Croatia Travel Information: Croatian islands: The island of Cres

Croatia has over 1.000 islands and each of them is unique and charming in its own way, but still there are those special islands, islands that stand out among a thousand other Cres Island is certainly among those.If you are looking to visit for that special place that will always stay in your memory, maybe the island of Cres would be it.It is the biggest Croatian island situated in the northern part of Kvarner bay. Cres is linked to the island of Lošinj by a trestle bridge in the town of Osor.

To reach Island Cres you'll need to get the ferry form Brestova (on Istrian peninsula, 20 km west of Opatija) or from Valbiska port on Island Krk. There is also a daily catamaran and bus service from Rijeka or Zagreb.

Although situated in the northern Adriatic, Cres more resembles Dalmatian islands than its northern neighbours. The coast is well indented and full of full of small coves, pebbly beaches, inlets and hidden anchorages and absolutely stunning nature. Some of the small coves can anchor only a boat or two, but provide complete, or almost complete privacy from prying eyes.

Hotels on Cres Island tend to be low key. There is a fair amount of private accommodation on Cres Island but you'll need to reserve in advance.

The island of Cres has many interesting places to visit. Some top attractions include the town of Cres, Beli, Lubenice, Osor, fresh water lake Vrana.

The town of Cres is situated in the northeastern part of a large and well shielded bay which abounds in spacious and attractive bathing areas.The panorama of present day Cres is marked with the medieval harbour "mandrac", Gothic and Renessaince churches and monasteries, noble families' palaces and the remains of town walls.

The nucleus of the town and many stately villas date from the 19th century when the citizens of Cres were very well off due to the peak of maritime navigation here.

Beli is one of the oldest settlements on Cres which used to play a prominent role in the past. A settlement organised like an acropolis, Beli is situated on a 130m high hill above the eastern coast of the northern part of the island, on the site of a prehistoric hill-fort. Today it is a typical, closely- built, seaside village, rich in cultural and historical monuments. Beli becomes increasingly popular as a starting point of long walks in the countryside.

The fresh water lake of Vrana, which covers the area of 5. 75 square kilometres , deserves attention as an unusual natural phenomenon. The level of the lake is above the level of the surrounding sea, and its bottom is beneath the sea level only at the depth of 74 m.

Lubenice - At the top of a sheer rock on the western side of Cres, 378 meters above the sea level, this 4000 years old town has now no more than 30 permanent inhabitants and a most peculiar position. If you visit Lubenice it is guaranteed you will stay breathless.

The view toward the west is especially impressionable, where, across a deep and underbrush covered ravine, the sea and St. Ivan's bay with a beautiful gravel beach are visible.

On that side (toward the sea), just a bit to the south, the Zanja cove with virgin a beach and the Modra cave are situated. They can be reached by foot or by boat. It will take you 50 minutes to get down and approx. 1 hour to climb back. But it's well worth all the effort.

There are five churches and chapels, the oldest one dating back to 15th century. It’s almost like having a church of your own. The monumental vernacular architecture with stone water reservoirs that are accessed by stone stairs is exceptionally well preserved. In addition, there are monumental chimneys of exceptional dimensions and shapes as well as other elements of rural architecture (bread stoves, horns for drying fruit, traditionally shaped eaves and wooden pergolas). The specific character of this settlement, as an urban-rural complex is reflected in certain urban style houses.

During summer, a festival of classical music is being held in Lubenice in an atmosphere of magical concentration, and there is a multi-medial art centre in the works.

Osor is an ancient town among the oldest one in Croatia, situated on a little natural island which used to be connected with coasts of Cres and Lošinj by two isthmuses and laped by the sea, on the southwest edge of the island of Cres and separated from the island of Lošinj by a 11 meter wide channel. Osor as we know it today is a museum in the open. Wherever one turns he encounters traces of ancient past. There is probably no house which does not have a noblemen’s coat-of-arms or a fragment of a stone decoration from the past, built into its walls. Historical area of Osor is an ideal frame for summer music festival which is being held from 1976. onwards and named Osor Musical Evenings,because the existance of the antique and newage theatre was confirmed in the year 1586. Osor Musical Evenings emphasize mostly croatian music heritage. There is almost none of the important croatian composers whose compositions had not been played on Osor Musical Evenings.