Playful Bakar - english version

Explore the town with puzzles, observations and challenges select quest Learn about Bakar win recognition

With Katarina to the top

Ana Katarina Zrinski (born Frankopan) presents the magnificent history of Bakar from time of the great Frankopan and Zrinski families.

Invisible Bakar by blind Ivan

One of the first Bakar tourist guides – Ivan Čop, a blind water carrier, guides you through this research and reveals the nature which adorns our stone town.

By the sea with Andrija

Who can explain better Bakar Bay peculiarities than the great maritime school professor Andrija Mohorovičić. Join him for a walk by the sea.

Explore and figure out all three walks!

Where to start from?

You are holding a booklet which takes you to three different walks through the town. All three walks start in front of the Tourist Office where you picked up the brochure. Keep your eyes open and solve puzzles along the way. Every walk has its own solution. Once you went through all three walks, figure out the final solution. Write the solutions on page 22. Have fun!

What do you need?

» A pencil.

» Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes, weather adapted clothing, protection from the sun or rain.

» At least one photo from each walk if you want to win recognition. Take photos of bonus challenges, too!

Which of the three walks suits you best?

The choice is easy with the help of this quiz.

How do you spend your free time?

In long walks by the sea. In discovery of old castles. Walking in nature. If you could go back in time, where would you go?

Several centuries ago. At the time of great discoveries and new knowledge on the threshold of modern times. It doesn’t matter! I just to have the opportunity to get to know ordinary people.

Choose the set of words that appeals to you the most science, sea, education

past, castle, power, nobility greenery, nature, senses

Are you in good shape?

I like long walks, preferably without steep climbs.

I do not complain.

Of course! There are no obstacles for me.

What kind of shoes are you wearing right now?

Sturdy high shoes perfect for walking in the forest.

Comfortable shoes I always wear when going on a trip.

These fancy shoes! Aren’t they great?

Do you like puzzles?

I don’t know.

It could be said.

I love them! I like challenging ones.

Count the symbols in front of your answers. If you have the most crowns, go for a walk with Ana Katarina on the next page. If you have chosen the most birds, turn to page 10 and follow Ivan. If you have found anchors, Professor Mohorovičić is waiting for you on page 16.

All three walks start in front of the Tourist Office Primorje 39, Bakar

IMPORTANT: You use this game at your own risk. We are not responsible for any inconveniences caused during the game.

With Katarina to the top

Welcome to my family’s estate!

My name is Ana Katarina Zrinski, born Frankopan. Both families /Zrinski and Frankopan/ consider me the best guide, because they love my books and say I’m a good storyteller. In addition, I love games and have prepared many brain teasers for you.

I’ll guide you through the rich past of Bakar. I know the old town well, because it used to be an important property of both of my families. Let’s start from the nearby church; it should be in your line of sight.

Church of St. Margaret

Take a good look at the church.

I don’t want to brag but I am very proud of the building erected in honor of St. Margaret (the patroness of Bakar). It has been in this town for centuries thanks to my family. My ancestor Martin had a chapel built in 1450 and dedicated it to St. Margaret. Two hundred years later, my beloved husband Petar Zrinski built a church in her honor on the same spot. Isn’t it beautiful?

If you have seen the church, let’s return to the Tourist Office and continue to the Castle, passing by the library and then up the stairs to the museum building. Here we’ll take a break.

The Museum

STUDIO ET _ _ _ _ _ _

If we weren’t separated by two centuries, I would definitely be friends with the noble Marochini family somewhere at a ball. The owners of this palace left a huge pledge to the town. Thanks to its founder Ivo Marochini, it housed the Museum of the Town of Bakar for many years. Besides the noble title, we have other points of contact. The Marochini Palace, just like my Castle, is awaiting restoration. The museum will find a new home in the Palace. I just can’t wait!

Go ahead boldly! If a noblewoman can do it, let it not be difficult for you, too to climb all those stairs. We’ll have a rest at the viewpoint on Vrata Square. In order to reach it, just follow the road signs to the Castle/Kaštel.

BONUS CHALLENGE: HEADS

If you don’t miss a thing, you might spot decorative heads along the way. Sometimes it seems they are watching over the entrance, sometimes is difficult to notice them at all. Dozens of them are hiding in the town. Find at least a few of them!

