Mitološka karta RH (dvojezična)

ZAGREB

PAPUK

IMOTSKI

RASTOKE

PULA

KRINGA

rogoznica

mljet

samobor

Tragovima najpoznatije zagrebačke vještice Grička vještica ili coprnica, kako se u zagrebačkom slengu nazivaju vještice, bila je lijepa pekarica Barica Cindek čiji su jedini grijesi bili ljepota i omiljenost među brojnim mušterijama koje je imala na Markovu trgu. S obzirom na to da je udovica Barica redom odbijala sve udvarače, čak i one iz uglednih redova, tako su uvrijeđeni muškarci počeli smišljati glasine kako je riječ o kapetanici vještičjeg ceha koja ljubuje s crnim vragom. U tadašnja praznovjerna doba priče su pale na plodno tlo, a Baričina tragična sudbina gotovo je zapečaćena kada je odbila udvaranje jednog od najmoćnijih zagrebačkih bilježnika. Osvetoljubivi Lacko Sale pokrenuo je proces protiv trgovkinje temeljen na lažnim iskazima žena koje su tvrdile kako je Barica vještica. Iako je u cijeloj Europi prije tristotinjak godina počeo jačati pokret protiv maltretiranja, mučenja i spaljivanja nedužnih žena, Barica Cindek morala je proći kalvariju u tamnici, ali smrt je izbjegla gotovo u posljednji čas kada je uz pomoć prijatelja i obitelji potkupila pohlepnog notara Salu. No samo tri mjeseca nakon okončanja procesa, Barica Cindek odlučuje se na hrabar potez koji će je na koncu stajati života. Nedužna pekarica odlučila je na sudu potražiti pravdu protiv moćnog Sale tužeći ga za mito, poticanje na blud i traženje vražjeg pečata na tijelu. Obična trgovkinja nije imala šanse protiv bogatog bilježnika te je, prema jednom izvoru, ubrzo spaljena.

Odisejeva špilja - čarobno mjesto iz kojeg vas ni Zeus neće uspjeti izvući Priča koju stanovnici Mljeta vrlo radu pričaju dogodila se prije tri tisuće godina kada se antički junak Odisej vraćao iz jednog od mnogobrojnih putovanja. Negdje u blizini Mljeta zahvatila ga je velika morska oluja, a njegov se brod razbio o oštre stijene hridi Ogiran. Odisej je morao plivati do najbližeg kopna kako bi spasio život, a usred pobjesnjelog mora pred njim se otvorila rupa u zemlji, u koju je uplivao. Bio je to ulaz u špilju gdje je našao sigurnost od nevremena. Na otoku je živjela nimfa Kalipso koja je Odiseja držala zatočenog kao ljubavnika punih sedam godina. Iako je tijekom dana tugovao za voljenom suprugom Penelopom, svake ga je večeri Kalipso očarala i obećavala besmrtnost ako ostane s njom. Oslobođen je tek na zapovijed Zeusa. Kalipso je nevoljko poslušala riječ gospodara Olimpa, ali je naredila da se Odiseju sagradi splav i opskrbi dovoljnim količinama hrane i vina kako bi stigao u rodnu Itaku. Kada je otišao njezin ljubavnik, Kalipso je navodno umrla od tuge. Priča tu završava, a u Odisejevu špilju „uselilo” se jedno neobično stvorenje. Dugi niz godina bila je prirodno stanište jednog od najrjeđih sisavaca na svijetu – sredozemne medvjedice.

Kako su vile izgradile najljepšu pozornicu na svijetu? U davno doba, daleko prije Rimljana, pitomom su Istrom letjele vile, tankoćutne i gotovo nedostižno lijepe. Po noći su veselo i razigrano plesale po čarobnim livadama i brežuljcima, a danju su se sakrivale od ljudi. S obzirom na to da su to bile vile graditeljice, jedne su noći došle na ideju o gradnji svojeg grada. Marljivo su nosile kamenje s planine Učke dok im se znoj cijedio s mjesečinom obasjanih čela. Pažljivo slažući kamenje u krug vile su red po red zidale impozantnu građevinu, žureći se dovršiti posao prije izlaska sunca. Kada su prvi pijetli zakukurikali, vile su se kao prava noćna stvorenja sakrile od ljudi u svoja tajna skrovišta. Za njima je ostalo razasuto kamenje od Učke do mora koje su u panici ostavile da ih ljudi ne vide, a pulska Arena ostala je nedovršena, bez krova. Zadivljeni narod njezino je nastajanje mogao objasniti jedino kao rad tajanstvenih sila pa je tako amfiteatar u Puli poznat i kao Divić-grad (staroslavenska riječ za čudo bila je divić).

