Croatia open 2012 will be organized traditionally in Region of Gorski kotar and Kvarner in western part of Croatia. It is five-day orienteering festival which will be organized for 16^th time. Competitors in each category will be competing for prizes which will be given on prize-giving ceremony after all 5 stages based on overall time. Also, sprint event will be ranked (beside for overall) as individual stage so there will be extra prize-giving ceremony after second stage. 

Gorski kotar and Kvarner are parts of Croatia very well conected by roads, highways and railways what opens many posibilties of your arrival to Croatia. You can decide to choose travel by car, bus, train, boat or airplane.

Note that in 2012 there will not be any official transport organized. Stages will be placed in close vicinity of Delnice and on Island of Krk.

Note that all Croatian highways (except one in Istra region) have established payment system where you can dicide to pay in cash or by credit card on pay tools. Also bridge which connects island of Krk with land is paying. Other roads are free of charge.

Road map of Croatia

WHAT TO VISIT DURING CROATIA OPEN 2012?

Delnice are administrative and sport center for region Gorski kotar placed on 700 m above sea level suronded by high peaks and interesting karst terrain. During the winter Delnice attracts visitors from nearby towns and villages for alpine skiing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing and ski-jumping while in warmer period of the year tennis, fottball, handball and other outdoor sport take part.

National park Risnjak is strong climate and vegetation barrier between coastal and continental parts of Croatia with highest peak called Veliki Risnjak (1528 m). Risnjak massive is natural bond between the Alps and the Balkan mountains providing habitat for all three European large animals (bear, wolf and lynx). Area of national park is full of beautiful karst forms decorated with great variety of flowers in close vicinity of Kvarner bay.

Kvarner region is placed in northern part of Adriatic with old tourism tradition. Besides natural combination of mountain chains, rivers, lakes, sea and islands Kvarner shows multi-cultural history made of Slavic, Romanic and Germanic cultural treasuries. Here you will meet charming people, great cusine, extrodinary nature scenery and… Well, you will have to check it out yourself!

Krk is the largest Adriatic island, and also the most populous one, with plenty of towns and villages perfect for sprint orienteering with specific structure typical for Mediteranian. Town of Krk (Curicum) was established in Roman time (50 BC) and over the history was under the Eastern Roman Empire, Avars, Slavs (Croatian first setllers), Byzantinum, the Frankopan family, Venetians (Veglia), Austrians and finally became Croatian in 20th century. Beside rich history, Town Krk will show you nice stony and sand beach splashed by crystal clear Adriatic sea.

National park Brioni is placed in western coast of Istra and it is one of the most interesting places to visit in Croatia. Mild Mediterranean climate, lots of sun and warm weather is what waits you all year round. The paleontological findings of the dinosaurs, African animals, The mausoleum of the Kupelwieser family and much other will wait you in this archipelago close to Pula. 140 km away from Delnice.

National park Plitvička jezera is the oldest Croatian national park and one of most beautiful for sure in whole World. Complex of lakes in karst environment with breath taking scenery is something that you will remember for long time. Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 in recognition of it´s outstanding natural beauty. Plitvice can be reached by car from Delnice (130 km) for 2 hours. In 2012 we will provide you official bus transport from Delnice to Plitvice on rest day of event. For all of you who don´t know anything about Plitvice we recomand you to look at these video (Youtube) part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5 (on german language).