Vrata Square

Have you spotted any unusual stoneware? There are in front of the former market and were once used to measure quantities of food.

X_ _ _ do X_ _ stoljeća.

“It was a beautiful, clear morning, there was no wind, no sea breeze. The sea in Bakar Bay was calm and shiny like a mirror, the air was clear and cool after the storm that subsided at daybreak. Old and rich Bakar town basked beautifully in the morning sun: it spread out along the sea while narrowed up, rising the steep slope with a five-fold row of houses gracefully towering over each other as if each one wanted to be reflected in the clear and magical bay. At the highest point of the town, there is a dark building with its crowned tower: Zrinski-Frankopan “castle”, spreading its powerful wings like a gray falcon: it spread its ramparts towards the sea and encompassed the whole town.”

That’s the way my town was described by Eugen Kumičić in his literary work “Zrinski-Frankopan Conspiracy”.

Let’s continue upwards. When we get to Plačica Square, it will be too crowded because the whole town gathers around the Turkish House and the Co-Cathedral. We’ll go our way – sweep through the narrow street leading to the left of the Turkish house, that odd-looking yellowish building. At the wall marked 225, turn left.

The Church of Holy Cross

This little church is so unusual and mysterious. It is faced differently from other churches in Bakar. Built to greet one of the most beautiful sunrises on the Adriatic? Even nowadays a priest still performs divine service with his back turned to the faithful. The church played a huge role on the Feast of the Savior, 40 days after Easter. Processions with a cross were held on this occasion. The Church of Holy Cross (Crkva sv. Križa) preserves so many peculiarities that I always think of when I pass by.

BONUS CHALLENGE: THE NARROWEST PASSAGE

Once we have seen Holy Cross Church, I would like to show you one of the most beautiful buildings in Bakar. You can approach it from several sides. I’ll keep on going up through the narrowest passage in the town. Follow me!

SUGGESTION: Visit the Interpretation Center of the cultural and tourist route The Routes of the Frankopans (Putovima Frankopana) located in the Castle.

Roman house

When I reach the so-called Roman house (Rimska kuća), a former monastery, I remember the dreary last days I spent imprisoned in the monastery. As if it wasn’t enough that my husband Petar Zrinski and half-brother Fran Krsto were executed as conspirators! It seemed to be the end of both my families. At that time, we had no idea we would live forever, thanks to your memories of us. Once upon a time I noted in my verses: “These were severe, miserable and mean times.”

There is an Interpretation Center in the Castle, part of the cultural-tourist route the Routes of the Frankopans. My family left many monuments behind. It is difficult to list them all, but if you go around the Castle, you’ll come across a reminder. How many locations are there on this route? Visit them all, because we love our visitors!

BONUS CHALLENGE: FIND BAKAR

Have you noticed the inscription written in old Croatian Script using Glagolitic alphabet? It is placed right over the entrance to the Castle. My last bonus challenge for you: find the word Bakar. Don’t tell me you’re not familiar with Glagolitic! It doesn’t matter, I’ll teach you. I left you a cheat sheet on the last pages.

Castle

How many locations are there on the Routes of the Frankopans?

We have finally arrived! I really wanted to show you our mighty Castle! What are your thoughts? Although it is an authentic witness of past centuries, it has changed a lot. It has been upgraded, it suffered sometimes, for a time the tower was even decorated with a crown. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in a great earthquake of 1750. If you have a close look at the gate leading outside the town, you might think it’s older than me. However, it was built in 1848 thanks to Count (in Croatian: ban) Josip Jelačić and was therefore named in his honor Banska Vrata (Banska gate).

So much for that. I’ll stay in my Castle, as for you, I suggest you go down town to the coast and take whichever way you want. If you meet Andrija and his explorers somewhere on the way, greet them! Find yourself a cozy place and solve my riddle on page 22.

Invisible Bakar by blind Ivan

Excellent choice!

