Starigrad - Paklenica
The Paklenica Riviera delights in its unbelievable mixture of varied landscapes, which in an instant can change before the eyes of the observer. Rocky shoes adorned with romantic bays suddenly turn into a luxurious pebble beach. The shining blue sea in a moment is exchanged for green forests and mountain peaks. Only a few minutes walk from the center, old villages are still defying time, their stone walls preserving traces of the past… It is located in the far northwestern part of Dalmatia, as a part of the Zadar oriented region. Gently laid out along twenty kilometers of seacoast at the foot of the magnificent Velebit Mountain, the Paklenica Riviera joins mountain and sea, the Mediterranean with an upland climate, tradition with modernity.
The thousand years of the rapidly flowing streams of the Velika and Mala Paklenica canyons, with their sources high up in the Velebit Mountain, formed at their base the fertile plain and peaceful shore that is the site of the present towns of Starigrad, Seline, and Tribanj.
Starigrad, the center of the Paklenica Riviera, arose on the foundations of the ancient Roman city of Argyruntum. Today it is a lively tourist center with somewhat more than one thousands inhabitants, who exchanged their traditional manner of life in the foothills of the Velebit for life alongside the sea some half a century ago. The nearness and the easy access to the mountains, particularly through the attractive Velika Paklenica canyon, means that Starigrad is not merely a pleasant seaside resort, but also a traditional gathering place for hikers and climbers, adventurers and scientists, and all nature lovers who come to enjoy the beauties of Paklenica and the Velebit.
While you are enjoying the crystal clear sea, your glance may come to rest on the magnificent canyons of Velika and Mala Paklenica, deeply cut into the Velebit Mountain above you, and you may not realize that they are responsible for the surprising richness of the natural pebble beaches on the Paklenica Riviera. But even those romantic souls who want hidden, rocky coves will come into their own, as they are abundant in the northwestern part of the Riviera.
Activities in Starigrad Paklenica and surroundings
- Hiking Paklenica National Park has over 150 kilometres of maintained hiking paths and trails, ranging from easy tourist trails to those more demanding that lead to the Velebit peaks (Vaganski vrh 1,758 m and Sveto brdo 1,753 m). There is a wide range of attractive locations accessible by maintained educational trails (Mirila, Terezijana, Premužićeva staza / Premužić's Trail) in the wider Velebit Nature Park area. Hiking maps are available at all info points in the Paklenica Riviera.
- Alpinism Paklenica National Park is one of the best-known climbing destinations in Europe. The vertical cliffs of Velika Paklenica canyon, over 400 metres high, are located at the very entrance to the Park and are only 2 km from the coast. For this reason, Paklenica is a favourite with climbers with families. A frequent sight is a baby sleeping peacefully in a baby carriage, or a part of the family enjoying the beach, while the others climb. Expert climbing guidebooks are available at the Park Management building at the Park reception.
- Rafting/Canoeing Rafting on the wild rapids of the upper reaches of the Zrmanja River will leave even the most experienced adventurer breathless. When the water levels are lower in the summer months, there are organised kayak and canoe expeditions.
- Bicycling Lovers of movement on two wheels can visit the attractions of the wider area on a bike. Aside from the area of the National Park Paklenica, which is after all a hiking paradise, the nearby area has 40 kilometres of sloping bike trails leading through a distinctive landscape of sea and mountains, touching attractive historical and natural sites. It is also possible to head by bike to the islands of the Zadar archipelago, taking the old road over Velebit or to Lake Vrana Nature Park...
- Speleology Get a glimpse the subterranean world of Velebit! A karst area, Mt. Velebit has an abundance of caves, and expert guides are available to take you on a speleological adventure. We absolutely recommend you visit Manita peć cave in Paklenica National Park, and the Cerovačke pećine (Cerovac Caves) near the town of Gračac, both protected geomorphological natural landmarks equipped for tourist excursions. There are other caves accessible to visitors; attractive due to the variety of forms and the wealth of stalactites and stalagmites and other cave formations.
- Diving The undersea of the Velebit channel is interesting to see and explore, and we certainly recommend diving under the sea surface. The most attractive locations are located close to Starigrad-Paklenica and near the bridges of Pag and Maslenica. You can expect slopes and sea walls rich in fish, colourful sponges, cnidaria, slugs, octopus and schools of small fish and specimens of large sponges, as well as the remains of the old Maslenica bridge and a Russian shipwreck from the 1970s, which will prove a challenge for more experienced divers.
- Adrenaline park „Vaganac“ Surrounded by the cliffs of Velebit in the hinterland of Starigrad-Paklenica, at 700 meter altitude, you can find the Vaganac Adrenaline Park. In the Park you can experience bridging, via ferrata, abseiling, climbing & rappelling...
Source: Tourist Board of Starigrad Paklenica County
Starigrad Paklenica
Starigrad Paklenica
Starigrad Paklenica
Starigrad Paklenica
Starigrad Paklenica
Velebit - Paklenica
Velebit - Paklenica
Velebit - Paklenica
Velebit - Paklenica
river Zrmanja
river Zrmanja
river Zrmanja
river Zrmanja
river Zrmanja
Zadar
Zadar
Zadar
Zadar
Zadar
Nin
Nin
Nin
Nin
Nin