The cultural and historical story of Kraljevica is truly remarkable. The fascinating and prestigious noble families Zrinski and Frankopan chose this small coastal town as a hub for their creative and cultural endeavours.

Furthermore, Kraljevica – speculated to derive its name from Porto Re or Royal Port (Kralj in Croatian meaning king), embarked on the construction of a remarkable shipyard soon after the Frankopan and Zrinski golden era. This shipyard was the first ever built in the area of Rijeka and produced modern warships for the Austro-Hungarian Navy at the time. Today, it is considered an important monument of maritime culture for the entire region.

Thanks to its geographical position and healing climate, Kraljevica is regarded as one of the early health tourism centres. Notably, early 20th-century records mention sea baths, as well as air, sun and sand treatments, with special emphasis on local wind bura and its influence on health. Presently, Kraljevica abounds in rich tangible and intangible heritage, which has been entrusted to new generations for study and preservation.

Explore more about the gems of this heritage in the section Sights.