What you see here is one of Croatia's most beautiful mountain houses. Except it is not fair to call a castle a house, right?

At 800 meters in a dense coniferous forest on a mountain slope of Gorski Kotar stands Stara Sušica Castle. It's a charming mountain chalet where children can enjoy school summer and winter programs, attend sports and language camps, and be creative at art and computer workshops. All this while making new friends and learning about themselves.

There is also a magical twist, so keep reading to find out what it is.

The Historic Castle of Desire

Stara Sušica Castle, according to some sources, was part of an eponymous medieval town. It was first mentioned in the 14th century and was of interest to the Turks during their 16th-century raids, but they could not conquer it.

The castle had many owners over the centuries, the most important being the Frankopan family, who had as many as 17 castles in the wider region. Stara Sušica Castle, with its accompanying small Church of Saint Anthony of Padua dating from 1874, was in private possession of Laval Nuget and Feliks and Josip Neuberger in the 19th century. They contributed to the castle's restorations that still preserve such appearance.

Today, it is under the administrational operation of the City of Rijeka and Dom Mladih Rijeka that made it possible for children to enjoy the magic of a Hogwarts Castle lookalike.

Have a Harry Potter Themed Weekend Program!

Kids are welcome to stay in Stara Sušica Castle, which has 14 rooms with 110 beds, shared bathrooms, a well-equipped kitchen and dining room, spaces dedicated to various activities, and a spacious playground for handball and football.

They will learn orientation and navigation in nature by using a compass and following natural signs. Likewise, they will develop working habits and independence, get to know the past and present of Stara Sušica, and even hear about the wood industry of Gorski Kotar and Croatia.

Enroll your kids in a mountaineering school, a three-hour workshop encouraging nature conservation and getting kids to learn about the region's biological diversity. There's also a ski school verified by the Ministry of Science and Education in the castle and the ski slopes of Kupjak and Platak (medals and diplomas included).

Finally, kids can make their magic wands within the Harry Potter workshop that also deals with bullying, and its prevention, cleverly named the Defense against the Dark Forces. With the help of the Ministry of Magic Croatia, kids will learn about the impact of their actions on others and how to protect themselves from bullying. So, we can say Croatia has a stunning Harry Potter castle!

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True Natural Charm around Stara Sušica Castle

The castle is located in the village of Stara Sušica, 5 kilometers from Ravna Gora in Gorski Kotar, abundant with natural beauties.

Make sure to visit Lokvarka Cave, one of the largest caves in Croatia that was adapted for curious tourists. Five more caves wait for you in the vicinity of Stara Sušica Castle: Dimnjačareva Cave, Medvjeđa Cave, Ledena Cave (Ice Cave), Golublja Half Cave, and Vrelo Cave.

Go hiking on the marked paths of the Golubinjak park-forest or rent a bike and explore Kamačnik Canyon, Vražji Prolaz, and Zeleni Vir. Animal lovers will enjoy horseback riding, and adrenaline junkies may want to participate in a paintball game.

There are even more fun things to see: the Center Velike Zvijeri (a multimedia visitor center for large carnivores), the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, and the filming location of the adventurous western movie Winnetou - Cowboy Village Roswell in Fužine. Interested already?

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