October 8, 2020 -  The latest news for flights to Croatia as Air France makes changes to Zagreb and Dubrovnik services.

Croatian Aviation reports that Air France has announced daily flights on the Zagreb - Paris route for October this year. Due to the impact of the pandemic, the company canceled certain departures on this line, a total of 7, from October 12 to 31. Certain flights on the route to Dubrovnik were also canceled.

We bring you the current flight schedule until the end of October.

Air France to Zagreb

Air France will operate four times a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday) during the week of October 12-18, while flights on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday have been canceled.

In the week of October 19-25, the company will operate five times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday), and flights were canceled on Tuesday and Thursday.

In the last week of October, from October 26 to 31, the company will operate 3 times a week (Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday), while flights on Wednesday and Thursday are canceled.

Air France to Dubrovnik

Air France will operate on the Dubrovnik - Paris route on October 11, 14, 17, 21, and 24. The original plan of the company was to operate regularly on this route 3 times a week, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until the end of the summer flight schedule, but the company made some changes and reduced the number of weekly flights on this route.

In total, by the end of October, the company will operate 5 more flights on the Dubrovnik - Paris route, which will then end its operations for this summer season.

Air France flies to 67 destinations in Europe, which is the usual network of destinations of this airline in the winter flight schedule. Air France allows its passengers a refund for canceled flights. Passengers can change the date of travel and destination or choose a voucher for future travel or request a refund in full. This policy applies to all tickets purchased by March 31 of the following year.

Air France has confirmed that it will operate on the Zagreb - Paris route in the winter months, announcing daily flights between the two cities, but their realization will depend on the state of reservations, and demand on this route is drastically lower due to the global pandemic.

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October 8, 2020 – A bonafide 18th-century Baroque castle is up for sale. Although in a state of neglect, Oroslavje Donji is an architectural gem with huge grounds and lies less than 30 minutes from Zagreb. Its price tag? A cool 1 million Euros.

Zagorje refers to a place behind the mountains. Dalmatinska zagora is the hinterland behind the Dinaric Alps. Hrvatsko Zagorje, often referred to simply as Zagorje is the region behind Medvednica mountain. Dominating the skyline of Zagreb, Medvednica lies just north of the Croatian capital and is much loved for recreation, enjoying nature and feasting on traditional foods. In winter, the far side of the mountain offers skiing and when your skis reach the bottom of the slopes, you're at the entrance to Zagorje. Although, Zagorje has another entrance.

The Medvednica mountain overlooks Zagreb. On the other side lies Zagorje © Antun Cerovečki / Croatian National Tourist Board

Oroslavje: The Gate of Croatian Zagorje (Vrata Hrvatskog zagorja)

The pretty town of Oroslavje is sometimes called The Gate of Croatian Zagorje (Vrata Hrvatskog zagorja). Though it lies less than 30 minutes drive from Zagreb, Oroslavje feels far from the bustle and pace of the metropolis. It's the kind of idyllic bolthole that Londoners dream of having half an hour from the English capital, a place where premium properties would be snapped up in an instant by the rich and famous. Such places and properties are rarely attainable in such close proximity to London. But, they are in Zagreb.

Oroslavje © Grad Oroslavje

A bonafide 18th-century castle in Oroslavje has gone up for sale. Oroslavje Donji is a Baroque castle of 1,270 m2 with four wings, an inner courtyard and a park-sized garden that extends an incredible 26,235 m2. Although in a serious state of disrepair, it is an incredibly grand and historic building. The price tag is a cool 1 million Euros.

Opportunities to buy such dwellings do not come around so often. And, in a charming feature on the sale by zagreb.info, co-owners of the building are said to be hesitant about letting it go. Stunning pictures and details make that more than understandable.

Oroslavje Donji © Njuskalo

The first-floor vault of Oroslavje Donji's main hall holds beautiful wall paintings created in the late 18th century. Elsewhere, 19th-century wall paintings can be found, thankfully above the height of the spray paint graffiti left by some unauthorised visitors - the castle has been left abandoned for many years.

© Turistička zajednica grada Oroslavja

However, most of the building's major architectural details remain intact, as do ornate, original floor tilings. Outside, at the entrance to the park, there is a magnificent baroque portal. Two Baroque statues also lie within the garden which, in line with trends of the time, was furnished in the late 19th century with exotic trees from all over the world. Today, many species of birds make their home within the branches, undisturbed by human presence.

