If
you’ve ever considered visiting Croatia, you’ve probably seen photos of
Plitvice National Park. Perhaps it is the reason you want to go? The incredibly beautiful lake system, with a handmade walking path leading past several cascading
waterfalls, lures thousands of visitors each year, and is definitely worth a
visit.
Things to see at Plitvice
The
main draw of the almost 300 metre square park is the large lake system. There
are two large lakes and several kilometres of walking paths lead around each.
As you wander along the handmade footpath of logs, sometimes with the water
rushing beneath your feet, you pass pretty little waterfalls, large open
sections of lake and often come face to face with beautiful walls of water
cascading over the lips of the lake above. As well as the two large lakes, there
are also around 14 other lakes, numerous stunning cascades, and even a cave
with a view, making Plitvice a beautiful waterfall wonderland.
A
different legend is associated with each lake and there are many stories to
hear if you can take your eyes off the scenery. Despite being one water system
there are several distinct areas of the park. In parts the lake water is bright
turquoise, in others a vibrant green, depending on the varying mineral content.
Sometimes the water trickles past the footpaths, in others it gushes over
waterfalls. The largest waterfall drops an impressive 78 metres and, while you
can stand right in front of it, it is best appreciated from the higher
footpaths.
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| Waterfalls, Plitvice National Park, Croatia |
Who
might you meet?
Several
native species call the park home, including wolves, European brown bears and
lynxes. While I would love to see these wild animals, I’m also quite glad we
didn’t meet any up close as I have no idea what we would have done if we had met an
unhappy wolf, bear or lynx! There are also
birds including owls and eagles, and in some of the lower lakes the water is
so clear you can see whole shoals of fish in it.
History
Founded
in 1949, Plitvice is one of the oldest national parks in Europe. In 1979 it was
further recognised as a UNESCO Heritage Site. Nestled on the border with Bosnia
and Herzegovina, the park and the region surrounding it has been the backdrop
of several conflicts, including those in the early 1990s. As you approach the
park by road you may notice the remains of buildings that were damaged, some
virtually destroyed, during the recent conflict.
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| View over the lower lake, Plitvice National Park, Croatia |
Prepare for your visit
Entry
to Plitvice National Park is 180 kn / $32 US for adults, and is definitely
worth it. The park is a haven of tranquillity that it is easy to spend several
hours exploring. If the walking gets too much, a bus offers transport between
different stations. Make sure you walk at least part of the way though, or
you’ll miss the best views.
Plitvice is in a mountain region that is much
cooler than on the coast, rarely over 20 degrees centigrade, so make sure you
have warm clothes and a raincoat in case you need them. I bought a make-do
raincoat from the shop at the entrance to the park for €2 because it looked
distinctly rainy when we arrived (and was very grateful for it later!) Good walking shoes are a must as there is lots of uneven and sometimes slippery ground.
Food and drink are available at kiosks at the various stations in the park. They are at the stations in the park, and indicated on the map on the reverse of the entry tickets.
