Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes (Plitvička jezera) is the largest and oldest national park in Croatia. This magical creation of nature, spread on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, is one of the ten most beautiful cascading lakes in the world. Croatians themselves call Plitvice Lakes the eighth wonder of the world. In 1979, the park, which has become a popular tourist attraction and is rightly considered the pearl of the country, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Video: Plitvice Lakes
Legends of Plitvice Lakes
There are also several legends associated with this unique place. The first one tells of a terrible drought and the Black Queen. There was no rain for a long time; its absence brought hunger, suffering and death. Mother Earth, unable to endure such an ordeal, begged for mercy, and the heavens took pity on the moisture-starved soil and suffering people. So the Black Queen appeared, accompanied by a retinue of Thunder, Lightning, Wind and Rain. After heavy rains and appeared lakes in the form of bowls, with a reserve of water, as they call it, for a rainy day. The palette of its color is such that one can’t help but think that turquoise has been dissolved in it in an incredible amount, not forgetting to add ceruleum, ultramarine and some emerald tones. But, of course, there are no artificial colors here and can not be: everything is created by Her Majesty Nature!
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The second legend says that this paradise will exist as long as there is at least one bear left in the forests. Brown bears are honored and under special protection here, almost as “sacred” animals. Scientists constantly monitor their population, so in those places in the reserve where they live, the entrance of tourists is prohibited.
.Mode of operation and routes
There are eight routes of different lengths for tourists in the Plitvice Lakes National Park: A, B, C, E, F, H, K1, K2. The shortest of them is designed for a two-hour walk, while the longest route can take about 8 hours. Most of the routes end at the starting point, i.e. they are circular. Straying from the route is strictly forbidden.
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Marriage ceremonies and weddings under waterfalls have become very popular. These services need to be arranged with the reserve administration.
There are three entrance areas in Plitvice Lakes Park: two are the main ones and the third, an additional one, is called Flora. All of them are open from mid-April to the end of October. In winter only the first entrance zone is usually open. Also in January and February, the lakes tend to freeze over and recreational vehicles do not operate. Some entrances and facilities may be closed. For more information, call (00385)-53 751 014; 751-015 (sales department); 751-021 (entrance area #1).
.Walking through the park in winter has a number of advantages. First, there are far fewer tourists than in summer. Secondly, travelers are faced with stunning fairy-tale views of frozen waterfalls and dams, and it is possible to get completely new impressions of this wonderful place. Thirdly, at this time of year you can rent skis, sledges, snowboards at the ski base. Although the length of the local slopes does not exceed 400 meters, the beauty of the surrounding landscape will not leave anyone indifferent.
.In winter, Plitvice Lakes National Park is open from 9 am to 4 pm. In spring and fall you can visit it from 8 to 18 hours, in summer time – from 7 to 20 hours. The reserve works without weekends and holidays.
.Cost of excursions
Ticket offices are located at the entrance areas. There are also stores where you can buy raincoats – rainfall is not uncommon in Plitvice Lakes. In the café you can have a snack and coffee. Be sure to check the schedule of the panoramic train and the pleasure boat, so you don’t miss the last trip. The auto train has four stops and the pleasure boat has three. You can get on and off at any stop. But the ticket price includes a certain number of rides for each route, such as one ride on the boat and one on the auto train. There are also signage near the entrance areas with the rules of conduct in the reserve.
The cost of visiting Plitvice Lakes National Park: for adults 110 Croatian kuna, for a group of 15 or more people 100 kuna, student ticket 80 kuna, children’s ticket (7-18 years old) 55 kuna. Children under the age of 7 are admitted free of charge. Of course, one day may not be enough for a full acquaintance with this unique place, then it is better to buy a ticket for a two-day visit. It will cost 180 kuna for an adult and 90 kuna for a child from 7 to 18 years old. It is especially convenient if staying in close proximity to the park.
.How to get there and where to stay
The entrances to Plitvice Lakes National Park are located near the D1 highway, from Zagreb, Karlovac to Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik. The reserve is about five hours by bus from Dubrovnik (454 km). The drive from Zagreb will take about two and a half hours (134 km). Buses run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at half-hourly intervals. If you are traveling by car, get ready for toll autobahns, the toll is approximately 15 euros. Numerous signposts along the road will help orient you. There is a paid parking lot at each entrance to the reserve. Motorcycles can be left for free, parking for cars will cost 7 kuna per hour, other vehicles – 70 kuna per day.
.There are four modern comfortable hotels in Plitvice Lakes Park, one of which was opened in 1980 (although the very first hotel in the area appeared in 1890). They offer guests a variety of services: Finnish sauna, Turkish steam room, bowling, tennis courts, parking. The cost of a room from 70 euros per day, which is quite expensive by the standards of Croatia. From April to October there are two camping sites, where you can stay at more democratic prices. In the numerous surrounding villages tourists are offered to rent apartments, rooms or stay in private guest houses.
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