Exploring Gorski Kotar: A Comprehensive Overview for Novices
Discover the 'Green Lungs of Croatia': Gorski Kotar
Nestled in the heart of Croatia, Gorski Kotar is a sprawling, untouched region, earning its nickname 'the green lungs' due to its extensive forest coverage, higher than 80%. This expansive area mirrors mountains, canyons, rivers, and lakes, while boasting a low-density population, with only 15 inhabitants per square kilometre. With an absence of mass tourism, travelers can experience an authentic escape, catering to both active and leisurely explorers.
Why Visit Gorski Kotar?
The scarcity of tourists guarantees an authentic adventure. Gorski Kotar offers a diverse range of activities for thrill-seekers and slow travelers alike. From mountain climbing, hiking, cycling, and kayaking to bear-watching, birdwatching, and fishing, there is something for every enthusiast. Foodies can indulge in hearty, forest-based cuisine, while culture enthusiasts will appreciate the numerous castles and the ancient monastery. Summer visitors will appreciate escaping the Adriatic Sea's heat, even for a day trip.
Highlights of Gorski Kotar
The western half of Gorski Kotar is anchored by rugged Risnjak National Park, famous for its snow-capped mountains. Europe's three largest carnivores—lynx, wolves, and brown bears—reside within this area, with two remote log cabins available for overnight stays, providing a good chance to observe bears, especially during winter. Trekkers can ascend to Risnjak's 1,528m summit, with some scrambling required, while another well-marked path offers a calmer, three-mile forest loop. Inside the national park lies the Kupa River's large turquoise spring, found via a steep downhill path near Razloge.
To the south, three winsome reservoirs provide opportunities for canoeing and windsurfing (Lake Bajer) and fishing (Lake Lepenica and Lake Lokve). The Devil's Passage, slightly northeast of Delnice, Gorski Kotar's main town, is arguably the most photogenic. This beautiful canyon connects Zeleni Vir, a wispy waterfall, with the deep, water-filled cave of Muževa Hižica, where locals once hid from invading Ottomans. Enframed by sheer rock faces up to 100m high, this stunning, shady ravine is almost a kilometer long and scarcely two meters wide in some parts, accessible via steps and planked walkways.
Hidden Delights in Gorski Kotar
The town of Skrad, near the old Lujzijana Cesta, is a must-see. Built during Napoleonic rule, this early 1800s trade route between Karlovac and Rijeka now forms part of the D3 state route, offering a splendid drive with timber-accented villages and magnificent vistas. Along this route, you can find 19th-century milestones and older manor-house-style castles, such as Severin na Kupi's 16th-century construction with its pointy cylindrical turrets. Turn off before Severin na Kupi and head for Gomirje to find Europe's westernmost Serbian Orthodox monastery. Known as the Gomirje Monastery, it was first established in 1600. Nearby is the Fairytale Canyon, Kamačnik, with its wooden bridges and cascades.
South of these attractions, Bijele i Samarske Stijene nature reserve sprawls over the far-flung eastern margins of Gorski Kotar, named for a collection of perpendicular, bone-white rocks rising from deep ravines with permanent snow. It is an excellent hiking area, just like the milder Golubinjak Forest Park, near Delnice, with walking trails leading to the Queen of the Forest, a giant silver fir tree estimated to be 250 years old.
Gastronomy and Accommodation
In Gorski Kotar, the cuisine showcases distinctive local ingredients, with lamb, beef, pork proliferating in stews with pickled cabbage and beans, alongside mushrooms and forest berries. Don't forget to sample the region's bitoraj (blueberry strudel). Accommodation options range from good hotels in towns like Delnice to rural rental homes throughout the area, all offering warm hospitality.
When to Visit Gorski Kotar
Winter welcomes snow-covered mountains, best for bear-spotting. Spring and autumn provide peak hiking conditions, with autumn offering the additional spectacle of the forests' beech and oak trees turning red and gold as mushrooms appear. Spring promises wildflowers and rushing waterfalls. Summer's perfect for hearing wolves howling and offers gentle rambles or refreshing lake swims.
With a variety of exciting activities, the 'Green Lungs of Croatia' provide a perfect destination for diverse interests, attracting active travellers, nature enthusiasts, and history buffs alike.
Investigating the home-and-garden of Croatia, Gorski Kotar, grants travelers a tranquil lifestyle escape tucked away among its extensive forests.After exploring the arboretum-like landscapes, one might savor a home-cooked meal reflecting the region's hearty forest-based cuisine or retreat to a rural rental home immersed in the serene environment. Furthermore, a visit during the summer months may offer the unique opportunity to embark on a travel adventure, listening to wolves howl and indulging in swimming at the nearby reservoirs.
