Autorondreis Kroatie

About the destination: Passau is a small city in Bavaria, Germany. Passau is situated at the point where the river Inn and the river Ilz meet the Danube, and for this reason it is often called the "City of Three Rivers. It lies around 2,000 km from the estuary of the Danube on the border to Austria, and enjoys a small but thriving local tourist trade. The Bavarian Forest mountain range is not too far away by car. It has a national park where you can see many types of animals. A nearby district of Passau still has a Pranger standing. A bad-person would be locked in at the neck, hands, and feet on a raised pedestal in the town square and left as punishment. People could throw things at them. This punishment was handed out by the church, for your own good. There are many old buildings, churches and cathedrals to see. Most of the roads in the city center are cobblestone. St. Stephan's Cathedral has the world's second largest cathedral organ, which has concerts at noon. Passau is known for its historic buildings, its university, and its location at the confluence of the three rivers and the last German train station before entering Austria. Like much of Bavaria, it's also predominantly Catholic. If you look very closely, however, you can spot Protestant churches.

About the destination: Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the fifth largest Croatian city and is the centre of modern Croatia's Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Zadar is located opposite the islands of Ugljan and Pašman, from which it is separated by the narrow Zadar Strait. Though all its destructions after WWII, Zadar has kept a rich heritage of world importance, visible in every step. The Roman Forum from the 1st century is a common place for locals to stroll, sit down amongst the ruins and enjoy a nice summer day. St. Donatus Church from the 9th century is one of the best preserved pre-Romanesque buildings in the world and the trademark of the city. The reconstructed Romanesque St. Grisigono Church from the 12th century is one of the most remarkable examples of the combination of different monuments in one. The church was built upon the ruins of an older one, and rebuilt after being bombed in WW2, in combination with a destroyed Benedictine convent in its back. The Romanesque St. Anastasia's Cathedral from the 13th century is very impressive. The tower can be climbed; from its top you have a beautiful view over the city of Zadar and its neighbouring islands. The Sea Organ is a favourite for locals and tourists alike. This man-made organ on Zadar's Riva works with the motion of the waves and 35 pipes to create a musical soundscape. The Sea Organ is the work of Croatian architect Nikola Bašić, who also created the nearby Greeting to The Sun. The city is known for its artists and galleries. There are around a dozen major galleries, and many smaller stores along the side streets. It has a major street for everyday upscale shopping for the locals, and even some tourists with a passion to buy. It is called Spire Brusine and runs through the middle of the old town. Zadar’s sunsets are legendary too, making it the perfect place to unwind for romantics, young and old.

About the destination: Within the boundaries of this heavily forested national park, 16 crystalline lakes tumble into each other via a series of waterfalls and cascades. The mineral-rich waters carve through the rock, depositing tufa in continually changing formations. Clouds of butterflies drift above the 18km of wooden footbridges and pathways that snake around the edges and across the rumbling water.

About the destination: Krk is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. For many years, Krk has been thought to be the largest Adriatic island, although recent measurements now give the neighboring island of Cres an equal surface area; it is the most populous Adriatic island, with numerous towns and villages. On the island Krk there are several dozen marked tourist paths which lead through the woods and by the sea shore. There are printed guides available at any tourist office. The underwater world around the island of Krk is very interesting, and there are several local and international diving clubs. In the woods, lovers of nature and hunting can come across the fox, roe-buck, wild cat and marten while there are also some birds like the snipe, wild duck, griffon vulture and several other types.

About the destination: Effortlessly marrying the attractions of beach and sun with centuries of history and culture, Pula is an excellent holiday choice. Once the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s chief naval base, Pula is an engaging combination of working port and brash Riviera town that has managed to retain a friendly small-town appeal. The highlight of the city is definitely the remarkably well-preserved Roman amphitheatre. It is the sixth largest amphitheatre in the world and was constructed in the first century BC. The amphitheatre itself is spectacular and it present the perfect backdrop for plenty of pictures. The Forum is the main square in the centre of the city, where the Temple of Augustus and the Town Hall are located, in addition to some of Pula's more famous cafés. The Forum is the perfect place to start or to end exploring Pula or for the first morning coffee or for the last drink in the hot summer nights. The Triumphal arch of Sergii is another reminder of the Roman settlement. This majestic arch was built in 27 BC to commemorate 3 members of the Sergii family who held important official duties in Pula. Walking along the short and narrow streets of the old town is a good opportunity to see the succession of styles and exterior influences in the city. There's a lot to see in Pula. It's not all about Roman remains and historic monuments. Pula today is a lively busy city that smoothly combines past and present.