© Turistička zajednica grada Oroslavja

Well connected to Zagreb, Slovenia and Hungary, Oroslavje and other nearby towns were once favoured places to live by the upper echelons of Austro-Hungarian society. Oroslavje used to have two castles, but Gornje Oroslavje was almost completely destroyed by a fire in 1949. Oroslavje Donji was home to the Vojkffy family (Vojković in Croatian).

In a former life: The Vojkffy / Vojković family in Oroslavje Donji

The inside of Oroslavje Donje when still inhabited © Faculty of Architecture University of Zagreb

The family earned titles and lands for their service to the Austro-Hungarian empire in their struggle against the invading Ottomans. Ivan Vojkffy I (1520–1595) was the captain of the town of Karlovac, and his son Ivan Vojkffy II (1595–1661) captain of the town of Križevci. In the 17th century, the family moved to Hrvatsko Zagorje.

Sigismund Vojkffy was the royal chamberlain and commander of the guards at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa. For service in the Seven Years' War (1756–63), Maria Theresa awarded both Sigismund and his brother Christopher the title of count in 1763.

Janko Vojković, son of Sigismund. He lived at Oroslavje Donje © Silverije

These were high decorations in the court of the empire. The family subsequently went on to build not only Oroslavje Donje (1770–90) but also the parish church of St. Jelena in Zabok (1782–1805) and several palaces in Zagreb's Upper Town, the most famous of which is the Baroque Vojković-Oršić-Rauch Palace in Matoševa Street. Sigismund Vojkffy died only two years after Oroslavje Donje was completed, but his descendants, including his son Janko, continued to live there.

© Turistička zajednica grada Oroslavja

In its golden age, Oroslavje Donje held an approach that was 230 meters in length. In front of the south façade was a decorative garden, to the south-west the park was connected to the forest, and to the left of the approach was a spacious meadow. The last male descendants of the Vojkffy family, Sigismund's grandsons, emigrated from Croatia in the late 19th century. Thereafter, Oroslavje Donje changed hands a number of times before being confiscated by the state in the era of Yugoslavia and subsequently fell into disrepair.

How the interior of Oroslavje Donje looked in its heyday © Faculty of Architecture University of Zagreb

Though few properties like this appear on the market, there are surely a limited number of people who could afford the price tag. Even fewer who would have the funds and determination to restore Oroslavje Donje to its original state of grandeur. But, who knows? A buyer might appear. After all, who wouldn't want to live in a beautiful Baroque castle just 30 minutes from Zagreb?

If you want to read more about some of Croatia's best castles, then look here.

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ZAGREB, Oct 6, 2020 - Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic said on Tuesday that the downgrading of Zagreb's credit rating is a direct consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, the economic downturn and payment of HRK 900 million to the national cohesion fund, adding however that there will be money for capital projects in the city.

If all our money goes to the city's budget, the credit rating would not have been downgraded, said Bandic when asked to comment on the lowering of  Zagreb's credit rating.

In this context, he recalled that Zagreb had to pay HRK 900 million into the national cohesion fund for underdeveloped areas.

He claimed that the City of Zagreb cannot have a better credit rating that the state and that it has to "float" within that framework.

The mayor, however,  highlighted that there will be money for reconstruction, the corona crisis subsidy schemes and for people with minor damage caused by floods but that there will also be money for capital projects.

October 6, 2020 - Zagreb caterers will close for one hour on Thursday to continue the countdown warning of the difficult situation their businesses are in due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

HRTurizam reports that on Thursday, October 8, starting at 11:58 am, Zagreb caterers will suspend service in their catering facilities to warn of the difficult situation they are in due to the coronavirus pandemic and to encourage urgent action by responsible institutions to preserve jobs and prevent the collapse of the economy.

This protest is named "2 to 12" and is continued by the Independent Association of Caterers (Zagreb) to save the fate of thousands of employees in the sector and encourages citizens and caterers to show solidarity.

Encouraged by the devastating survey results on the operation of catering facilities in 2020 and the lack of reaction from responsible institutions after numerous appeals from caterers, the Independent Association of Caterers (Zagreb) with the support of the National Association of Caterers and the Voices of Entrepreneurs Association launches the "2 to 12" protest in the Croatian capital, which has over 4,500 facilities.

