Karlovac Sights and Landmarks Guide, Croatia

Karlovac Sights – The Mediaeval Town

Quite close to Zagreb and Osijek, less than an hour by car, Karlovac is a renaissance town that had a good architectural planning. The mediaeval town was mostly constructed in a baroque style having a six-star shape design for purposes of defense and it was structured into 24 equal blocks, having a central square and regular narrow streets.

Kupa and Korana rivers flow inside the town, while the rivers Mreznica and Dobra flow outside it but very close to Karlovac, thus giving it a strategic position. The town is also located in the green Turopolje area which makes it a touristic attraction for those who want to be in harmony with nature or simply breath fresh air.

Karlovac Sights make reference to many baroque structures, sacral monuments and parks, most of them situated in the baroque square of the historical town.

Besides wandering the streets in the old part of the town to admire old houses and buildings with wooden corridors that used to belong once to noblemen, merchants and artisans, there are plenty of other places that reveal beauty and uniqueness to all their visitors.

Karlovac Sights – Churches, Museums and Castles

Tourists are advised to visit the Baroque Church of the Holy Trinity with the Franciscan Monastery, The national Shrine of St. Joseph, “Zorin Dom”, the Town Museum, the Music School or the mediaeval fortification Dubovac which was converted today into a hotel.

The National Shrine of St. Joseph is a modern church now that was built in 1968 and designated as national shrine in 1987. Inside, there are a marble shrine, the statues of Virgin Mary and of the patron saint, Joseph, pictures of Croatian saints and of blessed ones.

Situated as well in the square, the Madona column was built to protect the town from sufferance after it went through the plague of 1961. There is also a well dating from 1869, located right in the centre of the square and decorated with sculptures that symbolize the 4 seasons of the year. The square is also the place where one can visit the Orthodox Church of St. Nicolas that was built in baroque and classic styles revealing beautiful paintings and woodwork.

The Dubovac Castle is not far away from the city centre, situated on the highest hill in the area and offering incredible views of the city and the Kupa river. Since the 13th century when it was built, the castle went through some changes according to the period of time and to the people who lived inside it. Thus, it had both renaissance and romantic traces that make it a charming destination even nowadays.

The Karlovac City Museum is placed on the Strossmayer Square in the town palace that was built in the 17th century and there are exibits from the old times till nowadays presenting the life of people in Karlovac and the existence of the city itself.

The Katzler House pavillion was once a place where flowers and plants could be admired by tourists and locals, then it was a gallery space and now after being restored it seems to be the perfect location for collections that remind visitors of the past of Karlovic.

Karlovac Sights – The Green Part of the Town

A part of the mediaeval star-shaped area was transformed into a green space now and it covers the 2,4 km long Franjo Tudman Promenade with chestnut trees. It surrounds the central city making it even more attractive and accessible.

Lovers of nature are invited to admire the landscape park and its protected monuments Vrbanic’s Perivoj and Marmont Alley with plane trees built in classicist style or Banski Moravci which is a unique biological reserve. All those presented above are incredible Karlovac sights that should be seen on your way to the seaside.