We propose to nature lovers a one-day visit of Krka Natural Park in the Šibenik-Knin County. It is a park reputed as one of the most beautiful green oases on the Mediterranean. At a distance of only 15 kilometres from Šibenik, it abounds in colours, exceptional wealth of flora and fauna preserving in its bosom a rich cultural and historical heritage. The picturesque canyon creates falls over which water pours down travertine barriers and continues on its way towards the sea.
Among the total of seven falls, the most visited and most beautiful are Roški slap and Skradinski buk with ethnographic monuments having their purpose even today. Skradinski buk, the last and most indented fall is ranked among the most beautiful in Europe. It is 47 metres high, 400 metres long and 100 metres wide. It has 17 steps of various height at a length of 800 metres an in between there are many small greenish blue lakes. The freshwater Krka River ends with the last whirlpool of Skradinski buk. During weak flows, its waters encounter seawater while during strong flows the meeting place is five kilometres lower toward the small town of Skradin after which the last fall of the river acquired its name.
The gentle Lake Visovac lies between Roški Fall and Skradinski buk, the largest expansion between the two falls which is about three kilometres long. In the centre of the lake rises a small island that bears the same name. The island has a church and monastery where in the 14th century the hermits of St. Augustin perished after having left the island in 1440 due to the threat from the Turks. Bosnian Franciscans settled there in 1445 with brief interruptions until the 17th century and are still there to this day.
The monastery houses a rich archaeological collection, manuscripts, valuable books, vestments and incunabula.
The entire national park can be visited on foot, and one part along the Skradin-Skradinski buk cycling trail, touring water-powered old mills, petrified structures for clothes washing and monuments of rural architecture.
Krka is classified among the most valuable ornithological reserves with 222 species of birds, and among the richest in fish in the Adriatic Basin. 18 species of fish live in the river waters of which two are endemic representatives – Adriatic salmon trout and Visovac trout.
Besides the particular beauty of its canyon and cascading course, the Krka River attracts with its brook lakes and green valleys. Regardless of the times you have visited it, you will always experience its marvellous beauty after which you can refresh and have a snack in the restaurants that offer traditional food at affordable prices.
Spring is the ideal time to visit Krka and discover the old fortresses and its surroundings, the stone houses and cultural monuments. One of these is Bribirska glavica near Skradin, well-known as the Croatian Troy with its ramparts from Illyrian times and remains of a Roman Early Croatian settlement. Along the Krka River canyon, in Kistanje, there is a site named Burnum with preserved remains of a Roman camp, and at Danilo locality remains of a prehistoric settlement can be seen.
Two tears to cross the Krka River
A legend has been narrated for centuries in the villages around Krka and it concerns the remains of the 14th century town of Bogočina. The story says that a long time ago prince Bogoje who ruled Bogočin town, decided to marry his son Bogdan to a beautiful young girl named Miljeva from Fortress Ključica. Miljeva’s mother Čika prepared her daughter for marriage and seven bans (governors) and seven district prefects came to the magnificent wedding. But on the wedding day, a dragon appeared from the gorge, grabbed the young girl and took her to Lake Brljan. Her undestined husband Bogdan ran after the dragon to save her but drowned. After the tragedy, the sad father divided his wealth and had two peasant girls, twin sisters, walled in the walls of fortresses to cry over his son day and night. All travellers who wished to cross the bridgehad to pay the bridge toll and the fare was two tears. Since then the inhabitants of Bogočin-town have called it Vilingrad. According to that legend, the area between the rivers Krka and Čikola acquired the name Miljevci after the young girl Miljeva, while the Poljšica River was called Čikola after Miljeva’s mother.
