Cres
Encyclopedia
Cres is an Adriatic island in Croatia
. It is one of the northern island in the Kvarner Gulf
and can be reached via ferry from the island Krk
or from the Istria
n peninsula (line Brestova
-Porozina
).
With an area of 405.78 km², Cres is the same size as the neighbouring island of Krk
, although Krk
has for many years been thought the largest of the islands. Cres has a population of 3,184 (2001).
Cres and the neighbouring island of Lošinj
once used to be one island, but were divided by a channel and connected with a bridge at the town of Osor
. Cres's only fresh water source is the Lake Vrana.
. After the fall of the Roman Empire the island was taken over and became a part of the Byzantine Empire
, and remained this way for centuries. In the 7th Century the Croats invaded the island, and the other islands around it, and took the islands over, however the Croats returned the islands in the early 9th century (believed to be somewhere around 812).
Around 822 Croatia became an independent state, while on the island Croat-Roman tensions grew. Then, around 866 the inhabitants saw the first conflicts between the Croats and the Republic of Venice
. The Venetians eventually set up their rule of the islands in the 10th and 11th centuries.
However the Croats regained the islands and the islands went through a change of rulers for centuries, being ruled by Croats, Hungarians, and for 400 years the Venetians took control of the islands. After Napoleon's victory over the Venetians, the island went under Austrian rule. After the defeat of Austria by Napoleon in 1809 the islands became part of the French Empire.
After the fall of Napoleon, Austria once again took control of the island for 100 years. During this time the economy developed with olive trees, sage, and other plants becoming key to the success of the island. At the end of World War I, with the Treaty of Rapallo
signed in 1920, the island was once again handed over to Italy. This lasted until 1947 when the Islands, along with Istrian Peninsula, were assigned to Yugoslavia.
The island has gone through an agricultural downturn as many residents left the island in search of a better life on the mainland and abroad. This has resulted in many former agricultural areas becoming overgrown with local vegetation. Recently people, primarily retirees, have been returning to live on the island. Tourism has become an increasingly important industry and the population experiences significant seasonal variation.
); on the other is the bridge to Lošinj
(Lussino), which was once linked the two but is now separated by a waterway. Approaching the island from Pula, you will first come to Porozina.
A list of the towns with descriptions is below:
The town of Cres is more like a city and is a great one at that, its centre filled with shops where tourists can buy Cres' specialties, home made olive oil and wine. The town is not made for cars, it is a walking city, and can be related to many Italian cities due to its narrow streets. Cres also has a marina nearby, which has recently been awarded the blue flag status, with many boats in it. A picture of the town's port can be seen below.
Cres has its very own fresh water lake, which is very highly guarded and illegal to swim and fish in. It supplies water to neighboring Lošinj
(it. Lussino) as well. It is one of the deepest fresh water lakes in Eastern Europe, going down 76 meters at its deepest point (>50 m below sea-level).
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. It is one of the northern island in the Kvarner Gulf
Kvarner Gulf
The Kvarner Gulf ); sometimes also Kvarner Bay, in Italian Quarnaro or Carnaro) is a bay in the northern Adriatic Sea, located between the Istrian peninsula and the northern Croatian seacoast....
and can be reached via ferry from the island Krk
Krk
Krk is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county....
or from the Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
n peninsula (line Brestova
Brestova
Brestova is a village in Croatia, located south of Učka Mountain ridge. It is connected by the D402 road, which links the Brestova ferry port, from where ferries fly to the island of Cres. The settlement is administered as a part of Istria County and Kršan municipality....
-Porozina
Porozina
Porozina is a small port town in Croatia, located on the northwest coast of Cres. It is connected by ferry to Brestova on the Istria mainland....
).
With an area of 405.78 km², Cres is the same size as the neighbouring island of Krk
Krk
Krk is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county....
, although Krk
Krk
Krk is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county....
has for many years been thought the largest of the islands. Cres has a population of 3,184 (2001).
Cres and the neighbouring island of Lošinj
Lošinj
Lošinj is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Gulf. It is almost due south of the city of Rijeka and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county....
once used to be one island, but were divided by a channel and connected with a bridge at the town of Osor
Osor
Osor is a village and a small port on the Cres island in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in western Croatia.Osor lies at a narrow channel that separates islands Cres and Lošinj. The channel was built in Roman times to make sailing possible. Now the islands are connected with a rotating bridge.The...
. Cres's only fresh water source is the Lake Vrana.
History
Cres has been inhabited since the Paleolithic time period and was later ruled by the Roman EmpireRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. After the fall of the Roman Empire the island was taken over and became a part of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, and remained this way for centuries. In the 7th Century the Croats invaded the island, and the other islands around it, and took the islands over, however the Croats returned the islands in the early 9th century (believed to be somewhere around 812).
Around 822 Croatia became an independent state, while on the island Croat-Roman tensions grew. Then, around 866 the inhabitants saw the first conflicts between the Croats and the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. The Venetians eventually set up their rule of the islands in the 10th and 11th centuries.
However the Croats regained the islands and the islands went through a change of rulers for centuries, being ruled by Croats, Hungarians, and for 400 years the Venetians took control of the islands. After Napoleon's victory over the Venetians, the island went under Austrian rule. After the defeat of Austria by Napoleon in 1809 the islands became part of the French Empire.