Caterers are looking for tax relief with a level of taxation that is realistic and paves the way for recovery. They ask the responsible institutions to suspend the collection of VAT until March 1, 2021, a permanent preferential rate on food - which according to the Food Act includes food, coffee, beer, juices, water, and wine - of 10%, access to HAMAG BICRO credit lines for liquidity and HBOR for investments,

Zagreb's situation is particularly difficult because, in addition to the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Zagreb was affected by the first major earthquake in the last hundred years, said Marin Medak, president of the Independent Association of Caterers.

"We are aware that problems cannot be solved overnight, but we are also obliged to warn of justified fears for our own existence. We believe that the Government will take a step forward and accept the call for dialogue. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Davor Bozinovic recognized the caterers' appeal and started talks on the application of future anti-epidemic measures with the experts. After the action of Bjelovar caterers called "3 to 12", the mayor of Bjelovar took everything in his domain to protect his fellow citizens and entrepreneurs. We expect the same from other departments key to the work of caterers and related activities, which together generate 320 thousand jobs," said Medak.

The caterers point out that all the problems accumulated before the pandemic are now being charged.

The doubling of VAT in the hospitality industry that suddenly followed on January 1, 2017, brought many to the brink of profitability. If the Government does not listen this time, the pandemic will eventually put the key in the lock for many. They say that the inherited problems and new business obstacles have forced them to act together and increasingly warn the Government of the shortcomings on the ground.

"Measures to preserve CES jobs will help caterers who saw a drop of 60% or more in turnover than the same period last year. However, what about us who have a drop of 59% or less?" emphasizes Damir Jurkovic, vice president of the Independent Association of Caterers.

"That is why we are looking for clearer and more efficient models for allocating funds for maintaining liquidity. We are not asking for free money, but access to credit lines for our employees' salaries and lower taxes to repay loans. With the highest tax rate on the preparation and serving of beverages in Europe, it is not possible to plan business in the future," says Jurkovic.

A sample survey of almost 500 caterers from all over Croatia found that almost 60% of them recorded a decline in business by more than 50%, and almost 40% face the fact that, in these conditions, they will not survive until next season. As many as 80% of employers will be forced to resort to terminating contracts with employees.

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October 6, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as easyJet stops Dubrovnik and reduces Split, and Austrian Airlines cancels Zagreb. 

Croatian Aviation reports that easyJet completed most of its lines to Dubrovnik on the first weekend of October. Until the end of October, this well-known low-cost carrier will operate only to Split Airport.

Although easyJet flew to Pula, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik until the end of the season (end of October) in last year's summer flight schedule, this will not happen this year. Lines to Zadar and Pula stopped operating at the end of September, and the company planned to operate on 4 lines to Dubrovnik and eight to Split by the end of October.

easyJet further reduced traffic to Dubrovnik. In the first five days of October, it operated the last flights of this year from Bristol, Edinburgh, and London to Dubrovnik Airport. Although tickets were on sale until the very end of October, this airline decided to stop traffic much earlier than planned.

easyJet previously announced traffic on 8 international routes to Split by the end of October, but two lines, from Bristol and Glasgow to Split, were canceled.

The company now offers 6 lines to Split Airport:

Basel - Split, twice a week, until October 24,

Berlin - Split, twice a week, until October 24,

Gatwick - Split, twice a week, until October 24,

Geneva - Split, once a week, until October 24,

Luton - Split, once a week, until October 24,

Manchester - Split, once a week, until October 17.

With the end of the summer flight schedule (October 24), easyJet will suspend operations to Split Airport and end this year's summer season to Croatian airports. easyJet plans to operate to Croatian destinations in 2021 on all lines.

Croatian Aviation also reports that as confirmed to them by Austrian Airlines spokesperson, the airline will temporarily cancel the Vienna - Zagreb route in mid-October.

Austria Airlines will operate its last flight to Zagreb on Monday, October 16, while all other flights after that date have been canceled.

Exceptionally, the company plans to operate on this line during the Christmas and New Year holidays (only 10 flights), but it will depend on passenger demand. From January to the beginning of the summer flight schedule (end of March next year), Austrian will not operate on this route.

