. These beauties also attract people from other regions because the geographic position of Karlovac County makes it ideal for year-round tourism, and provides recreation and active holiday options for all ages. The four Karlovac rivers determine the offer throughout the year, including walks along the rivers, rafting, canoeing, fishing, bike riding on developed trails, swimming in summertime, etc. In addition to hikers, recreationists and berry pickers, Karlovac forests provide hunters with the opportunity of pursuing all kinds of game. The Croatian Olympic Center Bjelolasica is located in Karlovac County, around 30 kilometers from Ogulin, and around 50 kilometers from the sea. This is a popular winter resort and preparation venue for various sports clubs in wintertime, and an excursion, mountaineering and alpinism destination throughout the year. Karlovac County Tourist Board www.tzkz.hr Zagreb Rural tourism around the capital Tourist can visit numerous country estates around the Croatian capital of Zagreb, which will bring the local customs, the authentic lifestyle and local specialties closer to them. Some of the estates feature true little animal kingdoms – some estates have domestic animals, and some have forest animals such as fawns and deer. Guests are free to enjoy walking or mountaineering, and may also participate in typical rural activities. Samobor Hills feature several estates – the Lijepo brdo Žumberak facility, the country estate Ethno House at the foot of Okić, and the large excursion site Divlje vode known as one of the most beautiful ones around Zagreb. On the way to Jastrebarsko, one will come across two more country estates – the Repro-eko estate offering only vegetarian food, and the Pri Naceku country estate. The area east of Zagreb also has some country estates. The Janković rural tourism and hospitality facility is situated in the village of Stara Marča near Ivanić Grad, with the large Kezele estate stretching nearby. The Zrno estate is situated in the small village of Habijanovec near Vrbovečka Dubrava, 55 km east of Zagreb, while the road to Zelina features several country estates within the Zelina Wine Road, Ljubekov Gaj being the most popular among them. Zagreb County Tourist Board www.tzzz.hr Delnice Skiing and holidays on Petehovac Above the town of Delnice in Gorski kotar lies an attractive skiing resort where the Petehovac Mountain Lodge has recently been reopened, already accommodating numerous guests, nature lovers and, of course, skiers. The Petehovac skiing resort is situated on a peak above Delnice bearing the same name at the altitude of 1024 meters, around five kilometers from the center of Delnice. At the very top, right next to the mountain lodge, begins a ski run providing a magnificent view of Delnice and Slovenian Alps. The ski run is 410 meters long, and the length of the ski lift is 315 meters. The vertical drop is 51 meters. The state-of-the-art hydraulic ski lift includes nighttime lighting, and the incline is mild and perfectly adapted to beginners and children. The Petehovac Mountain Lodge has a capacity of 26 beds, and each room offers a view of the town of Delnice and the surrounding mountains. In addition to the accommodation area, guests can use a restaurant seating around 100 people and offering various and diverse mountain specialties, game, frog legs, trout and berry sweets, to be enjoyed by an open fireplace. Petehovac Mountain Lodge www.petehovac.com/iframe_hotel.htm Vukovar-Srijem County Experience the richness of the unique Slavonia! Vukovar–Srijem County is the easternmost Croatian region, situated along the fertile banks of Danube and full of spacious green plains. The area is abundant in cultural heritage, historical buildings, interesting traditional customs, preserved nature and distinctive landscapes. This is also an area of rich gastronomy, and the typical rural image present in most of the region is supplemented with the interesting story of Slavonian urban centers – the towns of Vukovar, Vinkovci and Županja, as well as other smaller urban centers. The county offers numerous options for excursion tourism, weekend recreation, or longer stays both in urban areas and in Slavonian country where visitors can enjoy homemade specialties such as wine, brandy, cured meat products – kulen, kulenova seka, cracklings and homemade sausages – as well as various Slavonian sweets. The most popular Slavonian wine varieties like Graševina, Traminac, Pinot and Chardonnay are predominantly produced in the area around Vukovar and Ilok, where the famous Ilok Wine Cellars are located. The area is also known for its cultural wealth, the story of the Vučedol Dove being the most popular feature within it. The area around the town of Vukovar, which has become known as the Hero Town in contemporary history following the Homeland War, contains archeological sites with exceptionally valuable localities from the Vučedol culture era. Vukovar-Srijem County also has two important historical castles: the Eltz family’s castle in Vukovar and the Odeschalchi family’s castle in Ilok. Both castles house Town Museums open to visitors despite the current reconstruction. The Čardak castle in Županja houses the Stjepan Gruber Native Museum, including the permanent Ethnological Exhibition. Visitors will also be interested to know about the numerous traditional Slavonian events held in the county