About the destination: Trieste is a city in North-East Italy. Once a very influential and powerful center of politics, literature, music, art and culture under Austrian-Hungarian dominion, its importance fell into decline towards the end of the 20th century, and today, Trieste is often forgotten as tourists head off to the big Italian cities like Rome and Milan. It is, however, a very charming underestimated city, with a quiet and lovely almost Eastern European atmosphere, several pubs and cafes, some stunning architecture and a beautiful sea view. It was also, for a while, the residence of famous Irish writer James Joyce. Trieste is the most international city in the region, suspended between a glorious past of "Little Vienna on the Sea" and the present cosmopolitan city. A journey of discovery of the city's history, literature and art, from the Roman era to medieval wonders, to the Habsburg splendour. The wealth of architectural styles in the palaces in Trieste is remarkable: Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Eclectic and Baroque, coexisting in a harmonious blend with Roman remains, eighteenth century buildings and Hapsburg style buildings. Coffee is one of the flagship products of Trieste. A Free Port for the importation of coffee since the eighteenth century, the port of Trieste is the most important in the Mediterranean for the trade of coffee: the beans that arrive here are not only intended for local coffee roasters but also for those all around the world. But coffee in Trieste is also in rhythm with literature: many and beautiful are the literary cafes, which are historical premises with retro charm, frequented by poets and writers such as James Joyce, Italo Svevo, and Umberto Saba.

About the destination: Perhaps no city is as fabulous as Venice, a metropolis built upon pilings, a labyrinth poised over a lagoon. Venice has been called the drawing room of Europe, and indeed for centuries the city was a sanctuary for ideas and idealists, a crossroad of the Byzantine and Roman worlds. Today Venice is a different kind of drawing room. Wealthy visitors clamber into gondolas to gawk at the Byzantine palaces while being serenaded by accordionists and art appreciators stand on tiptoe for a glimpse of Renaissance masterpieces. No monument is as memorable as the city itself, so use the major sights only as an excuse for wandering. Venice revolves around piazza San Marco. The best feature of the mosaic-covered Basilica di San Marco is the Pala D’Oro, a glittering gold Byzantine bas-relief. The Torre dell’Orologio, left of San Marco, is a beautifully embellished clock tower. For culture vultures check the Accademia for the best of Venetian paintings. Some say that the tourist Venice is indeed Venice, but there are other Venices as well. To find them, wander away from the major sights and into the quieter outlying residential neighbourhoods, you won’t be disappointed, this maze of stone and colour exudes enchantment from every brick.

About the destination: Zurich labours under the misconception that it is nothing more than a sterile banking city – don't believe a word of it. True, Zurich plays home to one of the largest stock exchanges in the world and is the financial motor of Switzerland itself, but step back from the markets and share prices and you'll find an arty, trend-conscious and vibrant city. Just hang in Zurich West for a while. Its former warehouses, viaducts and ship building caverns have been converted into art centres, funky bars and quirky boutiques. Along Langstrasse, the city’s notorious red light district, you’re now as likely to take home a chic handbag crafted by an emerging designer as you are a piece of skirt. Zurich’s character booms from the speakers of the annual Street Parade, a mammoth techno festival that weaves through the city with DJs and minimally-clad dancers on floats. There isn’t a banker’s tie in sight. If there is in the pretty east bank quarter of Niederdorf, it’s loosened. These medieval streets are abuzz with cafés on corners, trendy taprooms and world-class restaurants. It’s easy to while away an afternoon just absorbing its laidback atmosphere, especially in summer when the riverside take on a beach vibe. Winter is special too. Under the spell of snow, the cobbled alleyways, fountains, lakeside promenades and stunning architecture of the Old Town were made for the stroke of an artist’s brush. This is when one of Europe’s best Christmas markets rolls into town and the warming citruses and cinnamons of the glühwein (mulled wine) stalls fill the air. Shoppers will be in their element here at any time of year. Zurich’s flashy side is evident in the upmarket designer boutiques of Bahnhofstrasse, the city’s main shopping drag. But this is no longer a city for the smart set alone; there are plenty of unusual shops to be discovered down hidden streets. Sitting astride the River Limmat and the northern tip of Lake Zurich, Mother Nature certainly smiles down on Switzerland’s biggest city. Architects were courteous in their additions too - just check out the Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches, which face each other across the river. Then, when you’ve had enough of the city’s diverse array of restaurants, first-rate museums and pulsing nightlife, there’s always the nearby Uetliberg mountain or a boat trip on Lake Zurich to enjoy – if only to catch your breath before diving back into the city’s delights again.

About the destination: Krk is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. For many years, Krk has been thought to be the largest Adriatic island, although recent measurements now give the neighboring island of Cres an equal surface area; it is the most populous Adriatic island, with numerous towns and villages. On the island Krk there are several dozen marked tourist paths which lead through the woods and by the sea shore. There are printed guides available at any tourist office. The underwater world around the island of Krk is very interesting, and there are several local and international diving clubs. In the woods, lovers of nature and hunting can come across the fox, roe-buck, wild cat and marten while there are also some birds like the snipe, wild duck, griffon vulture and several other types.

About the destination: Within the boundaries of this heavily forested national park, 16 crystalline lakes tumble into each other via a series of waterfalls and cascades. The mineral-rich waters carve through the rock, depositing tufa in continually changing formations. Clouds of butterflies drift above the 18km of wooden footbridges and pathways that snake around the edges and across the rumbling water.