Najljepša Ružica na Papuku Na mjestu gdje je sagrađen Ružica grad nekada je bilo vilinsko sastajalište gdje su ljupka šumska stvorenja noću održavala sastanke, kuhale napitke, smišljanje nove čarolije, a znale su i zapjevati i zaplesati. No jednoga dana njihovu je idilu naprasito prekinuo moćni plemić koji je upravo na tom mjestu odlučio sagraditi utvrđeni grad. Uskoro je njihovo sastajalište pretvoreno u pravo gradilište. Na omiljenom vilinskom proplanku počele su nicati zidine, a omiljeni hlad od stabala nestao je pod udarcima teških sjekira. Vile su odlučile upotrijebiti sve svoje čarolije pa su pod okriljem noći sve razrušile. Ujutro je bjesni plemić po selu tražio krivce, ali ljudi su samo nemoćno slijegali ramenima. Naredio je radnicima da ponovno krenu u izgradnju, a vile bi noću opet sve porušile. Ponavljalo se to nekoliko puta dok plemić nije postavio straže koje su otkrile vilinske noćne radove. Odlučio im je postaviti zasjedu i surovo ih kazniti. U mrežu je uhvatio najljepšu vilu Ružicu. Ostale vile mogle su samo nemoćno gledati i plakati kako je okrutni plemić vuče za kosu, u kojoj je bila sva njezina moć, i zazidava je u temelje grada. Taj je čin otjerao ostale vile, ali plemića je zadesilo vilinsko prokletstvo. U trenutku kada su trubači u svečanim uniformama objavljivali svršetak gradnje s najviše se kule odlomio golemi kamen i pao na plemića. Njegovo je ime jednostavno izbrisano, a grad je dobio ime po najljepšoj vili papučke šume – Ružica grad.

Jure Grando - najstariji europski vampir s imenom i prezimenom Zastrašujuća priča o istarskom štrigunu započinje 1656. godine u Istri kada je pokopan pokojnik imena Jure Grando. Nedugo nakon samog ukopa mještani su počeli viđati njegovu utvaru kako luta selom s mrtvom ovcom na jednom ramenu i crnom mačkom na drugom. Noć obilježena Jurinim sablasnim smiješkom sijala je strah među stanovnicima Kringe. Ukazao se pateru Giorgiju koji mu je služio misu na grobu, a i Grandova udovica prestravljeno je prepričavala kako je pokojnik često noću posjećuje i maltretira. Spomenuti pater uskoro je stigao do stravičnog otkrića. Čovjek na čija je vrata Jure Grando pokucao tijekom noći preminuo je u roku od nekoliko dana. Kringa je tih dana bila pravo selo straha, pogotovo nakon što pater Giorgio i župan Miho Radetić nisu strašnoj beštiji uspjeli kolcem proburaziti srce. Tek jedne noći 1672. devetorica hrabrih mještana naoružani glogovim kolcem, križevima i ostalim antivampirskim oružjem odlučila su prekinuti Jurinu strahovladu. Kada su iskopali grob, lica su im se okamenila od straha jer je Grandovo tijelo bilo očuvano, a rumeno lice još je bilo nasmiješeno. Kada mu nisu uspjeli glogov kolac utjerati u srce i utrobu, mještanin Stipan Milašić u ruke je uzeo oštru sjekiru i odrubio Jurinu glavu. U tom se trenutku grobljem promolio grozan urlik, a istarski se vampir počeo trzati i bacakati kao da je živ. Naposljetku su „istjerivači vampira” uspjeli. Kringa se oslobodila velikog zla, a selom je zavladao mir i spokoj. Takva je i danas, a „povampiriti” se možete jedino za istarskim delicijama.