throughout the year, namely: Ethno Weekend in the Ethno Town, Actor Festival, Ilok Grape Harvest, Brandy Exhibition, White Horses, Youth and Beauty of Slavonia, Otok Spring, Šokac Village, Tourist Forum, and Vinkovci Autumns as a highlight attracting numerous visitors to Vinkovci for over 40 years. To put it in a nutshell, this is a region that has plenty to offer in terms of tourism because the Slavonian customs, tradition and local heritage combined with modern features such as excursion & recreation destinations and rich hunting and fishing areas make this destination very attractive to tourists. The accommodation infrastructure is also developing – construction of a high-category, five-star hotel has recently begun. In addition to the existing 12 facilities located in Vinkovci, Vukovar, Županja, Ilok and Spačva, Hotel Diamant is being built in Nuštar, which will include in its offer a large wellness center, a national restaurant, a casino, and a congress center seating around 700 people. If we add the important Danube waterway where more and more large river cruisers can be seen, we only have one thing to say – come and experience Slavonia because it is unique and thus incomparable with anything! Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board www.tzvsz.hr INVESTMENTS Dubrovnik Hotel Plakir becomes Valamar Lacroma Resort Dubrovnik-Babin kuk, a Dubrovnik hotel company operating within Valamar Group, is to invest over 40 million euros in the renovation and reconstruction of its facilities. While the investments in the hotels Dubrovnik President, Argosy, Tirena, Valamar Club Dubrovnik, and Camp Solitudo will aim to raise the product and service quality, the major project is certainly the reconstruction of the former Hotel Plakir, which will become Valamar Lacroma Resort following completion of the reconstruction in 2009. Hotel Plakir has not operated for the past 16 years due to the war damage and devastation caused by providing accommodation for refugees for years. Fully reconstructed and bearing a new name, this will be the largest hotel within the Dubrovnik-Babin kuk complex, equipped to meet the high four-star standard and offering 401 accommodation units. The preparation of conceptual and architectural designs began in 2005, and the first construction undertakings on the hotel were made in the early 2007. A distinctive architectural feature of the facility was provided by combining superior architectural designs with the elements of nature and the existing resources. In addition to modern congress facilities such as the large multi-purpose congress hall seating up to one thousand people, seven smaller halls and additional areas and offices, the new 35-million-euro hotel will have a rich wellness zone and a diverse gastronomic offer. All rooms in the hotel will be decorated in the Mediterranean fashion and fully adapted to the needs of business and holiday guests. The Dubrovnik hotels Argosy, Tirena and Valamar Club Dubrovnik improved the quality of their offerings within the same project launched by Valamar Group and Dubrovnik-Babin kuk, while the Dubrovnik President hotel now features a modernly equipped conference hall and wellness facilities. Valamar Lacroma Resort www.valamar.com Hotel Mozart Opatija Beauty Studio Mozart wellness center opened A year after Abi Shalabi, owner of Eles Corporation, bought Hotel Mozart at a public auction, one of the most beautiful hotels in Opatija was renovated and opened to guests. As of recently, the hotel features a state-of-the-art wellness center including, in addition to Finnish and Turkish saunas, a Japanese sauna (the only one in Croatia), a Jacuzzi and a beauty studio. In addition to the wellness center, the hotel features a permanent layout of the Hotel Mozart Exhibition as part of the “Opatija, A Central European Museum Town” project. Hotel Mozart is an elegant boutique hotel having a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. The hotel building represents the most beautiful example of the Opatija secession, situated at an ideal location in the very heart of Opatija. The hotel has 26 standard and superior rooms furnished with secession furniture. In addition to two suites, the flagship of the offer is Residential Suite 402, consisting of a living room and a bedroom, a large bathroom with a hydro-massage bathtub, a smaller bathroom, and a large terrace stretching along the entire length of the suite. If necessary, it can be joined with another double bedroom. The Residential Suite offers additional options such as private butler and baby sitting services. In addition to weddings, cocktail parties and formal dinners in the luxurious restaurant and the garden patio, Hotel Mozart organizes small seminars, presentations and congresses in its conference hall and conference rooms. Hotel Mozart www.hotel-mozart.hr EVENTS Snow Queen Trophy 2008 The third consecutive skiing spectacle on Sljeme The women’s race will take place on Friday, 15 February, while the men’s slalom is scheduled for Sunday, 17 February. In addition to these two official races, the humanitarian race Zagreb Ski Legends will be held on the 17th. A parallel slalom race will feature sixteen skiing legends such as Alberto Tomba, Marc Girardelli, Franz Klammer, Janica Kostelić, Vreni Schneider and Michaela Dorfmeister. The humanitarian race donation will be presented to the Special Hospital