Cultural Sites

     Senj is well-known for its eventful history and for its past inhabitants' heroic deeds, but it is also one among the nurseries of Croatian culture.

     As of the 10th c. Glagolitic (old Slavonic) script was used in Senj along with Croatian language.  Hence, many both hand-written and printed Glagolitic sacral books, documents and tablets have survived from the period, the most significant being the Senj Glagolitic Tablet dating back to the end of the 11th c. In 1493., a Glagolitic printing house was established in Senj, being the second oldest in the country.

     Senj has not only a glorious history, but also a fascinating present. While some of its sons were making their way to freedom with swords and rifles, others were paving the way to knowledge and enlightenment with pens in their hands.  By doing so, they did a lot for their native town, as well as for the local history, turning Senj into the oldest cultural and national liberation centre of its people. Senj is native town of poets Mateša Kuhačević and Silvije Strahimir Kranjčevic, novelist Vjenceslav Novak, playwrights and theatre officials Julije Rorauer, Milan Ogrizovic and Milutin Cihlar Nehajev. Even today, there are about dozen masters of the written word still active in Senj.  There are only few Croatian Adriatic towns which history has been preserved so well as it is the case with Senj. 

     The old part of the town is a living museum in itself, the Municipal Museum has several permanent exhibitions, the sacral heritage exhibition at the Rectory is always well attended, while the visit to Nehaj ("Fear Not" castle is absolutely unavoidable for all those who come to Senj. If we take into account its size, the town's cultural activity is still above average. For over 20 years now, Senj has been the centre of harmony-singing in the area (Croatian Littoral & Istria), while this year it will have been 30 years of Senj's carnival tradition i.e. of its Summer Carnival Festival (the first weekend in August), owing to which it has become a member of European Carnival Towns Association.

Natural sites

     Senj may truly take pride in being situated in an environmentally quite preserved area. Its 70 km long riviera stretching along with beautiful clear sea holds a number of picturesque seaside resorts: Sv. Juraj ("St. George"), Lukovo, Klada, Starigrad, Stinica, Jablanac and Prizna. Behind it lies Croatia's most beautiful mountain - Mount Velebit. In 1978. UNESCO proclaimed it a world biosphere reserve.