If you really want to experience Bakar, follow me. I like to listen to Ana Katarina and Andrija, too, but I’m the only one who has experience in guiding tourists around the town. My name is Ivan Čop, better known by the nickname Ivan Slijepi/Blind Ivan. Unfortunately, I lost my sight already as a child. I learned most of the languages listening to the people coming to our maritime town. I’m glad to show interesting spots to curious visitors. I’m familiar with every nook and cranny, with thickest shade. I’ll introduce you to the natural beauties in the heart of the town. Let me fetch some water from the cold spring before leaving for the upper part of the town. Let’s stop by Jaz first (drain from a larger water flow). Follow the roar of the water and take a walk along the pond.

Jaz

And yes, that’s the Charter of the Empress herself, by which she declared Bakar a free royal town on April 23,1779.

Help me to read:

MARIA THERE SIA

A small pool with ducks and trout connected to the sea? The first thing you would think is that these ducks have lost their minds. If you had arrived here in my time, you would have seen an even stranger sight: women doing laundry on Perilo! Who is doing laundry in the sea?! Look! The sea is rough. Perilo is a source of fresh water, one of the many that flows into Bakar Bay. If you arrive here after a few rainy days, you’ll be greeted by the loud roar of water gushing from underground, so deafening that you’ll hardly hear your own thoughts.

Let’s go across the road to Upper Town up the hill (Breg)! The steeper, the sooner we get to the finish line, right?

Vrata Square

If you carry valuables such as salt into town, you can weigh them in this square. How many measuring cups are there?

Let’s have a short break from the steep climb. Which tree in this square do you like the most? The viewpoint doesn’t mean much to me because I like to rest in the shade of two trees above the ridge. Trees tell each other stories and I love listening! No wonder they never run out of topics – their ancestors had lived a hundred million years ago! These trees are living fossils with an unusual name – Judas tree. Probably because it came from Judea, not because of Judas Iscariot, as the famous legend says.

BONUS CHALLENGE: Taps

Where could I fill the water? Try to find a tap or well along the way and don’t forget to take a photo.

Just a little more uphill and here we are at my favorite square Plačica.

SUGGESTION: ILLUSTRATED BOOK

The QR code is going to take you to the picture book Pebbles of Tears. Flip through the book and learn more about me and my town. The book was illustrated and written by elementary school students from the area of the Town of Bakar.

BONUS CHALLENGE: THREE CROSSES

Challenges from these pages for hawk eyes only. Look around while being on Plačice Square and find the house with three crosses.

Turkish house

Plačica Square is a small square where I like to chat with people. Since I’ve been very tired from the climb, let’s sit on the bench because I need your help again.

2_2 = 200 + __ + 2

Turkish house (Turska kuća) is one of the oldest in the town and its unusual shape is explained through numerous stories. I love absorbing the buzz of the town right on this spot. I was even immortalized here. Don’t be surprised if you come across an old postcard from Bakar with your guide Ivan Čop standing in front of the Turkish House! This square meant a lot to me. Once again, the best place is in the shade. Now let’s hide under the old linden tree. You probably want to know how I recognize which tree it is? It’s easy; linden has heart-shaped leaves. Have you noticed?

Above Plačica Sqare rises the co-cathedral of St. Andrew which hides some riddles.

St. Andrew’s Church

CAPITANEVS IOANNES

MAROCHIN _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

NOBILIS .....

_ _ _

1718

PAIF

This church is an indispensable part of life of every inhabitant of the town, including mine. Besides carrying water to well-to-do citizens in upper town, I was doing various things. St. Andrew’s Church (Crkva sv. Andrije) gave me many opportunities for work – I used to press air, called wind, through the organ pipes and when needed, I also carried the coffin. This church has the status of a cocathedral. It was built after a great earthquake which damaged the old church. If you walk around the church, you’ll notice that the bell tower is a separate building. It is an old bell tower which, surprisingly, was not damaged by the earthquake in the 18th century!

BONUS CHALLENGE: TRILJA (a game)

Since we love games, it would be a shame not to play the popular Trilja game. Walk up and down around the church until you find a perfect spot where everything is ready for a game of Trilja. I find the place by touch.

Just keep going to the castle. My favorite spot is next to it.

At the castle

UVDE SMO DOZNALI ČA SMO...

