The town of Karlovac is a green crossroads where four rivers meet. You are on the Croatia four rivers route. You can visit the Aquatika aquarium to see the giant fish that live in these waters. It is the only aquarium of its kind in the country. Then drive to Mrežnički Brig. The road follows the river past ninety waterfalls and natural pools. The water is bright green and very clear. You can see the river bed even in the deep spots. It is a great place for a picnic under the shade of the willow trees. Many people bring their kayaks here to float down the gentle rapids.
The roads lead you to the Ogulin valley. Above the town sits the Klek mountain which looks like a sleeping giant. Legends say that witches meet on the top of this mountain during stormy nights. In the town center you can see the Đula abyss. This is a deep hole where the Dobra river disappears into the dark earth. For a great view visit Dubovac Castle. From the top of the stone tower you can see the star-shaped layout of the old city. The castle also has a small museum about the soldiers who defended the town long ago.
Visit the Rastoke village in Slunj where 18th-century mills sit over the Slunjčica waterfalls. Order the "pastrva" (trout) served with locally ground cornmeal called proja. For a unique stop drive to the Barać Caves near Rakovica to see limestone draperies and ice-age bear bones. If you are a history buff explore the Turanj Museum of the Homeland War. It is an open-air collection of fighter jets and tanks right on the D1 road. The Mrežnica river bank at Galić is the best spot for a cold swim in the crystal-clear emerald water.
Karlovac highlights
- Rastoke Waterfalls Visit the village of mills where houses sit on top of rushing green water. You can walk across small wooden bridges and watch the river fall into a deep canyon. It is often called the small version of Plitvice because of its many clear cascades.
- Mrežnica River Cascades Follow the road along the river to find ninety waterfalls made of soft stone. Many spots allow you to swim in the clear pools or jump from the small falls. The emerald green water is very clean and stays refreshing even during the hottest days.
- Dubovac Castle Tower This stone fortress looks over the four rivers that cross the city below. You can climb the tower to see the star shape of the old town fortifications. The courtyard often hosts medieval festivals where you can see knights and old crafts.
- Aquatika River Museum Stop at this modern building to see every type of fish that lives in the local rivers. The museum is built into the ground and has a beautiful park on the roof. It is a great way to learn about the river life while staying dry.
- Klek Mountain Peak Drive toward Ogulin to see the mountain that looks like a giant man sleeping. Locals say witches fly around the peak during storms to meet at the very top. The climb to the ridge offers a bird's eye view of the green valley below.
- Đula Abyss in Ogulin See the spot where a whole river disappears into a dark hole in the ground. A park trail leads you around the edge of the deep stone cliffs in the town. Legend says a young girl jumped into the abyss because of a lost love.
- Barać Caves in Rakovica Take a guided tour of these deep halls filled with giant stone spikes and old bones. The caves stay cool even in summer and have a very mysterious feeling inside. You can see the dark tunnels where bears lived thousands of years ago.
- Novigrad na Dobri Castle This ruined fortress sits right next to an old stone bridge over the Dobra river. It is a perfect place for a quiet picnic and a walk by the water. The tall stone towers look very beautiful against the green forest and blue sky.
- Modruš Fortress Ruins Climb the hill to see the remains of what was once a very large mountain city. The view from the top covers the entire valley and the distant highway route. It was once a powerful seat for noble lords who ruled the mountain passes.
- Petrova Gora Monument Drive through the thick forest to see the giant metal monument on the highest peak. It looks like a spaceship and offers a view of the mountains and the plains. The abandoned site is a favorite for people who like to see unique modern ruins.
The local Four
History of Karlovac
Karlovac is the City of Four Rivers and was literally built from scratch as a military machine. In 1579, engineers dug a perfect six-pointed star into the ground to create a fortress that could defend the road to the sea. The layout was mathematically calculated to eliminate "blind spots" where enemy infantry could hide from defensive cannon fire. Every street was measured for cannon fire, making it one of the most organized Renaissance cities in the world.
Just south, the village of Rastoke sits on a shelf of falling water. Millers built their homes directly over the rushing cascades, using the river’s weight to grind grain for the empire’s soldiers. This symbiotic relationship between man and water turned the village into a bustling economic hub that operated twenty-four hours a day. The region is also a Swiss cheese of limestone, hiding massive cave systems like Barać where ice-age bear skeletons were found frozen in time.
The mountain of Klek towers over the landscape like a sleeping giant. Local legends say the peak is a meeting place for witches who gather during thunderstorms to dance on the ridge. These folk tales were likely inspired by the strange, howling winds that whip through the mountain's limestone crevices during the change of seasons. For road trippers, this county is the ultimate transit point where the flat plains suddenly turn into the wild, rocky entrance to the coast.