History Of Plitvice Lakes In 60 Seconds

History of Plitvice Lakes in 60 Seconds

The shimmering lakes and lush forests of Plitvice in central Croatia have long drawn visitors from around the region. A national park since 1949, halfway between Zagreb and Dalmatia, they were a favoured stop-off for Habsburg royals.

Croatia’s biggest and most popular national park has been a tourist attraction for some 200 years. Open year-round, Plitvice attracts more than 1 million annual visitors to its 16 cascading lakes of changing colours.

First recorded in 1777, regularly visited throughout the 1800s, even by Habsburg royalty, and facilitated by a hotel in 1890, Plitvice became a national park in 1949 and a UNESCO World Heritage site 30 years later.

Remote enough to host clandestine meetings of the newly formed Croatian League of Communists in the 1940s, Plitvice became the first flashpoint in the Croatian War of Independence in 1991.

It now sits close to Croatia’s border with Bosnia, halfway Zagreb and northern Dalmatia. Regular bus services run from the capital, Zadar and Split.

Imbued with minerals that create shimmering hues of greens and blues, the lakes change dimension by a centimeter or so each year due to the constantly evolving natural barriers between them. These travertine barriers, natural deposits of moss, algae and bacteria, are interconnected with the air, water and plant life. Swimming is strictly forbidden.

Visiting Plitvice is not just about lakes and waterfalls. The national park is home to 55 types of orchid alone, among the 100-plus plant species identified here. Equally rare are the brown bears, lynx, wolves, eagles and wild cats spotted amid the 300 square kilometres (73,400 acres) of wooded slopes.

From April to October, electric-powered boats and panoramic trains transport visitors around the waters. Wooden walkways and footbridges, tastefully designed to blend in with the vegetation, link the lakes, waterfalls, streams and Alpine forests for those who prefer to hike around Plitvice. An early start allows you to see everything in one day. There is also plenty of rustic accommodation on-site or close to one of the three entrances.

Plitvice National Park: 7am-8pm Mon-Sun. Go to its website for reservation details.

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, +385 53 751 015

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.