When I was young, every Bakar child explored numerous rooms, and some even claim, secret passages of the castle. And there was always something to find. I was surprised when I once noticed an unusual letter above the entrance. It was a Glagolitic inscription from 1530, one of the numerous proofs of Bakar centuries old history. You are probably wondering how a blind man born in 1869 knows so much? Look for the answer in the building across the street, in the old school. The inscription on the building is a poem written in local dialect in honor of the place. A good teacher allowed me to follow the class. Even at that time with some knowledge and resourcefulness, I managed to live a life full of hope.

BONUS CHALLENGE: CANNONS

Find all the cannons guarding the castle.

It’s time to show you the forest oasis next to the old town. Get out through Banska Vrata (Banska gate), and the puzzle will help you further.

Potok / Stream

Let’s move away from the town walls up the hill until you reach the leaning house. There is a forest path on the opposite side.

The forest walk along Potok starts right next to the former hospital, the quarantine where the possibly infected had to wait to enter the town. If you walk along the promenade, you’ll find yourself in a grove! There is an unusual view of the castle from here. I can’t see the castle but I love greenery. I spent so much time exploring here. I also liked to hunt birds. Some I would sell and some I would keep. A piece of nature was always in my home, even when I couldn’t have been immersed in this beautiful oasis close to my town.

Continue down the walkway and you’ll get almost to the beginning of our exploration, just behind the House of Culture. Walk further through the town park with chestnut trees and back to the Tourist Office. If you’re not too tired, join another one of our guides, or solve my word on page 22.

This is your way back to the starting point.

By the sea with Andrija

Good day, dear people.

I’m Andrija Mohorovičić and I’ll be your guide today. I am really looking forward to this walk, it reminds me of my young professor’s days I spent here in Bakar. Who knows what my life would look like if I hadn’t found myself in this beautiful town! This place took me to the top in science. Not everyone has a crater on the moon named after him!

Let’s go for a walk along Primorje, the longest street in Bakar. Let’s take a look at its bay and the interesting things surrounding it. First to the right, through a small park with stone tables, next to the brightly colored House of Culture. When we reach the parking lot, turn left and continue down the road to the coast. I am taking you this way to see the building of Bakar Maritime School.

the tunnel

The entrance to the tunnel is very impressive. Do you see how immerses into the sea? How long is it? I won’t bother with that fact, neither should you. I’m sure the answer will appear at the end of the walk.

3_5 = 300 + __ + 5

park banj

Wow! Look at this ankora!

A _ _ _ _ _ _ D _ _ _ _ _

Tuna fishing Park

Sometimes it’s good to relax. I stare at the floor and count fish.

While the peculiarities of the air movement over the Bakar Bay attracted my curiosity, some other curious creatures appeared below its surface. Deep waters would often deceive schools of tuna and bring them within reach of settlements. In Bakar Bay, fishing was done from the shore by waiting for fish and pulling nets. Tuna hunting used to be an important economic activity of the local population since Frankopan times. Feel free to ask Ana Katarina if you join her for a walk.

Keep going north until you reach the Jadran Hotel. Doesn’t it remind you a bit of a Maritime School building? No wonder! It housed once the old Maritime School where I worked.

BONUS CHALLENGE: ANCHORS

Can you find some ankora symbols during the walk? As always, keep your eyes open.

The Jadran Hotel

Coastal towns are known for tourism, but few can boast of a hotel built at the beginning of the 20th century! The past of the hotel Jadran is really long. Do you remember I told you that I worked at a Maritime School? At that time, the school was located right on this spot. And do you see the weather station located by the road near the hotel entrance? Don’t take my word for it, but if the memory serves me right, I set up the first Bakar station right there. So many memories!

And now enjoy the walk all the way to the other side of the bay. You’ll pass by Jaz, a well-known spring, although we are interested in another, slightly more distant one.

