Karlovac, and Dubovac Castle; Interior. Frankopan family

We chose time in Karlovac and more time in Slovenia, rather than a quiet day with Nature at the World Heritage site at Plitvice Lakes National Park, see whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=98. The waterfalls there are spectacular, show the photos. Hard choices. Never time.

Karlovac has an odd misfortune of history - its location is at a major meeting of roads to opposite destinations - people going to Slovenia, the Plitvice Lakes, or the Istria peninsula - Rijeke, Pula, and Trieste. Cars whiz right by.

Here is Dubovac Castle. It recently was used as a hotel and mistreated. The fortress now is being put back with great care. I wish I had the name of our young guide - he knew it all and so loved his work. The fortress is on a hill, and the hill itself was constructed by the people to increase the visibility from the castle - defense. It is listed among Croatia's castles at www.castles.info/croatia/.

City of Karlovac. The layout is a six-pointed star, also for defense - we saw that also in forts in England andIreland, making crossfire possible - with the old moats now public gardens. Overall, this is a gritty, industrial, needing-repair town. A recurrent theme in Croatia is the course of the Frankopan family - prominent in Croatian history and their palace at Karlovac is now a museum. Read more about them, and the intense nationalism of the Croatians ("We were once Trojans") at www.magma.ca/.

Our surprise was going to a cellar eatery, see other Karlovac post, and finding a whole banquet arriving, traditional music and all. Never would have had that experience if we had gone elsewhere. Pays to just get off the road and explore. See more photos at www.photocroatia.com/GALLERY/list.php?exhibition=48&pass=public&lang=eng.

There is another elegant castle, Frankopans also, in the nearby area called Ozalj. Next trip.