Following the Sava River in Croatia

"The nights near the Sava River are the best" - says almost everyone who lives in Zagreb, Sisak, Slavonski Brod or any other city that this river beautifies. The Sava might be in the shadow of the bigger river - Danube, but again it gained its important position in Southeastern Europe. The Sava River is home to many bird and fish species. It waters many fields and represents a natural refuge for thousands of people. So, let's visit Zagreb, Sisak and Slavonski Brod by following the Sava River in Croatia.

Croatia is not only the seaside and islands. It is also a country cross-linked by many rivers. The river life is amazing just like sea life. The Sava is one of the rivers that flows through Croatia, and it represents one of its most important natural gems.

Zagreb

The Sava is a natural border between the Balkan Peninsula and Pannonian Plain, and also between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite being a border, the Sava River is still connecting people and regions. With its tranquility and overall beauty, the Sava brings natural spirit to the cities in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The Sava river can be named a "capital city river" since it flows through three capital cities - Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade. In Croatia, the Sava flows through Zagreb, the Croatian capital. It's impossible to imagine Zagreb without the Sava river. On the left bank of the river, one can find a beautiful park Jarun, Jarun lake and a city park Bundek.

After having a glass of a craft beer or after visiting a unique Zagreb museum, just hop on a bicycle and ride it towards the Sava River banks. And remember: It's beautiful in the morning, during the day, in the afternoon and during the night.

Picture © Credits to Dreamer4787

Sisak

Going only 50 km down the stream, the Sava river will bring us to Sisak, a small and interesting city. This city is an administrative center of Sisak-Moslavina County. Additionally, Sisak is a place where three rivers meet - Sava, Kupa, and Odra. A city of metallurgy and a crude oil refinery is also a place to enjoy nature. Not so many cities have three rivers in the vicinity. The Sava continues to flow towards east leaving the Lonjsko Polje on its left bank, the biggest wetland in the Danube basin, perfect for a lowland safari.

Slavonski Brod

And then, the river Sava continues to flow towards the south and then east again. As its confluence to the Danube is gets closer, its beauty only starts to shine. Here, the Sava makes a natural border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and just after it starts to make meanders. If you zoom it in the map, you will see that the Sava's shape looks like kid's drawing. After a few hours in the car or better in the boat, you will come to Slavonski Brod or just Brod (brod means boat in Croatian*). It is a city of amazing history. It's a place that remembers many empires, many battles, many kings and one famous train - Orient Express. Brod **and its train station were mentioned in Agatha Christie's novel "Murder on the Orient Express".

Picture © Credits to Frka

By following the Sava River in Croatia, one can learn a lot about Croatian and Balkans history. The river Sava is a precious natural jewel that is inevitable while visiting Croatia.