LOCATION AND CLIMATE
Island Cres (Croatia, Kvarner, Island Cres) is one of the two largest islands in Croatia, the other one is island Krk. Island Cres is 66 km long. It is located in the north part of Kvarner Bay in north Adriatic. Island Cres is connected with mainland and island Losinj. With mainland is connected with ferries and with Losinj with drawbridge. Tourist destinations on island Cres are: Lubenice, Beli, Martinscica, Cres, Valun... Island Cres has around 3500 inhabitants.
On north part of island Cres is Submediterranean climate and on south part is Mediterranean climate. It is climate with hot and rainy summers.
Island Cres is highland. The shore is well indented. Coast is 248 km long. West and south part of island has many bays and pebbly beaches. North and east part has scar cliffs. Highest peaks on island Cres are Gorice (648 m) and Sis (638 m). There is a great view on Kvarner Bay from the top.
Island Cres has natural beauty freshwater lake Vrana which has level below sea level, 74 m deep. Island Cres has rich vegetation: oak woods, hornbeam, chestnuts, pastures, macchia... On island Cres you can find rare bird griffon vulture.
HISTORY
Island Cres has been inhabitated since stone age. There have been found remains of apparatus, tools, ceramics... From that time there have been found remains of walls and forts. Ilirs were the first who started to built rock houses and they were great seafarers. First settlements on island Cres were Cres and Osor. Town Cres was called Res Publica Crepsa. Island Cres and especially town Cres keep many monuments and attractions. Oldest Croatian monument on island Cres is Valun`s board, written in the Glagolitic script.
From 1000. till 1358. island Cres is under Venetia. After that under Croatian-Hungarian rule and from 1409. till 1797. again under Venetia. At that time town Cres became center of the island. Since that ages island Cres was under Austrian and Italian rule and in 1945. it became part of Croatia.
TOURISM
Island Cres offers accommodation in hotels, apartments, rooms, camps... You can enjoy in sports for recreation: tennis, mini golf, voleyball, football, handball, diving, sailing, fishing... You can enjoy also in going to excursions with boats. You can visit cave Plabe Grote and enjoy in a play of water and light.
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
Inhabitants are mostly directed to agriculture, tourism, beekeeping, olive growing and livestock farming.
Attractions that you should visit in town Cres:
- Franciscan monastery,
- Palace of familiy Patris,
- Church of St. Izidor,
- Town loggia with column of shame,
- Female Benedictine monastery,
- Town gates Bragadina, Marcela and St. Mikulo...
Attractions in other parts of island Cres:
- Church of St. Martina, (Martinscica),
- Franciscan monastery, (Martinscica),
- Castle of family Sforza,(Martinscica),
- Church of St. Marko, (Valun),
- Church of St. Anton, (Lubenice),
- Church of St. Mary, (Beli),
- Roman bridge, (Beli),
- Rock head of king Abel, (Beli)...
