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This bay was inhabited in
prehistoric times because of its naturally protective position along the edges
of fields by the sea rich shells and fish as well as water springs. This
natural position of the bay brought the construction of a fortess which offered
shelter to its inhabitants as well as the surrounding ones in times of
trouble. The bay was inhabited in the Bronze Age,
with a settlement on the location of the fortress. In the Iron Age it was
inhabited by an Illyrian tribe, the Liburnians. During
Roman times because of its continuing strategic importance it remained
inhabited. A new fortess was built during this time by the Romans. In the
7th century, after the migration of the Croats to their new homeland the Roman
fortification was restored and received the name Novigrad, (Novum Castrum).
Novigrad is also very
interesting to tourism because of its location. There are many places
for excursions in its vicinity. The river Zrmanja flows into the Novigrad Sea
passing through its magnificent
canyon which many visitors visit by boat. There is also the
Franciscan monastery with a bridge and the Karin Sea. The Velebit mountain with
its National Park Paklenica is
very close.
This Novigrad Sea and Zrmanja
River are widely known for their richness of fish and shells
The reason for this richness is the mixing of sweet and salty waters. There were
well-known hunting areas here
until after the Second World War. In 1878 the First Fishing
Society for the fishing of tuna fish was founded here and it was the first of
its kind in Dalmatia
Novigrad is especially known for its shells, specially mussels and in the
13thcentury pearls were found here. Mussels here are a speciality, prepared
indifferent ways and are very important in the alimentation of this region.
Until recently the main
branches of economy here were viticulture., "he fishing trade and
tourism, but most recently it is tourism and fishing.
Novigrad today has a population
of 600 inhabitants and since it has been quite damaged during the recent Croatian
Liberation War, especially tourist buildings and the waterfront, life is slowly
returning and efforts are being
made to bring to life tourism which had here been a tradition.
The distance of Novigrad form the
Dalmatian road is 9 km. It is 30 km from Zadar by train and 25km by air.
It has two friendship towns, Novigrad in Istria and Podravina.
Novigrad Municipal
Tourist Board
Obala kraljice Elizabete Kotromanic 4
23312 Novigrad, Croatia
tel. ++385 23375 051 tel.
++385 23375 390
e-mail. tzo-novigrad@zd.tel.hr
Zadar
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Osor I Pag I DubrovnikI
Novigrad - Dalmatia I Novigrad
- Istria
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