January the 28th, 2024 – Here’s a funny thing to think about: even if you’ve never been to Croatia, you’ve probably taken a short sightseeing tour at one point of your life just by sitting in front of a TV screen.
As Nikolina Demark writes, over the last couple of decades, many international film production companies have decided that filming in Croatia will mean their production gets the absolute best – be it landscapes to ancient ruins. The enormously popular TV series ‘Game of Thrones’ was filmed on the Adriatic coast for years, putting it firmly on the TV and film buff map. Dubrovnik also played Nottingham in a series of Robin Hood films, much to our editor Lauren’s delight – as Nottingham is her hometown and Dubrovnik a place she lived.
Dubrovnik, Lokrum island, Diocletian’s palace in Split, the fortress in Klis… numerous historical sites played a significant role in creating the wondrous fantasy world that hundreds of thousands of viewers around the world became invested in. When it comes to filming in Croatia, this especially applies to Dubrovnik, where multiple filming locations in the Pearl of the Adriatic got united in themed guided tours that proved to be an instant hit.
Apart from GoT, you’ll be able to see a couple of snippets of Dubrovnik in one of the films in the Star Wars saga, The Last Jedi, where Croatia’s southernmost city took on the role of Naboo.
The film world’s love for Croatian destinations goes beyond the coast… and further back in history. The classic western ‘Winnetou’ (1963) is also one of the gems of filming in Croatia. Deep in the canyons of Cetina and Zrmanja rivers, as well as in mountainous Lika and Grobničko polje; more continental locations proved perfect for creating a convincing Wild-West atmosphere.
The cult drama ‘Sophie’s Choice’ featuring Meryl Streep was also filmed in Zagreb, as well as the 1962 classic ‘The Trial’ directed by the legendary Orson Welles.
