Debeljak

Debeljak is a place in the municipality of Sukošan, located about 3 km northeast of the center of Sukošan. The village of Debeljak is connected to the Sukošan county road, and it takes about 10 minutes to drive to Zadar via the port of Gaženica and it is connected by frequent bus lines.

Near the village is Zadar airport, at a distance of only 8 kilometers away, and Marina Dalmacija, one of the largest marinas on the Croatian coast, which is a little less than 6 kilometers away. The nearest beach is in Sukošan, and it is only one kilometer away from the village of Debeljak.

Due to its good natural position, Debeljak is an ideal place for a quiet holiday far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, while at the same time it is close enough to the touristic town of Zadar. This enables visitors to visit various entertainment events, cultural heritage and natural beauty of Zadar. Also, not far from this place are the Kornati, Krka and Paklenica national parks and the Telašćica, Velebit and Vrana Lake nature parks.

In Debeljak there are several cafes, market, but also a regional school “Debeljak” and a kindergarten. This is precisely why Debeljak is a small, quiet place suitable for family life. This village also has the Sports Center “Ivica Jerak”, where football and bocce clubs are active.

The most famous landmark in the town is the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where there are wooden statues of Our Lady of Health and St. Anthony of Padua. Two important archaeological sites are nearby: Čičikan, which is a prehistoric fortress, and Crkvina, which represents the remains of a medieval church.

In the 15th century, during the great Turkish raids, Debeljak was completely abandoned, while its population moved to Sukošan and the nearby islands. Today, however, we are witnessing an increasing number of holiday homes built in Debeljak, which speaks of the development of tourism in this place. According to the last population census from 2021, this place has slightly less than 900 inhabitants. The people who live here are mainly engaged in olive growing, viticulture, agriculture and fruit growing.