Bus from LINZ to KARLOVAC

Linz is a town in the north of Austria of 191,767 inhabitants, the third largest Austrian town and the capital of the federal state of Upper Austria.

Linz lies in the north of central Austria, only 30 kilometers from the border with the Czech Republic, 160 km west of Vienna, along both banks of the Danube. Surrounded by the Linzer Becken valley surrounded by the mountains, today it is connected with the surrounding cities (Amstetten, Wels and Steyr) and formed a small metropolis.

Linz developed from the Roman military fortress - Lentia, which became an important shopping center in the Middle Ages. Linz is mentioned for the first time in 799 when Bavaria expanded to the south and occupied the area. By the 13th century, Linz had acquired all the external features of the city but had not yet had the status of the city. This status was acquired only in the 15th century when he was in the car of the Holy Roman Emperor - Fridrik III., Then became known for his fairs.

At the beginning of the 17th century, Linz had taught mathematics for the first time by the famous astronomer Johannes Kepler, today called the Johann Kepler's Local University, founded in 1966. [2] At the same time Protestantism expanded around the city and the surrounding area, which led the Jesuits to carry out the counter-Reformation. Numerous baroque buildings were built within the 17th century. Since 1785, Linz has become the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese. [2] During the War for the Austrian legacy, the city was occupied by the Bavarian and French troops in 1741, and in 1800 the city burned down the fire. In addition to Linz in 1809, the Battle of Ebelsberg between the Austrian and Napoleonic forces in the War of the Fifth Coalition.

The first European railroad (outside England) still hunted by horses was built between Linz and Budweis - 1832. During that period, the Danube was flourishing, so Linz became a major port for numerous industrial goods from the Czech Republic, which was transported by rail to Linz , and continued to drive ships along the Danube across the monarchy. A major leap in the development of the city was the construction of the 1861 railway to Vienna and Salzburg. Since 1880, Linz has a horse-drawn tram that was electrified in 1897. Since the middle of the 19th century, the industry has started to develop into metal processing and textile.

Adolf Hitler spent part of childhood and youth in Linz, where he attended high school with Ludwig Wittgenstein - jealousy for his humble life, allegedly had a decisive influence on his later attitudes about the Jews. In 1934, in Linz, the Schiff Nazi hotel tried to revolt against the Austrian authorities. After the Anschlus of Austria in the Third Reich in Linz, in 1938, construction of steelworks and other heavy industry plants began as a branch of the state-owned joint stock company "Hermann Göring" in Berlin. This large complex began with the production of war material in 1941 and was constantly being built with thousands of foreign workers, some of whom volunteered for themselves, but also with a large number of forcibly recruited workers and prisoners of concentration camps were used to construct manufacturing and armaments. By the end of the Second World War, these drives were the target of heavy allied bombings - so these post-war drives have been renewed for a long time.

Linz is one of the largest Austrian industrial centers, known for its large steel company Voestalpine, which was built at the time of the Third Reich. In addition to Voestalpine, Linz operates a number of other smaller plants that produce machines, electrical equipment, textiles, glass, furniture, beverages, footwear, rubber and tobacco products. With its numerous shopping malls and large wholesale stores, Linz is the trade center of that part of Austria.

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.