“On the traces of Winnetou” is not the title of a western film but a cultural-tourist event that will be held at the end of May and the beginning of June next year in the area covering the National Parks of Paklenica, Krka, Plitvica Lakes, Velebit Nature Park, the canyon of river Zrmanja and other places in Croatia. More than forty years ago a feature film was made based on an adventure story about the Indian chief Winnetou that was written by the German author Karl May. The wonderful places where it was filmed have still managed to keep their beauty today, which enables the many fans of Karl May who continue to love the films to relax in the adventure and go on the traces of Winnetou. Touching upon this interest, two years ago the tourist board of the Municipality of Starigrad in collaboration with Jadran films organised the first ever meeting for fans of Karl May in Croatia in Starigrad-Paklenica. The event gathered a large number of fans Winnetou, members of the film crew (actors, stuntmen, script writers), the authors of the book “On the traces of Winnetou in Croatia” and others, and the meeting was held in the original locations where the film was made. This event developed into the tourist project “On the traces of Winnetou” where explanatory signs started to be put up in the places where the film was made, a tourist map was made that offered a description of the places where it was recorded, an info point was built in Starigrad-Paklenica with a documentary exhibition and the same named event continued to be held. At the event, a tour in the company of an expert guide was organised that involved visiting the sites where the films about Winnetou were made between 1962 and 1968. This was followed by meetings with individual members of the film crew, film screenings and literary evenings, horse riding and shooting with bows and arrows, a country style entertainment program, an evening in the open air beside a camp fire with country music, and an opportunity for the participants to get to know more about Croatia’s cultural heritage.
Out of a total of the 10 films that were made in Croatia on the basis of May’s books, half were filmed in the area of the National Parks of Paklenica, Krka, Plitvica Lakes, Velebit Nature Park and the river Zrmanja. During this period, members of the film crew stayed in the old motel of Alan. It is because of this that today the hotel is a not to be missed stop for fans of Winnetou who was played by Pierre Brice. The idea of creating a new tourist product called “On the trace of Winnetou” occurred after it was noticed that a large number of Winnetou fans visited the Starigrad area wanting to see the places where the film was made. Luckily, the area has been preserved in all its beauty, which is the reason why it was chosen over Spain and Portugal and a number of other European countries. The revival of the stories about the legendary Indian chief means that younger generations can get to know about this part of Croatian film history, that visitors can see the beauty of the natural surroundings in an alternative way, and above all else guests can be offered a unique experience.
As a result of the combination of the sea and mountains, the area covering the Municipality of Starigrad offers excellent conditions for the development of particular forms of tourism, especially active holidays. In addition to the already existing hiking, climbing, cycling and canoeing, as a result of the project of “On the traces of Winnetou” horse riding and archery have started to be developed. They are an integral part of these events and also help to extend the tourist season. Consequently, the book and film legend – the Indian chief Winnetou – has become a promoter of Croatian tourism.

Source: Croatian National Tourist Board - Newsletter December 2009