The city of Karlovac is situated in the very heart of Croatia, where valleys and
hills meet, on the delta of four rivers - Korana, Kupa, Mrežnica and Dobra. It
is placed 55 km south-west of Zagreb and on the altitude of 112 m. Today, the
town area of Karlovac spreads over 402 km2, and with about 60.000 inhabitants is
among medium large Croatian towns. Karlovac climate is a mild and continental
one with hot summers and cold and snowy winters. Karlovac is a crossroad of the
most important roads which connect the maritime and the inner Croatia. Besides
the historical roads Karolina (Karlovac - Bakar, constructed from 1726 to 1733),
Josephina (Karlovac - Senj, 1775 - 1779) and Louisiana (Karlovac - Rijeka, 1805
- 1813) a modern highway which connects Middle Europe and Danube countries with
the Adriatic Sea also passes trough Karlovac. The oldest material proofs of
human presence in the area today known as Karlovac have been dated at about 3500
BC. Some settlements which form today's Karlovac were formed before the
foundation of Karlovac fortress: Švarča and Gaza (13th century), Dubovac and
Banija (14th century).
Karlovac was built in the 16th century as an unique city core formed as a
six-pointed star with a purpose of defense from the Turkish conquerors. Besides
Karlovac, only two other towns in Europe have similar plans (Palmanova in Italy
and Novy Zamk in Slovakia). The beginning of the construction of Karlovac
fortress is known as the birthday of Karlovac - 13th July 1579. The fortress was
built on a Zrinski family estate, beneath the Old Town of Dubovac, and in honor
of its founder, Austrian archduke Karlo, it was given the name Karlovac or
Karlstadt. The renaissance core of the town, with regular geometrical plan of
the streets and city-blocks and its central square, is the top of contemporary
architecture and fortification art. Walls and bulwarks, palaces and squares, and
also military and sacral objects were built. On the central city square, today's
Jelačić square, there is the church of the Holy Trinity, equipped with a rich
baroque inventory. Beside the church there is a Franciscan monastery with a
monastery and church treasure's art collection. Plague epidemics used to
devastate Karlovac. In 1691, when the town was liberated from that terrible
disease, Kužni pil (plague column) was erected as a gratitude
sign. Restricted management and a dependence on military restrictions stood
in a way of development of manufacture and trade, so the citizens demanded for
Karlovac to be proclaimed the free royal town. Emperor Joseph II delivered a
charter in 1781 giving Karlovac the privileges of a free royal town with the
emblem. 18th and 19th centuries are the golden age of trade in Karlovac. Trade
and manufacturing parts of the town were given the chance and, considering their
position on the Kupa River where merchandise used to arrive on ships, boatmen
and merchants knew very well how to seize this opportunity.
The town's government is located on Strossmayer Square inside the Star, and the
first city magistrate was chosen as early as 1763. On the same square the Town
Museum is situated. Housed in the 17th century palace, it is one of the oldest
preserved monuments of housing architecture erected in Karlovac. Today it has
science, archeological, ethnographic, cultural and historical collection of the
town and its surroundings. In front of the Museum there are remains of St.
Joseph chapel from 17th century. In 18th and 19th century Karlovac became the
most important merchant town between the Adriatic and inner parts, Carolina,
Lujzijana and Josefina roads were built, and a mile-stone with marks of the
distance between important centers is the witness of the importance of Karlovac
as a trade and traffic center. The building of Zorin Dom, the Karlovac theatre,
was built by the first Croatian quire society Zora in 1892. Zorin Dom organizes
many music and theatre groups visits from all over the country and abroad, and
fills in the program with its ballet and amateur acting studios.
Today's Radić Street is the main connection with the old city gates of the
fortress, so called Turkish gates, where a sentry box is also preserved. The
School of Music is founded in1804, and since then keeps forming the musicians
who participate in the intensive music life of the town. Even today it is one of
the most important promoters of music and cultural life in the region. There
is a great number of primary schools, high schools and two-year colleges in
Karlovac. Nikola Tesla, Mirko Seljan, Stjepan and Antun Radić, Ivan Goran
Kovačić and other famous persons were also students of the Karlovac High
school. The town library Ivan Goran Kovačić is the main informational center
of the region. The gallery Vjekoslav Karas was named after a famous painter born
in Karlovac in 1821. Historical archive collects, handles and preserves archive
materials from Karlovac and wider area. The town was greatly damaged in the
Croatian War, especially in its southern parts, but was also recognized as a
Croatian shield. As a tribute to the war, the Croatian War Museum has been
established in Turanj, and has a large collection of war exhibits, army
vehicles, tanks, cannons and other war equipment which have the purpose of
educating the new generations of our citizens and tourists which pass trough our
town. In the surroundings of Karlovac, in Rečica, there is the Žunac Etno
Gallery. Placed in a wooden house, more than 200 years old, it is full of
ethnological exhibits connected with folk tradition, old crafts and
costumes. In 1997, on August 19th, the day when Stjepan Seljan was born, the
Center for Expeditions, Research and Culture Braća Seljan (Brothers Seljan) was
founded. It is the first Croatian explorer club inspired by Mirko and Stjepan
Seljan, world travelers and explorers from Karlovac. Expedition Center in Vila
Anzić gathers enthusiasts who continue the progressive ideas of the Seljan
brothers.
With its ideal position on the crossroad of the main roads the City of Karlovac
is ideal for a short rest on ones travel through but it is also an attractive
destination for relaxation and entertainment. Visit us and enjoy in green
valleys of four Karlovac rivers, or in rich gastronomic offer of our
restaurants. Take a walk trough centennial alley of our green town or experience
a ride in an old cab with the sounds of promenade concerts. Be sure to visit
the Old Town of Dubovac from 13th century where a permanent exhibition is set,
and a beautiful view of the town and its surroundings spreads from the
belvedere. New feature of the Old Town is the Nobility Fair Dubovac where the
old crafts will be presented, old games and customs revived and dishes prepared
after old recipes served. While you're visiting the old part of the town, our
famous Star, visit the Town Museum, the church of the Holy Trinity and the
Franciscan monastery with a gallery, the Town Theatre Zorin Dom, or one of the
art galleries. If you love nature and water, you'll definitely stay in
Karlovac. Come here hunting, fishing or to enjoy rafting and canoeing. Take a
walk in fresh air trough the woods along the educational path Kozjača or play
paintball in the woods around Karlovac. In summer be sure to visit traditional
beer festival and to refresh in Korana, on Foginovo beach in the town center, or
explore nature and cultural beauties of Karlovac and it's
surroundings. Doesn't matter if you're just passing trough or you've
recognized Karlovac as an ideal place for vacation and entertainment; we invite
you to spend the 13th of July, the birthday of Karlovac, with us.
Source: www.karlovac-touristinfo.hr
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