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Primorje and Gorski Kotar County

The County takes up a diverse region of coastal areas, large north Adriatic islands and wooded Gorski kotar with the lowest temperatures in Croatia. Those very geographical contrasts (islands, coastal and continental areas) that are situated in a relatively small area represent the very beauty of the Primorje and Gorski kotar county. The region also represents the meeting point of two important elements of development of state interest: the coastal traffic system (Istria-Primorje-Dalmatia) and the connecting road system (Rijeka-Karlovac-Zagreb). The coastal Kvarner region in the Ucka and Velebit areas, together with the island of Krk had been populated early on in history (antiquity).

The Rijeka area, which represents the centre of the county and is the largest town in the northern section of Croatia's Adriatic, used to harbour the pre-historic settlement of Trsatica. Rijeka had developed a high level of goods exchange with the continental regions in the 19th century, when after roads were built, the export of agricultural produces from the Panonian region had risen. The building of the railway proved particularly important for the region, connecting Rijeka with Zagreb and Budapest, Vienna and Truest. At the time Rijeka became the largest pot of the Hungarian section of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Some 50% of the overall Primorje and Gorski kotar county inhabitants live in Rijeka. Rijeka is the largest Croatian port and a strong cultural, educational and industrial centre, well known for its shipbuilding.

Three important road routes pass through Rijeka: the Adriatic motorway, the Gorican-Varazdin-Zagreb-Rijeka-Rupa-Trst road and the road Matulji - tunnel Ucka - Porec. Three airports are situated in this county: on the island of Krk, on island of Losinj and the sports and tourism airfield Rijeka - Grobnicko Polje. The county has vastly contributed to the Croatian cultural heritage, among other items with the Bascanska ploca (Krk, Baska, Jurandvor), the first stone monument of Croats written in the Croatian language and script - Glagolitic. One of the most important European medieval documents is being kept here - Vinodolski zakonik from 1288. In 1996, the Croatian Human Rights Institute was founded in Novi Vinodolski, its postulates based on the old 1288 document.

Apart from the well-developed tourism industry on the Kvarner islands, the special item of the tourism offer is Opatija, dubbed - the pearl of the Adriatic. It has lots of hotels and classicist buildings dating from the last century and is well known as a centre of health tourism and congressional tourism venue.