After the departure of Emirates and FlyDubai, this is another blow for Zagreb Airport. Austrian has been a long-term user of Zagreb Airport and has normally operated on this route several times a day, both in summer and winter.

After many years, this winter, Zagreb will be without a direct connection with Vienna.

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ZAGREB, October 4, 2020 - The first Ukrainian Windrose Airlines charter flight touched down at Zagreb's Franjo Tudjman Airport on Sunday as part of the first direct flight service between Zagreb and Kiev.

Windrose Airllines will be flying between the two capitals twice a week, on Sundays and Wednesdays, until March 21 next year. The first flight brought about 50 tourists from Kiev who continued to their destinations along the Adriatic coast, while 64 passengers travelled from Zagreb to Kiev. This was described as very good booking given that the aircraft has a seating capacity of 75. The fact that there are no direct flights between Zagreb and Moscow is expected to ensure good occupancy for this flight.

A special ceremony was held at the airport for this inaugural flight attended by representatives of Windrose Airlines, Zagreb Airport, a Ukrainian government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Croatian Minister of Tourism and Sport Nikolina Brnjac.

"We hope this flight service will contribute to economic cooperation between the two countries and will help attract investment and tourists from Ukraine," Brnjac said, adding that Ukrainian tourists had generated about 400,000 overnight stays in Croatia in the year to the end of August, which is 56 percent of last year's figure.

Last year Croatia had seen a 30 percent increase in the number of tourist arrivals from Ukraine, and Brnjac said she was glad to see that the cooperation was continuing at the present time of the coronavirus pandemic.

Reznikov expressed hope that this flight service would "operate forever" in the interest of promoting economic ties between the two countries.

Among the passengers on board the first flight from Kiev was Croatia's Ambassador to Ukraine, Anica Djumic. Also present at the ceremony was Ukraine's Ambassador in Zagreb, Vasyl Kyrylych.

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October 4, 2020 - After UEFA decided that fans can return to stadiums at 30% capacity, HNS announces tickets for Croatia matches against Sweden and France in Zagreb. 

HNS announced that following UEFA's decision to allow spectators to fill 30 percent of the stadium's capacity in UEFA competitions, the Executive Board of the Croatian Football Federation decided to use this opportunity and allow spectators to come to the Nations League matches against Sweden, France and Portugal. By UEFA's decision, the arrival of fans to away matches is not allowed.

Croatian fans will once again have the opportunity to watch and support the Croatia national team at home games, after a break of almost a year thanks to COVID-19. The UEFA Executive Board, with the participation of HNS President Davor Suker, decided to allow the national federations to return spectators to a maximum of 30 percent of the available capacity of the stadium.

Although there is little time left for Maksimir Stadium to organize the matches against Sweden (October 11) and France (October 14)  and despite the numerous requirements that the organizer must comply with UEFA, the HNS Executive Board decided that the Federation will do everything for Croatian fans to watch Croatia play in a few weeks. After these games in October, Croatia will host Portugal in Split in November, also with spectators.

Spectators will be able to buy tickets for the West and North stands for the matches against Sweden and France, while the East and South stands will be closed to the public because of the Zagreb earthquake in March.

Ticket prices are as follows:

West middle lower: 250 kuna
West lower: 150 kuna
West upper: 100 kuna
North lower: 60 kuna
North upper: 60 kuna

Tickets can be purchased exclusively online, with ticket printing at home.

At the beginning of next week, HNS will inform the public about the manner and start time of ticket sales. Also, the Federation will inform the public about all organizational details of the match, i.e., strict measures that all spectators will have to follow to protect their health, the health of other spectators and in general - the concept of returning spectators to stadiums.

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October 4, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as flydubai cancels Zagreb for October, November, and most of December... for now.

Croatian Aviation reports that just a few hours after Emirates canceled the Dubai - Zagreb service for all of 2021, its partner company flydubai made changes to its Zagreb route, too.

Recall, Emirates flew to Zagreb in the summer, and flydubai in the winter. The same schedule was announced for this year as well. 

However, Emirates canceled the Dubai - Zagreb route for this year, but the possibility of flydubai returning on the same route at the beginning of the winter flight schedule was still in the works. Airline tickets on this route could be bought literally until Friday, and while we were skeptical about if these flights would return at all, we now have our answer.

flydubai has canceled all flights to Zagreb for October, November, and almost the whole of December. There are currently departures on sale from December 27, with 3 flights announced per week through January, February and March, but the probability that they will be realized is very small.