If you have been for a walk with the water carrier Ivan, he must have told you about the spring called Perilo. It is almost impossible not to notice that well-known Bakar scene. If you pay attention while walking along the waterfront, you will see more spots where fresh water flows into the sea. Along the walk, you’ll come across a spring located on the extension, once known as Borsa Square. The sight will pleasantly surprise you. The source is called Stenice. If you ask locals whether there is another source with an unusual name, you might blush with embarrassment, because the other name is not exactly for everyone’s ears!

southeast northwest

stenice primorje

This street is really long! House numbers have already exceeded one hundred. The house of Stjepan and Karolina Štiglić is an absolute record holder and a reminder of the time when numbers were assigned to all houses in a row.

Keep following me, but don’t forget to look at the buildings, because they often convey memories. This man patented Bow thruster.

JOSIP SINČIĆ

Let’s head towards the newly renovated part of the coast where there is a representation of the Bakar Bay relief.

4a 4b

SUGGESTION:

Bakar sailors carried the taste of home on their long voyages in the form of a dry pastry called Baškot. Stop by our baškotarna – bakery for a well-deserved refreshment. It is opened Monday to Saturday from 7a.m. - 7p.m.

nova riva

UTEMELJENA 1929.

novi trg

Get to know the name of every corner of Bakar Bay. I like the most…

In my opinion, anyone visiting Bakar should come to this part of the town. If it has not set sail, the school ship of the Maritime School Bakar named Vila Velebita 2, could be seen here. The first Vila Velebita was sunk during World War I. Long time ago, Bakar had ship Margita built in 1894. It was the first school ship in the Mediterranean.

BONUS CHALLENGE: ANEL

Look for the old anel and a red zero point.

A tide gauge (in Croatian: mareograf), a device that monitors sea changes, is still hidden in one of these buildings. The old tide gauge still working, has been here for almost a hundred years! The sea has left Bakar so many miracles as a legacy. Is it possible to be closer to the sea than here in Bakar? In this town is even a reference point for determining altitude – that’s what the bonus red point is for.

BONUS CHALLENGE: on the sea

The walk is over – discover my word on the next page. Take a walk on the sea. Once you get to the end of the promenade, try to find my namesake. You will be able to solve this task if you go for a walk with Ivan – the water carrier.

LOCAL TERMS

Anel – a metal ring for tying a ship’s rope

Ankora – anchor

Špina – spigots

Tunera – tuna fishing station

Trilja – a game, also known as Nine Men’s Morris or Mill Game

Solutions to each exploration

Each solution is a WORD important for the world of a particular personality.

st. margaret

the museum vrata square castle holy cross

jaz vrata square at the castle

st. andrew a potok/ stream

roman house

_

turkish house

________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

FINAL PUZZLE

If you’ve figured out the individual solutions, it’s time for the final one. You may not be familiar with these words, but everything will fall into place when you receive recognition. Just a small note: C is a Glagolitic letter

What do the unscrambled words mean?

Don’t worry if the solutions are unusual – they are some rare ancient words. Explanation will be given along with the recognition.

How to get recognition?

Send the solution to the final puzzle and your name to info@tz-bakar.hr

In addition, send us a photo from your favorite location of each walk – a total of three photos. We will send you an acknowledgment and clarifications of all solutions.

In case you don’t know how to solve it?

Find help in bonus challenges. Post photos of at least three challenges on social media with the hashtag #zaigranibakar #discoverbakar and #visitbakar and let us know where you got stuck and we’ll give you a hand.

Psst!

Here is the cheat sheet I promised to give you!

Publisher:

Bakar Tourist Board

Authors of the concept: Sonja Jelušić Marić and Iva Silla

Texts: Kazivačica d.o.o.

Illustrations and graphic design: Vixel, design agency

Photography: Miljenko Šegulja, Nina

Pereza & Sanja Grgić Ćurić

Proofreading and translation: School for Foreign Languages “Milton”

Contact: info@tz-bakar.hr www.tz-bakar.hr

The creation of this brochure was supported by the Croatian Tourist Board, the Kvarner Tourist Board, the Town of Bakar, Industrijska zona Bakar d.o.o. and INA d.d.

Bakar, 2022.

Let us know what you liked, whether something was too hard or too easy for you, in order to improve future releases. Please do not give away the solutions so that future explorers can enjoy the challenge.

BONUS CHALLENGES

Solve bonus challenges and tag us on Instagram and Facebook! #ZaigraniBakar #DiscoverBakar #VisitBakar