Bus from LESKOVAC to KARLOVAC

Leskovac is a city settlement and administrative center of the Jablanica Administrative District.

The settlement dates back to the Roman Empire. The medieval name of the settlement is Glubočica.

The legend says that under the hill near the present city there was a lake, and when its drying was occurred there was a plant of hazel (hazelnut), after which the city was named more than 700 years ago. The present name of the city as the name of the settlement was first mentioned in 1308 in the Charter of King Milutin.

During the NATO bombing of the FRY in 1999, Leskovac and its surroundings were bombarded almost daily. During a raid on April 12, 1999, a railroad bridge in Grdelicka Gorge hit the passenger train, which was crossing the bridge at that time. In this attack, several dozen civilians were killed.

In Leskovac there is the National Library Radoje Domanovic, which was created from the City Reading Room, founded in 1869. The library was designated in 1961 for the home library of the Jablanica District. The library now has over 80,000 books and other publications distributed in different sectors, among which are the loan and children's department, the foreign book, as well as the local department that was established in 2012 as a legacy and is named after Nikolai Timchenko and has over 15,000 titles.

On May 2, 1948, the National Museum was founded in Leskovac, comprised of three departments - ethnographic-archaeological, national liberation struggle with the workers' movement and the Textile Industry Museum. The museum then moved to a new building on May 10, 1974, which opened the possibility for the development of museum activities, and today it has more departments for archeology, history, art history, ethnology, conservation and souvenir making.

Karlovac, situated 55km southwest from Zagreb, is the best place in Croatia for those who look for a special rafting and kayaking adventure, provided by the confluence of four rivers: the Kupa, Mreznica, Korana and Dobra rivers. Karlovac canbe easily reached by bus and can turn out to be a nice day trip for those staying in Zagreb.

What makes Karlovac unique is its star-shaped design. It is necessary to point out that, while not many towns can brag about the knowledge of the exact date of its founding, as well as the fact that they were a town from their very establishment, Karlovac is one of them. The construction of Karlovac  began in 1579, or to be precise, 13 July 1579 , and the ideas to make it a "Renaissance town", and for that reason, a special attentionwas given to its beauty and harmony, but also to serve as a defense against Turkish invaders. This old town in the shape of a six-pointed staris comprised of 24 equally divided blocks.

Besides wandering the streets and rafting the rivers, Karlovac has  a lot more to offer. For, instance, Korana river with Foginovo beach is a famous tourist attraction, as well as bathing spot known for its medicinal properties of the pristine waters of the river.

The new and exciting Karlovac freshwater aquarium, Aquatika, was designedin sucha manner as to allow its visitors to follow a series of ramps that recall a river's flow. Besides the specimens from Karlovac’s rivers, the museum also exibits astounding flora and fauna from all over Croatia, with background effects such as evocative lighting and water sounds.

Main town square -Josip ban Jelačić square: The planning of the city was carefully done and the streets within the walls of the city are arranged at right angles. After the plague epidemic in 1691, a votive column (the Plague Pillar), with a statue of the Madonna on top of it, was built on the main town square. A well, ornamented with allegorical representations of the town’s rivers, was built in the geometrical centre of the Star and square in 1869 on the location of a baroque fountain. 

The Vrbanić gardens: The gardens were designed as an open-style botanical garden. Named after the Mayor Josip Vrbanić, the gardens bear a resemblance to English and French parks and contain rare trees and plants. Convenienty located in the southeastern part of the town, between the Korana river and the Karlovac ''Star" (Zvijezda), is a favorite place of tourists who like to unwind after a long stroll around Karlovac.

Dubovac Castle: The Old Town of Dubovac, situated on a hill with a beautiful panoramic view over the city, is regarded as one of the best preserved, as well as most captivating architectural monuments of the feudal age. On the site of the present-dayfort, there are still traces of an Early Stone Age settlement, while the castle was built at the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century. During the tours around the castle, spectators can enjoy the exibition of history that made Karlovac what it is today. In the vicinity of the castle is one of the oldest and most beautiful town shrines, the Early Baroque church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Snows.

The Church of The Holy Trinity, built in the same timeas the fortress, is the oldest building in Karlovac, while  monastery was built in the 17th century. They are situated on the main square (Ban Jelačić Square). The whole complex is baroque and has a rich inventory. 

Beside its rich history, Karlovac and its surroundings offer interesting hiking tours in its nearby forests, especially the Kozjača trail, while during summer months visitors can enjoy a variety of events, such as the Beer fest and numerous fairs.