Given that Emirates has completely canceled the Dubai - Zagreb route for next year, the question arises whether flydubai will operate on it at all. According to the available flight schedule, it will not, but there is enough time left for this low-cost company to include Zagreb in its network of destinations for the 2021 summer flight schedule.

Zagreb does not currently have an announced direct air connection with Dubai for 2021. The line has been operating regularly since 2014, it was launched by flydubai.

Recall, TCN reported on Saturday that Emirates canceled all flights to Zagreb for the next year, closed its office at Zagreb Airport, and fired its employees. The large B777-300ER aircraft in Zagreb every day will not return to the Croatian capital any time soon, which is certainly a financial blow to the airport, given the revenue it generated from the daily landings of this company's aircraft.

The arrival of this airline in Zagreb was truly a success for the management of Zagreb Airport, but its complete withdrawal can certainly be considered a failure. Emirates connected Zagreb with the rest of the world on a daily basis, offering excellent service to passengers on its flights on which it operated modernly equipped aircraft. The departure of this airline is a step backward for Zagreb Airport. 

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October 4, 2020 - A visit to Camp Zagreb, a rather delightful lakeside accommodation alternative for Croatia's capital in Sveta Nedelja, a short shuttle ride from the city centre.

Camping on the Adriatic has long been a holiday of choice for hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, and the camping facilities - particularly in Istria - are plentiful and improving year by year. Head inland, however, and camping options are a lot more sparse. But when they are good, they are REALLY good, as I discovered on my first visit to Camp Zagreb, located idyllically on a lake in Sveta Nedelja, just a few miinutes drive from the capital, Zagreb.  

I had no idea what to expect from tourism in Sveta Nedelja when the town's local authorities invited my family down for the weekend to have a look around the town, its businesses, local administration, as well as its tourism potential. The home of Rimac Automobili and the most transparent local administration in all Croatia, I was excited to explore the business and Croatia 2.0 local government scene (learn more about those aspects of my trip here), but I was a little dubious about the town's ability to impress touristically. My two teenage daughters were even more dubious about another 'fun' weekend away with Dad and his work... And yet it was they who had huge smiles on their faces on the drive home, having had a VERY good weekend in the Sveta Nedelja Great Outdoors.

Just 20 minutes from downtown Zagreb, and yet a world away, Sveta Nedelja was a breath of fresh air after yet another week of staring at computer screens running TCN. It has several lakes which comprise one of its key tourist attractions, with Camp Zagreb located on the edge of the largest of them. A perfect base not only to explore the region if you are camping, but - as I saw last Sunday morning - an absolute magnet for Zagreb's residents looking to escape the city and immerse themselves in nature. 

And there was plenty to do, with many activities supplied by Camp Zagreb. Cycling around the lakes was a lot of family fun, but also a very natural experience through the autumn leaves. No asphalt roads here, just kid-friendly cycling paths through the trees, affording magnificent views of the lakes. 

A little horse-riding for the youngsters, perhaps? There is an on-site horse riding school, where horses are available for petting, riding around the arena, a picturesque lakeside tour, or - for the more experienced riders - the chance to gallop along the Sava into the city and back.  

Or perhaps go for a little horsey dip instead...  

The lakes are also popular for boating, and these can be hired via the camp reception.  

A selection of clever rock formations add to the boating challenge.  

The lakes are also very popular for another popular sporting activity - and a great one in this socially distanced era - fishing. The lakes were full of small little clearings down to the water every 20 metres or so, many of which were occupied by 1-2 fishermen, who had set up their tents for a weekend of relaxation, nature and fishing. With tent pitches starting at 40 kuna a night, a very affordable escape from the stresses of the city.  

For some, perhaps, even fishing is a little too strenuous an activity. Why not just sit back and relax with a coffee overlooking this magnificent nature a short drive from the city. 

And an even bigger incentive for parents to relax with a lakeside coffee, while watching the little ones explore the kids adventure playground next to the cafe and restaurant.  

The unique monkey bar ship is just one of the popular attractions.  

