Vrana

Vrana is a small place located in the municipality of Pakoštane, in the northern part of Dalmatia. It is located on the slope of Lake Vrana, which is the largest natural freshwater lake in Croatia, surrounded by the beautiful landscape of Ravni Kotar in the south of Zadar County. This beautiful nature, flora and fauna together with the lake make this area the Vrana Lake Nature Park, which was named after the town of Vrana. Vrana Lake is separated from the sea by a narrow limestone ridge long about 10 km, and in places less than a kilometer wide.

Vrana attracts many visitors with its rich history, so already at the entrance to the village there are the remains of the old walls and defense tower of the former Templar castle. Not far from Vrana are the remains of the Roman aqueduct, (Jader aqueduct) through which water flowed all the way to Zadar, as well as the archaeological site of the Samograd fortress on the Zamina hill in the form of the remains of a massive rampart that surrounded the village.

Also, not far from the place itself is the famous Maškovića Han from 1644, which was intended as a summer residence of the Turkish Vizier Jusuf Mašković. With the death of Jusuf Mašković, the planned construction of today’s most important Ottoman remnant in this area was suspended. However, in 2014, the Han was finally completed and renovated according to more modest plans than it should have been, but it offers an authentic medieval experience for many tourists. However, it has been restored today and represents the westernmost remnant of Ottoman architecture, within whose walls there are accommodation units and a restaurant with a rich gastronomic offer.

There are several facilities in Vrana with a rich gastronomic offer that provide the experience of enjoying Mediterranean cuisine.

The natural position of Vrana offers easy access to a rich source of beauty. From the viewpoint Kamenjak, which is located on the hill of the same name, there is a beautiful view of Lake Vrana, but which also extends much further, all the way to the Adriatic Sea and the rich Zadar archipelago. In addition to the Vrana Lake Nature Park, there are even 5 national parks nearby, namely: Paklenica, Kornati, Plitvice Lakes, Krka Waterfalls and Northern Velebit. During the hot summer days, don’t miss a trip to the Pećina natural water source in the Vrana Lake Nature Park, where the temperatures are significantly cooler and the water is cold.

One of the fascinating natural features of this part of the municipality is the rich wetland represented by the Ornithological Reserve. This is one of the most valuable ornithological areas in Croatia, and it is located on the very border of the park and abounds mostly in ornithofauna, i.e. various species of birds.

Visitors looking for an active and fun vacation can enjoy cycling on the bike paths accompanied by a guide, hiking to the Bak Krklješi cave and the Bak viewpoint, riding in the Vencel equestrian club and many other activities that this area offers. The population in this area is mostly engaged in agriculture. Agriculture, beekeeping, fishing and forestry are no strange thing to the residents of this area, and according to the 2011 census, about 790 people live in the area of ​​Vrana.