Campsites Croatia

Dubrovnik
Originally a Venetian port, Dubrovnik (Ragusa) was until the late 17th century one of the great maritime and trading centres of the Mediterranean. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is an entrancing place, encircled by medieval walls and containing a harmonious collection of white-marble renaissance buildings. Most notable are the Rector’s Palace and the cathedral. The world watched with horror in 1991 whilst the historic centre was shelled by the Yugoslav navy. Over 70 percent of the buildings were damaged in some way, but most have now been repaired. Tourism is slowly being re-established and the summer arts festival was revived in 1996 for the first time since the war.Entry Requirements
All nationals are advised to consult the foreign affairs department in their own country before travelling to Croatia. Currently, European Union citizens do not require visas to visit Croatia. Although Croatia is no longer at war with its neighbours, the Balkans remains politically unstable.

Driving
Vehicle documents
Check with your motor vehicle insurance company regarding any insurance documents you will need and whether any additional insurance is required. An International Driving Permit and a Green Card are required.

Electrical Devices
The electrical current in Croatia is 220 volts AC. Round, two-pin plugs are used. An adapter is essential for UK and Irish appliances.

Tipping
Adding 10 per cent to the bill would be appropriate for a western visitor. Tour guides expect a tip.Public Holidays
1 January: New Year's Day
6 January: Epiphany
Easter Monday
1 May: Labour Day
30 May: Statehood Day
22 June: Croatian National Uprising
15 August: Assumption
1 November: All Saints' Day
25 December: Christmas Day

Money
Notes and coins
The official monetary unit is the kuna (Kn). Notes come in denominations of Kn1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5. Coins are in denominations of Kn5, 2, and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 lipa.

Assistance
There are emergency phones along the main roads. In the event of a breakdown, telephone 987.

 

Croatia is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, gaining independence in 1991. Its inception as a state was traumatic, with a war in the border region of Krajina where most of the Serbian minority lived, and sporadic bitter attacks on other parts of the country, including the historic town of Dubrovnik; peace has now returned to the country. Croatia has a very varied landscape, including flat, wide plains, rugged mountains, and an amazing coastline of bays, gulfs, inlets, and more than a thousand offshore islands. Zagreb, the country's capital and main cultural centre, has fine museums and churches, and some pleasing baroque and turn-of-the-century architecture. Along the coast is a string of attractive medieval towns, some, like Dubrovnik, with their original fortifications intact. There are also magnificent Roman remains, including Diocletian's Palace in Split, a UNESCO world heritage site.
Croatia was an independent state in the early Middle Ages, but then became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while the Adriatic coast fell under Venetian domination. These influences are very much reflected in Croatia's architectural heritage. In 1918 the country gained its independence as part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes—or Yugoslavia, as it quickly became known. Relations between the Croats and the dominant Serbs were hostile in the inter-war years. In 1941 an independent state of Croatia was declared, essentially under the control of the fascist powers, and a campaign of terror began against non-Croats. While the post-war communist leader, Tito, managed to control extreme manifestations of nationalism on all sides, nationalist tensions resurfaced after his death, and eventually led to the break-up of Yugoslavia. There is no doubt about the strength of nationalist identity in independent Croatia today.