Rastoke - skriveni raj na zemlji u kojem žive vile Čuli ste za izreku „kratko, ali slatko”. Upravo se ona može primijeniti na rijeku Slunjčicu. Iako je duga samo 6,5 kilometara, ova je rijeka unatoč kratkom toku stvorila neke od najspektakularnijih krajolika u Hrvatskoj, a njezino ulijevanje u rijeku Koranu popraćeno je prirodnim koncertom 23 slapa i mnogim brzacima u kojima se voda veseli, huči, ciči i jednostavno slavi život u Rastokama. Samo ime malenog mjesta smještenog tik uz Slunj označava kako se ovdje rastače voda, a mnogi ga nazivaju i „Plitvicama u malom”. Bajkovitom krajoliku pridonose i mlinice žličare tipične za ove krajeve čiji kotači hihoću dok ih Slunjčica škaklja. U tišini modrozelene oaze nastale su brojne legende, a najpoznatija je među njima o rastočkim vilama. Ova plaha šumska stvorenja od davnina žive u rastočkom raju, a budući da zaziru od ljudi, većinom su aktivna noću. Prema narodnim pričama, dok su mlinovi neumorno mljeli kukuruz i pšenicu, a mlinari i mlinarice uz škrto svjetlo petrolejke prepričavali životne zgode, rastočke su vile uzimale njihove konje koji su se odmarali za povratak kući. U ranu zoru, kada su zvijezde završavale svoje noćno kupanje, a prve Sunčeve zrake počele milovati vlati trave i bistru vodu, šumske su vragolanke vraćale životinje u sjenik zadihane i znojne od noćnog provoda po okolnim zelenim brežuljcima s grivama ispletenima u guste sitne pletenice. Iako danas u Rastokama više nema konja, vile su još uvijek tu. Omiljeno im je okupljalište slap prigodnog imena Vilina kosa koji svojom srebrnom bojom vode savršeno pristaje uz srebrne kose rastočkih vila.

Okupajte se u zjenici Zmajeva oka Najpoznatija priča, po kojoj je jezero i dobilo ime Zmajevo oko, govori o strašnom zmaju Murinu koji je bio izvanbračni sin božice Here i boga mora Posejdona. Ogromno je čudovište vladalo obližnjim otokom Velom smokvicom i štitilo stanovnike od raznih razbojnika i pljačkaša, ali zauzvrat je tražilo krvavi danak. Svake godine na najduži dan Murin je dobivao najljepšu djevojku za ženu. Nijedna nesretnica nije preživjela prvu zmajsku bračnu noć dok se na krilatom konju Pegazu nije pojavio Aristoles, praunuk Argonauta Jasona. Veličanstveni junak zaljubio se u djevojku koja je trebala postati nova zmajeva žena i izazvao je strašnog Murina na dvoboj. Kopljem koje je uz pomoć Hefesta i Mjesečeve prašine iskovala božica Atena hrabri je ratnik smrtno ranio opakog suparnika. Dok je umirao, Murin je oštrim kandžama iskopao vlastite oči. Jedno je oko bacio daleko iza otoka Mljeta, a drugo mu je samo iskliznulo pod noge i istopilo kamen. U kamenu udubinu slilo se more i nastalo je jezero znakovita imena Zmajevo oko.

Crveno i Modro jezero - Loch Ness na hrvatski način Priroda se u Imotskom poigrala kao malo gdje na svijetu. Zaštićen majčinskim zagrljajem Biokova, ovaj grad u Dalmatinskoj zagori skriva dva prirodna fenomena – Crveno i Modro jezero koji su godinama predmet brojnih narodnih priča i legendi. Modro jezero sa sobom nosi priču o vilama koje tijekom zore i zalaska sunca upijaju ljepotu jezera, a prema lokalnoj legendi, u obližnju Vilinsku pećinu nikad nije kročila ljudska noga. Otprilike kilometar i pol od Modrog smješteno je Crveno jezero. Obrubljeno kamenom čipkom od crvenih stijena po kojima je i dobilo ime, ovo je jezero jedno od najdubljih u Europi. Hipnotizirajuće čarobna površina vode pritom skriva jednu strašnu priču. Prije mnogo godina na području Imotskog živio je vrlo bogat čovjek Gavan sa suprugom Gavanicom i djecom. Po izgledu bio čovjek, ali njegova je duša bila vražja. Maltretirao je sluge i mještane, a jedini mu je hobi bilo gomilanje bogatstva. Kako bi se uvjerio u Gavanovu oholost, jedne se večeri do njegovih dvora spustio anđeo prerušen u prosjaka koji je tražio milostinju. Vrata mu je otvorila supruga Gavanica i odbila mu dati vode i hrane. Na pitanje anđela boji li se Božje kazne bahata bogatašica kratko je odbrusila: „Što će meni Bog tvoj, dok je meni Gavan moj?” U tom je času anđeo zbacio poderanu odjeću sa sebe i izvukao vatreni mač. Nebo se razbjesnilo, a munje počele divljati poput divljih konja. Zemlja se od silnog podrhtavanja otvorila, a u duboke su rupe na mjestu današnjeg Crvenog i Modrog jezera propali Gavanovi i cijelo njihovo bogatstvo. Stanovnici Imotskog tvrde kako se i danas kada puše bura čuju krikovi Gavana i Gavanice iz dubine jezera, a kada je vrijeme dobro i voda mirna, moguće je vidjeti ostatke bogataševih dvora.