After the fall of Napoleon, Austria once again took control of the island for 100 years. During this time the economy developed with olive trees, sage, and other plants becoming key to the success of the island. At the end of World War I, with the Treaty of Rapallo
Treaty of Rapallo
Following World War I there were two Treaties of Rapallo, both named after Rapallo, a resort on the Ligurian coast of Italy:* Treaty of Rapallo, 1920, an agreement between Italy and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes for the independence of the state of Fiume and Italian renunciation...
signed in 1920, the island was once again handed over to Italy. This lasted until 1947 when the Islands, along with Istrian Peninsula, were assigned to Yugoslavia.
The island has gone through an agricultural downturn as many residents left the island in search of a better life on the mainland and abroad. This has resulted in many former agricultural areas becoming overgrown with local vegetation. Recently people, primarily retirees, have been returning to live on the island. Tourism has become an increasingly important industry and the population experiences significant seasonal variation.
Towns of Cres
The island has many towns, all of them connected by a road that runs down the middle of the island. On one side is the ferry from the mainland (around the city of PulaPula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
); on the other is the bridge to Lošinj
Lošinj
Lošinj is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Gulf. It is almost due south of the city of Rijeka and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county....
(Lussino), which was once linked the two but is now separated by a waterway. Approaching the island from Pula, you will first come to Porozina.
- PorozinaPorozinaPorozina is a small port town in Croatia, located on the northwest coast of Cres. It is connected by ferry to Brestova on the Istria mainland....
- A small town comprising the ferry terminal and a few shops. - Beli - This small town, at the end of a long and very narrow road, is home to a famed bird species, the endangered Griffon vultureGriffon VultureThe Griffon Vulture is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae.The Griffon Vulture is long with a wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh and females typically weigh , while in the Indian subspecies the vultures average...
. - CresCres (town)Cres is a Croatian town found on the Island of Cres which can be found directly off the Istrian Peninsula and in the Kvarner Gulf. The town is inhabited by 2,959 people , and located at .-Town:...
- Orlec - Another small town at the end of a narrow road, also home to the endangered vulture.
- ValunValunValun is a village in Croatia....
- Visible on the way to Lubenice (see below), this town does not permit cars. A fee is charged for parking. - LubeniceLubeniceLubenice is an ancient fort city on the island of Cres, Croatia that was founded approximately four thousand years ago on top of a 380 m high ridge that overlooks the Adriatic Sea. It is a small local center that comprises forty buildings and twenty-four permanent inhabitants...
- An ancient mountain village with a great view of the sea and neighboring islands. A restaurant and bar operate during the warmer months. Weekly musical concerts take place during the peak tourist season.
- BelejBelejBelej is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D100 highway....
- Stivan - On a side street this small town of 16 people is features a very private beach, old houses and a church, and is on the way to many other towns.
- MeragMeragMerag is a small port town in Croatia, not far from Krk, located on the east coast of Cres. It is connected by ferry to Valbiska and is accessed via the D101 which is connected to the D100, the main road on the island of Cres....
-with ferry connections - Miholašćica - A small town with a small church which shares the same name as the community (St. Michael). Tourism has grown here since the arrival of the Zaglav community nearby.
- Martinšćica - The home of a large vacation complex, Slatina, along with beaches and cafes.
- OsorOsorOsor is a village and a small port on the Cres island in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in western Croatia.Osor lies at a narrow channel that separates islands Cres and Lošinj. The channel was built in Roman times to make sailing possible. Now the islands are connected with a rotating bridge.The...
(it. Ossero)- A town on the "border" between two islands. Founded by the Romans who also dug the channel thus dividing what was then known as the Osor island into Cres and Lošinj. Then a major port and commercial centre started to fade with coming of larger ships that could not pass the narrow channel or dock in the shallow port. - Pernat - The westernmost village on Cape Pernat. A quaint and rustic village forming a gateway to numerous walking trails and secluded beaches.
- Podol - Between Lubenice and Valun. A tiny hamlet that resembles a large farmhouse. Its key feature is the mulberry tree located in the middle of the road.
- Punta KrizaPunta KrižaPunta Križa is a village in Croatia....
- The southernmost part of Cres. FKK resort is here. - Vidovici - A short distance uphill from Martinšćica. A village with an extraordinary view of the Istrian Peninsula and numerous islands including Zeča, Lošinj and Unije forming part of the archipelago. A restaurant operates in the evenings during the warmer months.
The Town of Cres
For a full article please see Cres (Town)Cres (town)
Cres is a Croatian town found on the Island of Cres which can be found directly off the Istrian Peninsula and in the Kvarner Gulf. The town is inhabited by 2,959 people , and located at .-Town:...
The town of Cres is more like a city and is a great one at that, its centre filled with shops where tourists can buy Cres' specialties, home made olive oil and wine. The town is not made for cars, it is a walking city, and can be related to many Italian cities due to its narrow streets. Cres also has a marina nearby, which has recently been awarded the blue flag status, with many boats in it. A picture of the town's port can be seen below.
Construction and Improvements
A massive work effort is taking place on the main road, it is being widened and is being brought further away from the cliffs, the road is also cutting out dangerous turns and other threats to drivers. It is also keeping trucks and cars away from Lake Vrana, to keep it clean. As of July 2007, the work is about 30-40% complete. The work, being done by construction company GP Krk is not only allowing a safer driving network, but is also allowing more tourism and traffic to move faster around the island, while still protecting the public.Lake Vrana
Lošinj
Lošinj is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Gulf. It is almost due south of the city of Rijeka and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county....
(it. Lussino) as well. It is one of the deepest fresh water lakes in Eastern Europe, going down 76 meters at its deepest point (>50 m below sea-level).