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PRESENTED BY DUBROVNIK-NERETVA TOURISM BOARD

Dubrovnik: the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ and a favourite among Swedes

Planning your summer holiday? Find out why Dubrovnik is a favourite destination among Swedes - and what its beautiful surroundings can offer you this summer.

Published: 15 May 2017 08:47 CEST
Dubrovnik: the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' and a favourite among Swedes
Photo: Ivan Ivankovic

You’ve heard of Dubrovnik, but are you aware of its beautiful surroundings?

Thousands of islands, natural parks, hundred-year-old monuments and sensational gastronomy are just some of what the Dubrovnik-Neretva County has to offer, making it one of the most desirable travel destinations in the world.

Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with Mediterranean sights and smells; it’s overwhelming, in a good way, no matter the time of year!

Visit Dubrovnik, walk along the impressive and beautiful walls and take in the view of the beautiful sea.

The beauty of Dubrovnik, however,  lies not only in architecture, history and nature.

There are international music and theatre festivals, and all sorts of unique happenings.

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Croatia's leading cultural event and one of the five most outstanding European cultural festivals take place for the 68th time this August! An amazing festival opening with fireworks and music is followed by the theatre shows, films, concerts, operas, and dance productions.

At the end of June, Dubrovnik opens its doors to a theatre treat – Midsummer Scene Festival. The unique theatre festival takes place on Dubrovnik's fortress Lovrijenac, and is the only English theatre festival in south-eastern Europe!

Photo: Siggy Nowak

The Elaphiti Islands or the Elaphites is a small archipelago consisting of several islands stretching northwest of Dubrovnik, in the Adriatic sea. Sandy beaches and centuries-old buildings are yours to explore. The beauty of the clear Adriatic Sea and untouched nature offers the opportunity for an active holiday, but also a quiet escape from everyday life.

Photo: Ivan Ivankovic

Thanks to remarkably rich soil, Pelješac produces some of the best wines in the world. Wine trails and tasting rooms are located on almost every intersection of the long and winding paths that connect this green peninsula.

 

The town of Ston should also not be missed when exploring Croatia!

Ston is known for its defensive stone walls, salt works and excellent gastronomic offerings in the form of shellfish, wines and olive oil. No wonder Ston is the host of the international Kinookus Film Food Festival! The festival explores issues of industrial food production and its consequences for the planet, while telling the story of ordinary men and women who engage their creativity and resourcefulness in trying to overcome the existing, collapsing socio-economic model. 

 

Photo: Renco Kosino

The Kinookus organisers give their support to the ongoing efforts of the local community and CSO's to revive and preserve the unique spirit of this magical place.

Moreška, Stari grad (Old town) and the home of Marco Polo, olive groves and vineyards, rocky coves and beaches, harbour and small bay… this is a brief description of Korčula.

Photo: A. Carli

It's also home to Korkyra – a Baroque Festival which was established in 2012. This year it'll run from 2nd-12th September.

Photo: Andrija Carli

The Island of Mljet is yet another place that leaves you breathless.

The long pine forests, national park and salt lakes, the Isle of Saint Mary which is home to a Benedictine monastery and Church of Saint Mary are all part of the islands beauty. Footpaths connect the two lakes and the majority of the island, making the journey much easier. A perfect place for the mind to recharge and the body to recover. 

Neretva Valley is an untouched part of nature which feels like the wilderness but is also very safe. Journeying through the narrow canals and river in a traditional Neretva boat is a unique experience that will put you “in Nirvana”. In August, there's the Maraton Lađa (boat marathon) – an amateur race of the traditional Neretva boats on a 22,500 m long track.

Visit Lastovo – the largest island of the archipelago of the same name, which includes 46 islets and reefs, is one of the most wooded regions in Croatia.

Photo: Dubravko Leneret

The island  has one of the most beautiful views in all of the county, because it's surrounded by the beautifully blue and extraordinarily clean sea.

We would also recommend a visit to Konavle and Cavtat  – they're ideal places for a respite from the summer tourist crowds in Dubrovnik.

Photo: Ivan Ivankovic

There is so much to do here with something to suit every taste. You might bathe at some of the most beautiful beaches or stroll around lovely coves, while enjoying marvellous and delightful views of open sea, or perhaps you'll opt for something more active and go scuba diving, rowing, trekking or climbing. Whatever you choose, this is a destination which will not disappoint!

This article was produced and sponsored by the Dubrovnik and Neretva County Tourist Board.

TRAVEL NEWS

German train strike wave to end following new labour agreement

Germany's Deutsche Bahn rail operator and the GDL train drivers' union have reached a deal in a wage dispute that has caused months of crippling strikes in the country, the union said.

Published: 26 March 2024 09:55 CET
German train strike wave to end following new labour agreement

“The German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) and Deutsche Bahn have reached a wage agreement,” GDL said in a statement.

Further details will be announced in a press conference on Tuesday, the union said. A spokesman for Deutsche Bahn also confirmed that an agreement had been reached.

Train drivers have walked out six times since November, causing disruption for huge numbers of passengers.

The strikes have often lasted for several days and have also caused disruption to freight traffic, with the most recent walkout in mid-March.

In late January, rail traffic was paralysed for five days on the national network in one of the longest strikes in Deutsche Bahn’s history.

READ ALSO: Why are German train drivers launching more strike action?

Europe’s largest economy has faced industrial action for months as workers and management across multiple sectors wrestle over terms amid high inflation and weak business activity.

The strikes have exacerbated an already gloomy economic picture, with the German economy shrinking 0.3 percent across the whole of last year.

What we know about the new offer so far

Through the new agreement, there will be optional reduction of a work week to 36 hours at the start of 2027, 35.5 hours from 2028 and then 35 hours from 2029. For the last three stages, employees must notify their employer themselves if they wish to take advantage of the reduction steps.

However, they can also opt to work the same or more hours – up to 40 hours per week are possible in under the new “optional model”.

“One thing is clear: if you work more, you get more money,” said Deutsche Bahn spokesperson Martin Seiler. Accordingly, employees will receive 2.7 percent more pay for each additional or unchanged working hour.

According to Deutsche Bahn, other parts of the agreement included a pay increase of €420 per month in two stages, a tax and duty-free inflation adjustment bonus of €2,850 and a term of 26 months.

Growing pressure

Last year’s walkouts cost Deutsche Bahn some €200 million, according to estimates by the operator, which overall recorded a net loss for 2023 of €2.35 billion.

Germany has historically been among the countries in Europe where workers went on strike the least.

But since the end of 2022, the country has seen growing labour unrest, while real wages have fallen by four percent since the start of the war in Ukraine.

German airline Lufthansa is also locked in wage disputes with ground staff and cabin crew.

Several strikes have severely disrupted the group’s business in recent weeks and will weigh on first-quarter results, according to the group’s management.

Airport security staff have also staged several walkouts since January.

Some politicians have called for Germany to put in place rules to restrict critical infrastructure like rail transport from industrial action.

But Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected the calls, arguing that “the right to strike is written in the constitution… and that is a democratic right for which unions and workers have fought”.

The strikes have piled growing pressure on the coalition government between Scholz’s Social Democrats, the Greens and the pro-business FDP, which has scored dismally in recent opinion polls.

The far-right AfD has been enjoying a boost in popularity amid the unrest with elections in three key former East German states due to take place later this year.

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