Dobrodošli u svijet samoborskih gorostasa - Hajda Riječ je o divovima koji su u davna vremena živjeli na brežuljcima i u rajskim šumama Samoborskog gorja, nedaleko od istoimenog grada poznatog po baroknoj arhitekturi, fašniku i kremšnitama. Ovi su gorostasi bili toliko veliki da im je samo nožna cjevanica bila visoka kao današnji ljudi, a svojom su snagom mogli bez napora iščupati stoljetni hrast s korijenjem i od njega napraviti batinu. Njihova šumska idila u samoborskom je kraju trajala do dolaska čovjeka. S vremenom je broj ljudi toliko porastao da su krenuli tjerati Hajde, koji su se od „čovječje invazije” branili plotovima izrađenima od ogromnih stijena i stabala. Otuda potječe i današnji običaj u samoborskom području da se zemljište ogradi plotovima. No nikakve ograde nisu mogle spriječiti nadiranje ljudi pa su se Hajdi krenuli povlačiti s brežuljka na brežuljak. Posljednji divovi živjeli su na jednom brdu koje je po njima nazvano Hajdovčak, na kojem se još navodno mogu pronaći njihove velike kosti.

Sjetite se gričke vještice dok uživate u mirisima, okusima i zvucima Tkalčićeve ulice gdje ćete pronaći spomenik Marije Jurić Zagorke - jedne od najvećih hrvatskih književnica i prve hrvatske novinarke. Inspiraciju za lik kontese Nere u njenom djelu Grička vještica upravo je dobila u spisima o vješticama koji datiraju iz sredine 18. stoljeća.

Danas je Arena mjesto održavanja spektakularnih koncerata najvećih svjetskih glazbenih zvijezda koje imaju priliku pjevati na najljepšoj otvorenoj pozornici na svijetu.

S Crvenim jezerom povezana je još jedna zanimljivost. Nitko nikada nije uspio baciti kamen u jezero. Dolazilo je tu vrlo mnogo jakih ljudi. Uzimali su zalet, primjenjivali posebne tehnike bacanja, ali onaj poznati „buć” još se nikada nije čuo.

Hrvatski Park prirode Papuk koji je uvršten na UNESCO-ov popis geoparkova na poseban način djeluje na čovjeka. Ne, nema nikakve magične moći ili čarobna svojstva, nego se samo koristi drevnim jezikom prirode. Šapat potoka koji tiho i nježno češlja mahovinom obraslo kamenje, čarobni sinkronizirani ples lišća koje pokreće blagi povjetarac i pjev ptica koje najavljuju još jednu ugodnu večer trodimenzionalna su iskustva uz koja je lako zavoljeti široku zelenu dušu šume i povjerovati u sve legende koje su ispričane o ovom komadiću raja.

Danas je zemlja divova dio Parka prirode Žumberak u kojem se vlastitim osjetilima možete uvjeriti u kakvom su raju na zemlji nekada živjeli Hajdi.

Gradić Rogoznica raj je za ljubitelje mira koji na brojnim plažama mogu upijati sve zvukove, mirise i okuse Mediterana, ali isto tako imaju jedinstvenu priliku okupati se u morskom jezeru koje se nalazi tik do mora na poluotoku Gradina. Rogozničko jezero, u narodu poznato kao i Zmajevo oko zbog svojeg eliptičnog oblika, prema legendi, nastalo je kada je ovdje pao meteorit. Posebnost je ovog jezera to što se sastoji od nekoliko slojeva vode. Na površini je voda zelena i plava, dok je u središnjem dijelu žuta i zelena. U donjim slojevima nema kisika, već visoka koncentracija sumpora vodu čini ružičastom, crvenom ili ljubičastom.