We haven't started talking about the camping aspect yet, but we will shortly, but what struck me during the weekend visit was just how much Camp Zagreb had to offer people from Zagreb for a day or weekend escape. It truly is a tranquil spot, its nature unspoilt and untampered. 

Rather than just being there just to serve camp guests, the management appears to be working hard to attract local business as well, and there are plenty of live music events, as well as special events to celebrate the end of the working week.  

The main building on the water is tastefully done, with cafe/bar on the ground floor, restaurant on the first floor, and a rather special wellness option on top.  

There is plenty of space inside in the wooden interior, but nothing quite beats the view overlooking the water when the weather is clement.  

Or a lakeside coffee or something stronger, watching the world go by. 

While the attractiveness of a visit to Camp Zagreb and its natural treasures from the city is clear, the core business, of course, is camping. And here too, it proves to be a great destination, but for very different reasons. 

Firstly, location. Sveta Nedelja is just 10 minutes from the main Bregana border with Slovenia, and it lies just off the motorway to the west of Zagreb. For the many campers heading to Croatia from central and western Europe heading down to Dalmatia, it makes for an ideal stop. Psychologically over the border and in Croatia, a few minutes off the motorway so as not to take campers too far from their onward route. And, in addition to the immediate proximity of all the natural goodness described above, it is a great place from where to explore Zagreb in a day. In order to make that experience more comfortable, the campsite offer a shuttle service to the centre of the city, which takes under 30 minutes. There is an additional (free) transfer to the local train station 2 kilometres away, which also connects to the centre of the city.  

Camp Zagreb has about 20,000 overnight stays in a normal year (2020 has been anything but normal), and it offers various types of camping services, Premier services for caravans and motor homes come in a choice of two pitch sizes - 75m2 and 100m2 - which are located a few metres from the lake, where a quiet zone is observed from 23:00 until 07:00.  

For those without their own motor home, a selection of wooden bungalows, designed for couples, are also avaialble. 

Looking for that little extra? The 65m2 wellness suite on top of the restaurant takes campsite luxury to a new level, with Finnish sauna and jacuzzi some of the highlights inside the suite, while the spacious terrace overlooking the lake is the perfect spot to greet the new day. 

Looking to be closer to the water? A 19m2 tipi tent with its own private area to the water sleeps three, with campsite facilities close by. 

And, of course, there are plenty of lakeside spots away from the crowds for those looking for a weekend of quiet fishing.  

I hadn't known what to expect from tourism in Sveta Nedelja when we set off for our business and tourism tour. It was a weekend full of surprises, but the natural beauty of the lakes and surrounding area, completely unspoilt, was as much a highlight as a visit to Rimac.  

Camp Zagreb is a campsite for all seasons. Open 50 weeks of the year, I can only imagine the winter beauty with a stay in the wellness suite. A delightful year-round escape from the city and stopping off point for onward journeys to the coast. 

Nature at its finest, whatever the season. 

Check out the official promo video below, and learn more about Camp Zagreb on the official website.  

For the latest from Sveta Nedelja, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

This article is in paid partnership with the Sveta Nedelja Tourist Board.

October 3, 2020 - With charter airlines in a state of flux and Croatia Railways beginning a renewal of their fleet in Slavonia, are continental Croatia trains the eco-friendly and best way to unlock the inland's amazing potential?

Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. Even before 2020 arrived, lifestyles and trends were headed in new directions. Eco-tourism and agro-tourism were two of the fastest-growing areas within the travel sector, this behaviour change a response to concerns about the environment. And nowhere in the country stands better poised to take advantage of this interest than continental Croatia.

Impossibly pretty Zagorje - the region lies just north of Zagreb and is accessible by continental Croatia trains © Ivo Biocina / Croatia National Tourist Board

From the impossibly pretty hills of Zagorje, the peaceful rivers of Karlovac county and the hidden vineyards that surround the capital Zagreb to the vast Pannonian flatlands that stretch to Slavonia, Baranya, Vukovar-Srijem and beyond, the varied topography of continental Croatia is wild, exciting and - by many - wholly undiscovered.

This is land where agriculture and nature thrive side by side, where the stresses of modern-day existence ebb away as you readjust to a way of life that would look mostly familiar to the people who lived here centuries ago. These are places where you can truly be at one with yourself and with your surroundings. In continental Croatia, you often find yourself in an environment that is both timeless and traditional, yet wholly contemporary in regards to its ecological aspirations. And you're never far away from an exciting city environment that you can dip into on a whim – not just Zagreb, but Osijek, Slavonski Brod, Karlovac, Sisak and Varaždin too.

