Skradin: The Gateway to the Waterfalls of Krka National Park
Skradin is a small historic town in Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia, located about 15 kilometres north-east of Šibenik at the mouth of the Krka River. The municipality has 3,349 inhabitants (2021 census). Skradin is the main entrance to Krka National Park, declared a national park in 1985, which houses Europe's largest travertine waterfall system: the Skradinski Buk falls.
History Skradin is one of Croatia's oldest settlements. Human presence in the area dates back more than 5,000 years. The Illyrian settlement was transformed by the Romans into the municipium of Scardona in the 1st century AD, functioning as an important administrative and commercial hub in the Roman province of Dalmatia. Skradin appears under its modern name in 10th-century sources. In the 14th century it was a stronghold of the Šubić family. The Ottomans took it in the winter of 1521–22. In 1647, during the Cretan War, Venetian troops razed the city to prevent the Turks from using it; it was subsequently rebuilt under Venetian rule. The Fortress of Turina (1273–1312), atop the town's centre, is the most notable vestige of this turbulent past.
Krka National Park and waterfalls The Skradinski Buk falls, 4 km from the town and accessible by boat from Skradin's pier (25 min), consist of 17 waterfalls spanning a total drop of 47.7 metres. They are Europe's largest travertine cascade system. The park also harbours Visovac Island with its Franciscan monastery (1445) and the remains of the Roman camp of Burnum. In 1895, Europe's first hydroelectric power plant was built on the Krka River, supplying electricity to Šibenik. In 2024, Krka National Park received the prestigious Green Destinations Gold Award.
Points of interest: - Population: 3,349 (municipality, 2021). - Distances: 15 km from Šibenik, 93 km from Split. - Getting there: By road from Šibenik (20 min) or regular bus. Boats from Šibenik in season.