ZAGREB

PAPUK

IMOTSKI

RASTOKE

PULA

KRINGA

rogoznica

mljet

samobor

In the footsteps of the most famous Zagreb witch The Greek witch or Coprnica, as witches are called in Zagreb slang, was the beautiful baker Barica Cindek whose only sins were beauty and popularity among the many customers she had on St. Mark's Square. Given that the widow Barica in turn rejected all suitors, even those from respectable ranks, so offended men began to make up rumors that she was the captain of a witch's guild who was in love with a black devil. In those superstitious times, the stories fell on fertile ground, and Barica's tragic fate was almost sealed when she refused to court one of Zagreb's most powerful notaries. The vengeful Lacko Sale has launched a lawsuit against the trafficker based on the false statements of women who claimed Barica was a witch. Although the movement against the harassment, torture and burning of innocent women began to strengthen throughout Europe three hundred years ago, Barica Cindek had to go through a ordeal in prison, but death escaped almost at the last minute when she bribed greedy notary Salo with the help of friends and family. But just three months after the trial is over, Barica Cindek decides on a bold move that will ultimately cost her her life. The innocent baker decided to seek justice in court against the mighty Sale by suing him for bribery, incitement to fornication and seeking the devil’s seal on the body. The ordinary merchant had no chance against the rich notary and, according to one source, was soon burned.

Odysseus' Cave - a magical place from which not even Zeus will be able to get you out The story that the inhabitants of Mljet are very fond of telling happened three thousand years ago when the ancient hero Odysseus was returning from one of his many travels. Somewhere near Mljet, he was caught in a big sea storm, and his ship crashed against the sharp rocks of the Ogiran cliff. Odysseus had to swim to the nearest land to save his life, and in the middle of the raging sea a hole opened up in front of him in the ground into which he was entering. It was the entrance to the cave where he found safety from the storm. The island was inhabited by the nymph Calypso, who kept Odysseus captive as a lover for a full seven years. Although he mourned for his beloved wife Penelope during the day, every night Calypso enchanted him and promised him immortality if he stayed with her. He was released only at the command of Zeus. Calypso reluctantly obeyed the word of the lord of Olympus, but ordered Odysseus to build a raft and supply him with sufficient food and wine to arrive in his native Ithaca. When her lover left, Calypso reportedly died of sadness. The story ends here, an unusual creature "moved" into Odysseus' cave. For many years it was the natural habitat of one of the rarest mammals in the world - the Mediterranean seal.

How did the fairies build the most beautiful stage in the world? In ancient times, long before the Romans, fairies flew through tame Istria, delicate and almost unattainably beautiful. At night they danced merrily and playfully on magical meadows and hills, and during the day they hid from people. Since they were construction villas, one night they came up with the idea of building their own city. They diligently carried stones from the Učka mountain as their sweat dripped from the moonlit foreheads. Carefully stacking the stones in a circle, the fairies built an imposing building one by one, hurrying to complete the work before sunrise. When the first roosters crowed, the fairies, like real nocturnal creatures, hid from people in their secret hiding places. They were left with scattered stones from Učka to the sea, which left people in a panic so that people could not see them, and the Pula Arena remained unfinished, without a roof. The amazed people could explain its origin only as the work of mysterious forces, so the amphitheater in Pula is also known as Divic-grad (the Old Slavic word for miracle was divic).

The most beautiful Rose on Papuk At the place where Ružica grad was built, there used to be a fairy meeting place where lovely forest creatures held meetings at night, cooked drinks, came up with new magic, and knew how to sing and dance. But one day their idyll was abruptly interrupted by a powerful nobleman who decided to build a fortified city on that very spot. Soon their meeting place was turned into a real construction site. The walls began to sprout on the favorite fairy glade, and the favorite shade of the trees disappeared under the blows of heavy axes. The fairies decided to use all their spells and under the cover of night they destroyed everything. In the morning, a furious nobleman searched the village for the culprits, but the people just shrugged helplessly. He ordered the workers to start building again, and the villas would demolish everything again at night. This was repeated several times until the nobleman set up guards who discovered the fairy night works. He decided to ambush them and punish them severely. He caught the most beautiful villa Ružica in the net. The other fairies could only watch helplessly and cry as the cruel nobleman pulled her by the hair, in which was all her power, and walled her into the foundations of the city. This act drove away the other fairies, but the nobleman was struck by a fairy curse. At the moment when the trumpeters in ceremonial uniforms announced the end of the construction, a huge stone broke off from the highest tower and fell on the nobles. His name was simply erased, and the town was named after the most beautiful fairy in the Papuk forest - Ružica grad.