for Children’s Chronic Diseases in Gornja Bistra. Just like last year, when over fifteen thousand spectators came to see the race, the organizer will offer the visitors free transportation, food & beverage, concerts and prize contests for all ticket holders, in addition to excellent ski races. A diverse entertainment program will take place on Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb from Thursday, 14 February, to Sunday, 17 February, including hosts, concerts, DJs and prize contests, as well as a large video wall providing live broadcasts of all three races on Sljeme. www.snowqueentrophy.com PBZ Zagreb Indoors A gathering of the best Croatian tennis players PBZ Zagreb Indoors is an international ATP tournament held in the late February and early March in Dom sportova in Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia. This indoor tournament was first held in 1996, and the 1997 tournament was followed by a suspension until 2006. This year it will be held from 23 January to 2 March, with the main tournament commencing on 25 February. In addition to numerous world-renowned tennis players, the best four Croatian tennis players have confirmed their arrival at this year’s PBZ Zagreb Indoors – Ivan Ljubičić, Mario Ančić, Ivo Karlović and Marin Čilić, while the former tennis player Goran Ivanišević will lead the tournament’s Steering Committee. ATP has launched a new and dramatic promotional multimedia campaign “Feel It” at the global level, where tennis stars promote sports values, and PBZ Zagreb Indoors, as part of the ATP family, decided to present the Croatian tennis players through the “Feel It” campaign and the Feel the Power, Feel the Strength and Feel the Passion slogans. In addition to top tennis and prize money in amount of 370 thousand euros, PBZ Zagreb Indoors offers additional amenities such as the VIP Club and its superior food & beverage offer, the Village Tournament to entertain all spectators, Ladies’ Corner dedicated to women, and the Children’s World program intended for the youngest tennis fans. The tournament also features special programs including the tournament opening ceremony, Business Partners’ VIP Tournament, Players’ Party in one of the Zagreb clubs, Ladies’ Day providing free entry for all women, the Kids’ Day where little ones mingle with the players, and Pro Am where business partners play tennis with the tournament contestants. The PBZ Zagreb Indoors sites and the official tournament hotel Westin are available via Google Earth. PBZ Zagreb Indoors is played on hard courts (RuKort), and the tournament includes singles and doubles competitions. Croatian tennis players have won the tournament three times – Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanišević has won twice, while the best-ranking Croatian tennis player Ivan Ljubičić won it in 2006. Last year, Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis interrupted the successful Croatian series by beating Ivan Ljubičić in the finals. PBZ Zagreb Indoors www.zagrebindoors.com/indoors.htm The First European University Sailing Championship Croatia elected host for 2008 This year, Croatia will host the First European University Sailing Championship, with the European University Sports Association, known as the organizer of the 1987 University Games, as the main sponsor. EUSA has thus recognized sailing as a university sport, which is another very important novelty, not just for the university sailing tradition but for university sport in general. However, the details regarding the championship have yet to be defined, but we do know that Cyprus will host the championship after Croatia, in 2009. The decision was made in the late 2007 at the summit of the European University Sports Association, an organization comprising 39 national university sports federations from European countries. At the occasion, Croatia presented the First European University Sailing Championship organized by the ELMAR club. This is an addition to the excellently organized ELMAR First European Cup that took place last year in Zadar, featuring 20 crews from 8 European countries. The competition at the upcoming European championship will be carried out in monotype boats during three qualification days, while the final playoffs will take place on the fourth and final day of the championship. The sporting events at sea will be accompanied by onshore social, cultural and entertainment events. The traditional technological background of the competition will be applied to the said championship, including real-time crew monitoring, and the evening program will include a fashion show featuring premium nautical brands. Klub ELMAR www.elmar-zadar.org Mali Lošinj February marked by the Day of Oranges In February, the Aroma
Garden in Mali Lošinj will be the venue for interesting thematic day events
relating to their traditional days of plants and citric fruits. After the
Days of Lemon in January, February will offer the attractive Days of
Oranges, including a series of interesting events and lectures, and numerous
orange-flavored specialties and sweets available in the Aroma Garden,
situated in the center of Mali Lošinj on the Kvarner island bearing the same
name. |
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Kroatiska
Turistbyrĺn|Kungsgatan 24|tel:+46 8 53 48 20 80|fax:+46 8 20 24 60| e-mail:croinfo@telia.com|web:www.visitcroatia.nu|www.croatia.hr |