What do you need to know about Karlovac?

The city of Karlovac is located in central Croatia, 56 km from the capital of Zagreb and it is the 9th largest city in the Republic of Croatia. Many of us know Karlovac by the nicknames “The City on Four Rivers” and “The City of Greenery and Parks” and “The City of Encounters”. Many epithets adorn it, but again people know very little about this beautiful little town.

The four rivers by which Karlovac is nicknamed are Kupa, Korana, Mrežnica, and Dobra, which by its beauty give it some special charm.

However, not only rivers are Karlovac’s specific features, but as a city, it is rich in cultural and historical heritage, natural sights, beautiful parks, excellent traditional gastronomic offers and plenty of sports and recreational facilities.

It was nicknamed the “city of greenery and parks” because it is the leader in Croatia in terms of the number of parks. This beauty was even recognized by the Croatian National Tourist Board when it presented the “Green Flower” award for the most decorated city of continental Croatia in 2010. to Karlovac.

The town was founded in the 16th century at the foot of the old town of Dubovac, and its primary purpose was to defend it against Turkish attacks, which is why Karlovac was built in a six-pointed star pattern. This gave him a special defensive power. The old town of Dubovac is located above Karlovac, on the hill above the river Kupa and today it is also the oldest Karlovac’s historical monument.

Interesting for all lovers of architecture and history is the fact that there are several preserved old fortresses and castles in the city and its surroundings, which tell their own historical story for themselves and are a great location for day trips.

Some of these historical monuments are Dubovac, Novigrad on Dobra, Ozalj, Ribnik, and the fortress Bosiljevo.

In the town of Karlovac, there is a freshwater aquarium called Aquatika, where the visitors can learn everything about the flora and fauna of the Karlovac rivers and see more than 100 species of freshwater fish. Aquatika is one of the most important tourist sites in the city today.

Traditionally, the “Beer Days” festival is held in Karlovac every year, gathering visitors from all over Croatia and even from the surrounding areas, and the main motto of the beer day is of course – beer, good music, and great fun.

As far as sports and recreational facilities are concerned, Karlovac County is an ideal destination for all visitors and tourists who love cycling, hiking, running, walking, and rafting. Rafting on Mrežnica is extremely popular with foreign tourists who are always fascinated by the beauty of the Croatian rivers, but in addition to rafting, there are many beaches on four rivers that are perfect for summer cooling and recreation.

If you are visiting Karlovac, we recommend that you also visit some of the most beautiful and important sites in its surroundings, the most popular of which are – Croatian capital Zagreb and Plitvice Lakes National Park.