To those who really know and love Croatia, Osijek is simply unmissable. It is both the capital of and the doorway to Slavonia and Baranya and should be more accessible by continental Croatia trains. Sadly, international transportation links to the city by air are also quite poor. Improvements in accessibility to Slavonia and Baranya by rail and road are imminent © Romulić & Stojčić

Unlocking the incredible potential of continental Croatia relies on getting the message out there and facilitating travel to these regions

In recent TCN features we have detailed that motorways within Croatia are among the best in Europe - once you're inside Croatia, travelling by car (or bus) between the regions couldn't be easier. We have also seen evidence of the huge interest in travelling here by rail and using continental Croatia trains.

Of all the modern methods of long-distance travel, rail is by far the most eco-friendly. What better way to begin an environmentally friendly holiday than by arriving on continental Croatia trains? When the country wisely decided to prioritise its internal motorway system, a modern and fast inter-regional rail network was put on the back burner. Nowhere suffers greater from this decision than continental Croatia.

The Croatian rail network © Croatian Official Document uploaded to Wikipedia by Epepe

The only high-speed line that currently exists in Croatia links Rijeka to Budapest, via Zagreb and Koprivnica. Planned improvements hope to cut journey times between Zagreb and its nearest coastal city to an hour. Same as it ever was - Rijeka was the first Croatian city to be connected internationally by rail. That line also ran into the heart of Austro-Hungary and facilitated upper-class travel to places like Opatija. But does it best benefit the country to invest in more links to the coast or in continental Croatia trains? Well, the inland is not being ignored. Upgrades are being made to continental Croatia trains.

This impressive beast actually services the country's coast. But would more investment in the continental Croatia trains network better service more people and help unlock the inland to tourists? Around 70% of the country's inhabitants live in continental Croatia © HŽPP

The rail link between Zagreb and Slavonski Brod is so historic that it was once part of the four routes of the Orient Express. It has been maintained to a standard where you can make a relatively quick journey from the capital to Vinkovci via Slavonski Brod. The same cannot be said for rail travel to Osijek, the access point to Baranya and much more. So slow is the connection between Osijek and Zagreb that it has been possible over recent times to reach the Slavonian capital quicker by taking the train to Vinkovci, then the bus to Osijek, rather than travelling direct by rail.

Osijek train station. A renovation to the building is planned for the near future © Romulić & Stojčić

However, in February this year, Croatian Railways introduced four direct daily lines between Slavonski Brod and Osijek. And there will be a new tilting train line that will run between Zagreb to Osijek on Friday afternoon and from Osijek to Zagreb on Sunday afternoon, facilitating student travel. On October 15, the first low-floor train will run between Osijek and Vinkovci as an additional part of the renewal of their continental Croatia trains fleet in Slavonia. The welcome return of Croatia's second-oldest international rail line - linking Osijek to Pécs in Hungary, via Beli Manastir and Baranya - was introduced in late 2018.

A motorway stretch between Metković and Dubrovnik, integrating the Pelješac bridge and the Croatian segment of the European corridor are the final big remaining projects in a three-decade-long undertaking to give Croatia one of the best motorway networks in Europe. Should Croatia's rail network be next? © Hrvatske Autoceste

Access to Slavonia and Baranya will also be massively facilitated upon completion of the European corridor, which will connect North Europe to the Adriatic. Starting in Budapest, it necessitates the building of a bridge near Beli Manastir. Thereafter the motorway will pass by Osijek, connect to the Zagreb-Slavonia motorway near Lipovac, then pass through Bosnia and its capital Sarajevo and on to Ploče.

The removal of budget airline flights to the airport in Osijek remains a hindrance to attracting many international visitors to Slavonia and Baranya. However, with charter airlines facing the greatest uncertainty of all modes of transport at the current time, though their return is a must, it is perhaps now an ambition that should remain more long term. For the immediate future, improvements to rail travel look to be a brilliant way of opening up not only Slavonia, Baranya and Vukovar-Srijem, but also an eco-friendly access point capable of serving the whole of untapped continental Croatia.

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