Jure Grando - the oldest European vampire with a name and surname The frightening story of the Istrian ostrich begins in 1656 in Istria, when the deceased named Jure Grando was buried. Shortly after the burial itself, locals began to see his ghost wandering the village with a dead sheep on one shoulder and a black cat on the other. The night marked by Jura's eerie smile shone with fear among the inhabitants of Kringa. He appeared to Father Giorgi, who was serving him Mass at the grave, and Grand's widow recounted in horror that the deceased often visited and mistreated her at night. The said pater soon made a horrific discovery. The man whose door Jure Grando knocked on during the night passed away within days. Kringa was a real village of fear in those days, especially after father Giorgio and prefect Miho Radetić failed to pierce the heart of the terrible beast with a stake. Only one night in 1672, nine brave locals armed with hawthorn stakes, crosses and other anti-vampire weapons decided to end Jura's reign of terror. When they dug the grave, their faces petrified with fear as Grand's body was preserved and his rosy face was still smiling. When they failed to drive the hawthorn stake into his heart and intestines, the local Stipan Milašić took a sharp ax in his hands and cut off Jura's head. At that moment, a terrible howl was heard in the cemetery, and the Istrian vampire began to twitch and throw as if he were alive. In the end, the "vampire exorcists" succeeded. Kringa got rid of the great evil, and peace and tranquility reigned in the village. It is the same today, and you can "vampire" only for Istrian delicacies.

Rastoke - a hidden paradise on earth inhabited by fairies You've heard the saying "short but sweet." It can be applied to the river Slunjčica. Although only 6.5 kilometers long, this river, despite its short course, has created some of the most spectacular landscapes in Croatia, and its confluence with the Korana River is accompanied by a natural concert of 23 waterfalls and many rapids where the water rejoices, roars, flows and simply celebrates. life in Rastoke. The very name of a small place located right next to Slunj indicates that water is melting here, and many call it "Plitvice in small". Spoon mills typical of these areas, whose wheels giggle while Slunjčica tickles them, also contribute to the fairy-tale landscape. Numerous legends have emerged in the silence of the blue-green oasis, the most famous of which is about the Rastoke fairies. These timid forest creatures have long lived in the Rastoke paradise, and since they shy away from humans, they are mostly active at night. According to folk tales, while the mills tirelessly ground corn and wheat, and the millers recounted life's adventures in the dim light of kerosene lamps, the fairies took their horses as they rested to return home. At dawn, when the stars finished their night bathing and the first rays of the sun began to caress the blades of grass and clear water, the forest mischief-makers returned the animals to the hayloft breathless and sweaty from the night pasture on the surrounding green hills with manes woven into thick tiny braids. Although there are no more horses in Rastoke today, the fairies are still there. Their favorite gathering place is a waterfall with the appropriate name Vilina kosa, which with its silver color of water fits perfectly with the silver hair of Rastoke fairies.

Bathe in the pupil of the Dragon's Eye The most famous story, after which the lake was named Dragon's Eye, tells of the terrible dragon Murin, who was the illegitimate son of the goddess Hera and the sea god Poseidon. A huge monster ruled the nearby island of Vela Smokvica and protected the inhabitants from various robbers and robbers, but in return demanded a bloody tribute. Every year on the longest day Murin got the most beautiful girl for a woman. No unfortunate woman survived the first dragon wedding night until Aristoles, the great-grandson of Argonaut Jason, appeared on the winged horse Pegasus. The magnificent hero fell in love with a girl who was to become the dragon's new wife and challenged the terrible Murin to a duel. With a spear forged by the goddess Athena with the help of Hephaestus and the dust of the moon, the brave warrior mortally wounded a wicked rival. As he died, Murin dug his own eyes out with sharp claws. He cast one eye far behind the island of Mljet, and the other just slipped under his feet and melted the stone. The sea merged into a stone hollow and a lake with the symbolic name Zmajevo oko was created.

