There are some places that seem like to be dying - Jablanac, place in between

Jablanac

About some places we can read on the internet and find numerous information of their history, culture, art, monuments .... but, some places we feel better than we can find in any written words. 

Peaceful and calm

Old and rusted 

And yes, about Jablanac you can read that there was a place already in the 12th century , in the 13th century, we speak about the free royal city, after that it belonged to the noble family of Frankopan, counts and possessors of many lands. They ruled over the centuries, from the 12th till the 15th century. We speak about them today when we want to give an accent on Croatian language, tradition and customs. They used the Glagolitic script and had several printing facilities, among which the most important one was in Senj, not so far away from Jablanac.

For my stories it is always interesting to find the connection with old tribes who used to live in this area, so here in the surrounding we have the remains of the Bronze Age, walls and Japod dwellings. Japod people were very good at making objects out of amber and they used the well-known Amber road to get the material. 

It is interesting that such a small place could have been so important in the past. When you visit Jablanac today, you can still feel the importance the place once had in connecting sea roads with continental ones. Even today there is a way from Jablanac to the mountain pass Veliki Alan and further on towards Perušić. It could have been the road to Otočac as well. Otočac was well known for its crafts with amber and today you can read about the Japod history and their artefacts in the city museum. 

Today you can come to Jablanac for hiking, there are many interesting connections and well done walking paths in all directions. There is even a forest house Miroslav Hirtz above the place. It stands there for about one hundred years. 

A forest house Hirtz on the right side above the place

In walking distance from Jablanac there is the Zavratnica bay, treasure of natural movements and layers of ground and water. This is one submerged torrent valley with canyon cliffs originated in Cretaceous strata. The bay is not just recognisable for nature, flora and fauna, the landscape, for the colour of the ambience, but also for a shipwreck from World War II,  which you can still see laying at the bottom, especially as the water is so clear.

Jablanac was a ferry port for many years  that was connecting the island of Rab with the mainland. During that period there were many shops, private accommodation, restaurants, hotel..... 

Cats and dogs

Today none of it, as the ferry port of Rab is in the next bay of Stinica. A scenic location has been granted peace. But now there is simply nothing left - no shops, no bread to buy.... nothing.

A local fisherman told me, locals help each other in bringing supplies, especially elderly people who do not drive a car. Bura, often hurricane-force wind from Northeast to East can be here very strong, so supplies need to be done for a longer period....

This is why everybody there lives in  harmony, helping each other. 

Find time to visit this unique place, take your walking shoes and dance in the wildness!

All material, including photos & videos by Darka