Barać Caves are one of the most popular attractions for tourists.
In tourism, everyone has to put their hearts and souls into their work and then the positive things will happen and bring more strength for future efforts, residents of Rakovica say. Their hometown had 250,000 overnight stays last year, and together with Plitvice Lakes (300,000 overnight stays) it has become Croatia’s strongest continental destination after Zagreb. Rakovica is a very small municipality with less than 2,500 people. It is located in the southern part of Karlovac County, along state road Zagreb – Split road and is situated near the Plitvice Lakes National Park, reports Večernji List on July 13, 2016.
What makes Rakovica especially attractive is the Old Town Drežnik tower, the mill on Korana river, Jelov Klanac ranch which is perfect for horseback riding, while the main attraction for the visitors are Barać Caves, a protected geomorphological natural monument. The caves are named after the hero from the times when the Hungarian army was stationed in the vicinity. They lay at the top of the hill and do not reach far underground. The caves’ total length is 493 metres, while visitors can access the first 200 metres where stone forms that the nature has created over millions of years will leave them breathless. In 2015, Barać's caves were visited by almost 16,000 people.
The caves are also an important habitat for two species of bats – small and large horseshoe bat. They are rich in fossils of animal species that became extinct more than 10,000 years, such as cave bear and other animals. Ceramic objects, iron spurs, a piece of wooden arch, the remains of a stone axe and a bronze bracelet from the 7th century BC had been found there as well.
Tihana Oštrina, director of Barać's caves, says that they plan to apply for EU Cohesion Fund to finance the implementation of the Centre for Visitors. “This would be the first such centre in Croatia and it would get visitors as close as possible to the last unexplored areas on earth – caves and pits”, she points out. The project would also include accompanying catering facilities, thematic playgrounds, walkways – and investment worth 30 million kuna.