Red and Blue Lake - Loch Ness in the Croatian way Nature in Imotski played like few other places in the world. Protected by the maternal embrace of Biokovo, this town in the Dalmatian hinterland hides two natural phenomena - Red and Blue Lake, which have been the subject of numerous folk tales and legends for years. Blue Lake carries with it the story of fairies that absorb the beauty of the lake at dawn and sunset, and according to local legend, no human foot has ever set foot in the nearby Fairy Cave. About a kilometer and a half from the Blue is Red Lake. Lined with stone lace made of red rocks, after which it got its name, this lake is one of the deepest in Europe. The mesmerizingly magical surface of the water hides a scary story. Many years ago, a very rich man Gavan lived in the area of Imotski with his wife Gavanica and children. He looked like a man, but his soul was devilish. He harassed servants and locals, and his only hobby was amassing wealth. To be convinced of Gavan's arrogance, one evening an angel disguised as a beggar descended to his court asking for alms. His wife Gavanica opened the door and refused to give him water and food. When asked by the angels if she was afraid of God's punishment, the arrogant rich woman said briefly: "What will your God do to me, while Gavan is mine?" At that moment, the angel threw off his torn clothes and drew his flaming sword. The sky raged, and lightning began to rage like wild horses. The earth shook with great trembling, and the Gavans and all their wealth collapsed into deep holes on the site of today's Red and Blue Lakes. Residents of Imotski claim that even today, when the bora blows, the cries of Gavan and Gavanica can be heard from the depths of the lake, and when the weather is good and the water is calm, it is possible to see the remains of the rich man's court.

Welcome to the world of Samobor giants – Hajda These are giants who in ancient times lived on the hills and in the heavenly forests of the Samobor hills, not far from the town of the same name known for its Baroque architecture, carnival and cream cheese. These giants were so large that only their foot shin was as tall as today's people, and with their strength they could effortlessly uproot a century-old oak with roots and make a stick out of it. Their forest idyll in the Samobor area lasted until the arrival of man. Over time, the number of people increased so much that they set out to chase the Hajds, who defended themselves from the "human invasion" with fences made of huge rocks and trees. This is the origin of today's custom in the Samobor area to fence the land with fences. But no fences could prevent the onslaught of the people, so Heidi set out to retreat from hill to hill. The last giants lived on a hill named Hajdovčak after them, where their large bones can still be found.

Remember the witch of Grič while enjoying the smells, tastes and sounds of Tkalčićeva street where you will find a monument to Marija Jurić Zagorka - one of the greatest Croatian writers and the first Croatian journalist. The inspiration for the character of Countess Nera in her work The Witch of Grič has just been given in writings about witches dating from the middle of the 18th century.

Today, the Arena is the venue for spectacular concerts by the world's biggest music stars who have the opportunity to sing on the most beautiful open stage in the world.

Another interesting thing is connected with Red Lake. No one ever managed to throw a stone into the lake. A lot of strong people came here. They took a run, applied special throwing techniques, but the famous "blup" has never been heard before.

The Croatian Papuk Nature Park, which is included in the UNESCO list of geoparks, has a special effect on humans. No, it has no magical powers or magical properties, it just uses the ancient language of nature. The whisper of the stream that quietly and gently combs the moss-covered stones, the magical synchronized dance of leaves triggered by a gentle breeze and the singing of birds announcing another pleasant evening are three-dimensional experiences that make it easy to love the wide green soul of the forest and believe all the legends from this piece of paradise.

Today, the land of giants is part of the Žumberak Nature Park, where you can see with your own senses what kind of paradise Heidi once lived on earth.

The town of Rogoznica is a paradise for lovers of peace who can absorb all the sounds, smells and tastes of the Mediterranean on numerous beaches, but also have a unique opportunity to swim in a sea lake located next to the sea on the Gradina peninsula. Rogoznica Lake, popularly known as the Dragon's Eye due to its elliptical shape, according to legend, was formed when a meteorite fell here. The peculiarity of this lake is that it consists of several layers of water. On the surface the water is green and blue, while in the central part it is yellow and green. There is no oxygen in the lower layers, but the high concentration of sulfur makes the water pink, red or purple.