August the 6th, 2024 – I was there just last week, and it seems that it’s being uncovered by more than those of us who live here. Beautiful Fužine is spotlighted by the international media for its proximity to Zagreb and cooler climes.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Lajla Veselica wrote a comprehensive report for the France Presse (AFP) agency about Fužine, a beautiful place nestled within the hills of Gorski Kotar, located at an altitude of 730 metres. The text points out that more and more tourists are coming to this mountainous area to escape the harsh summer heat waves that keep on hitting the Adriatic coast.
“Croatia has long been known for its spectacular Adriatic coastline with thousands of islands and islets. However, just an hour’s drive southwest of Zagreb, the village of Fužine offers tourists a mountainous oasis, where temperatures are up to 10 degrees Celsius lower than down on the coast,” writes AFP about Fužine, the text of which caught the eye of international media.
Fužine earns international media praise for its cool climes and mountain vistas
American tourist Gerald Bostwick expressed his enthusiasm for the cooler climate and beautiful nature in Fužine, stressing that it is more comfortable than in the scorching sun by the sea. Bostwick came to this peaceful mountain retreat after spending a few days in the hot hustle and bustle of Split. “I’d rather be here. The breeze is fresh here, it’s easy to sleep, the temperatures are much more pleasant,” the retiree from Denver in Colorado told AFP.
International media write that not only Fužine but Gorski Kotar as a whole is a region known as “Croatia’s Switzerland”, that it is covered by dense forests and that it has a mild summer climate with temperatures that are only rarely high, while it experiences harsher conditions in winter. They then continued to write about beautiful little Fužine in particular. They state that this village is attractive to tourists because of its cooling freshness, and with nearby Rijeka only a 20-minute drive away, visitors can easily combine a stay by the sea and in the mountains all at the same time.
the best of both worlds
“Like most of Southeastern Europe, Croatia gets hit by numerous heatwaves during the summer, with temperatures regularly exceeding 37 degrees Celsius. The azure water of the Adriatic Sea provides some relief, with water temperatures reaching 29 degrees Celsius along the coast. For tourists in Fužine, this area offers the best of both worlds. With the coastal town of Rijeka only a 20-minute drive away, travellers can enjoy the sun on the coast and then retreat to the mountains to refresh themselves,” says AFP, as quoted by Večernji list.
Local mayor David Bregovac and locals like Alenka Kauzlarić emphasised that it is important to maintain authenticity and not overdo anything with construction. A growing number of tourists already prefer the peaceful atmosphere of Fužine over much more busy coastal destinations. Veselica concludes that the key is to preserve the stunning natural beauty and unique cultural identity of Fužine and the surrounding areas.
tourism is on the up for gorgeous gorski kotar
Last year, more than 50,000 tourists visited the area of Gorski Kotar. They were mostly German, Italian, Dutch and French nationals. This figure represents only a small part of the more than 20 million annual visitors to Croatia as a whole, most of whom go directly down to the Adriatic coast. However, with rising summer temperatures linked to climate change, destinations at higher altitudes like Fužine could begin to attract more tourists as the years go by.
