Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

CROATIA 479

Striking Renaissance façade of the Church of St Mary, Zadar

One of the forested paths leading to Paklenica National Park

Paklenica National

Park r
Nacionalni Park Paklenica

370 km (231 miles) NE of Dubrovnik.
@ from Zadar. n Starigrad
Paklenica, (023) 369 202. # May–
Sep: 6:30am–8pm daily; Mar, Apr,
Oct: 7am–7pm daily; Nov–Feb:
8am–3pm Mon–Thu, 7am–5pm Fri–
Sun. & http://www.paklenica.hr

Situated in the Velebit massif,
Paklenica National Park was
founded in 1949. The entire
Velebit massif chain is nearly
150 km (93 miles) long.
The terrain is made up of

limestone karst with many

sink holes and plateaus sepa-

rated by deep fissures. In

1978, UNESCO listed Velebit

as a biological reserve with

the aim of protecting this

wildlife haven, which hosts

2,700 plant species and col-

onies of large birds of prey.

The kukovi – rock formations

sculp ted by wind and water –

are also protected.

The park itself covers an

area of 36 sq km (14 sq miles),

and is formed by two gorges,

Big Paklenica (Velika

Paklenica) and Small

Paklenica (Mala Paklenica),

which cut into the limestone

mountains. Parts of the canyon

walls are more than 400 m

(1,312 ft) tall. High up, birds

of prey make their nests in

a habitat ideal for breed ing.

Golden eagles, vultures and

even peregrine falcons can

be spotted, while in the

forests there are bears, wild

boars, foxes and hares. The

bare rock faces of Velika

Paklenica are popular with

rock climbers. The rock is

pierced by numerous caves,

but they are not easily acces-

sible. Only the Manita Cave is

open to visitors, when accom-

panied by a guide. How ever,

deep within the walls of the

canyon is an extensive net-

work of under ground tunnels

built by the Yugoslav Army.

These are currently being

renovated for use as galleries

and exhibition areas.

Hiking and mountain biking

are popular activities. A path

in the valley penetrates far

into the interior of the park to

a cliff edge, which offers mag-

nificent views of the wooded

Vaganski Vrh, the highest

peak in the Velebit chain. In

summer, visitors can stay

overnight in the mountain

hut, on the banks of the

Velika Paklenica creek.

prehis tory to recent times
and come from the entire
Zadar area and the islands.
Nearby stands the Church
of St Mary, built in 1066.
Behind its Renaissance façade
is a triple- aisled inte rior with
a women’s gallery. The mon-
astery next door is now the
Museum of Sacred Art, with
gold pieces, paintings and
statues, includ ing a polyptych
(1487) by the Italian artist,
Vittore Carpaccio.

R Church of St Donat

Forum. n Archaeological Museum,

(023) 250 516. # summer: 9am–

8pm, daily; winter: by appt only. &

R Cathedral of St Anastasia

Forum. Tel (023) 251 708.

# summer: 8am–6:30pm Mon–Fri,

8am–noon Sat; winter: 8am–noon &

5pm–6:30 pm Mon–Fri.