If there is something that I still cannot understand, despite the enormous popularity of the Game of Thrones series and its obvious impact on tourism in Croatia, it is how more films and television series set in fantasy worlds have not been made in the country. I still do not have the privilege of being able to say that I know all the secrets that this country hides, but of the few destinations that I have visited and those that I have seen from a distance traveling on the roads, I have no doubt that Croatia is very similar to what one might imagine of Middle Earth as described by Tolkien in ”The Hobbit” or ”The Lord of the Rings” books series.
Sure, many countries can boast of magical landscapes, but did you know that Croatia even has villages and towns that seem to be taken straight from a fairy tale? This article is intended not only for those filmmakers looking to adapt their fantastic stories, or for those who need some inspiration to write them, but also for all intrepid travelers looking to transport themselves to a magical world.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
Impossible not to mention the oldest and largest Croatian national park, Plitvice Lakes, in this list. All year-round, in the heart of Lika-Senj County, Plitvice Lakes is a natural wonder where, with a little imagination, one could believe that countless magical creatures live. Whether in the hot but verdant summer, when the leaves fall and the trees turn orange in the fall, when everything is covered in white snow that contrasts with the turquoise waters in the winter, or during the blossoming spring, Plitvice looks like a secret kingdom of peace and nature.
Image: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Slunj Rastoke
Rastoke is a village located in the town of Slunj, and almost everyone in Croatia will tell you that the first thing they think of when you talk about fairy tales is Rastoke. I mean, it’s enough to see it in the distance when you go down the highway to believe that it is a magical village that got stuck in time. With the merging waters of the Slunjčica and Korana rivers, its water mills, and its small wooden houses, Slunj Rastoke reminds me of those villages where an adventurer rested before continuing his dangerous mission.
Image: Slunj Rastoke Tourist Board
Motovun
Perched high on a hill in central Istria, it doesn’t get more magical than the ancient town of Motovun. Today it is known for its wines, gastronomy, and one of the oldest and most renowned film festivals, but for centuries, Motovun has been a cradle of history like no other in Croatia. For those familiar with the popular video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Motovun is very reminiscent of the city of Whiterun, also resting on a hill and giving shelter to important kings and their subjects.
Photo: Mario Romulić
Ogulin
Ogulin is a big exception to this list in that, unlike the rest, its reputation as a fairy tale destination is already widely known even in other parts of the world. Ogulin is even home to the Fairy Tale Festival, which recently held its 17th edition from June 10-12 this year. If you want to really feel like you are in a place straight out of the most fantastical fables, the town of Ogulin in Lika-Senj county is the place to go. The Frankopan Castle and a gentle population that breathes magic and fantasy every day of the year are details that make Ogulin perhaps the most celebrated fairytale destination on our list.
Photo: Mario Romulić
Kopački Rit
While I would have liked to choose a destination reminiscent of happy and colorful settings from fairy tales, the Kopački Rit Nature Park had to be included on this list anyway, perhaps to represent a more somber and chilling landscape. The best way to refer to Kopački Rit, compared to other destinations on this list, is that it is… different. Don’t worry, Kopački Rit is still a wonderful and enchanting place, with spectacular scenery and boasts biodiversity like no other place in the country. But without a doubt, and with a lot of imagination, Kopački Rit is reminiscent of a gloomy swamp that you could only reach if you took the wrong path, and the only thing that can await you in such a place is a dark fate.
Photo: Mario Romulić
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