The legendary films about the Indian chief Winnetou, based on the novels by Karl May, were shot in the 1960s at many locations in Croatia.
The most attractive locations are to be found in the immediate vicinity of the Paklenica Riviera - Paklenica, Krka and Plitvička Lakes National Parks and Velebit Nature Park (Tulove Grede, the canyon of the River Zrmanja). In addition, the Alan Hotel in Starigrad-Paklenica was where the film crew were based during the shooting of the final film – ‘Winnetou and Old Schatterhand in the Valley of Death’.
The hotel has been completely refurbished since then and provides top-class service, but in parts of the hotel, the spirit of Winnetou has been preserved and visitors can view an exhibition of original props used in the films. It is also possible to buy a book about the set locations entitled ‘Winnetou Trails through Croatia’, by Jadran Film and Damir Gabelica, which contains a series of stories and photographs from the shoots, some of which have never been published before.
A stay on the Paklenica Riviera offers a unique opportunity to visit the original locations where Winnetou once rode and to enjoy their unrivalled and preserved natural beauty, due to which they were chosen as film locations. Tourists can visit certain sites on their own, but for locations on Velebit, we recommend joining an organised tour as part of the Velebit photo safari trip.
Starigrad-Paklenica was also the location for the first Winnetou Convention ever organised in Croatia, which brought together numerous fans from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Holland and other countries in May 2007. During their 3-day stay on the Paklenica Riviera, the Convention participants mingled with actors and stuntmen from the films, as well as with the set designer from Jadran Films, Vladimir Tadej. Guests visited locations in Paklenica and Krka National Parks, while at Tulove Grede - the place where Winnetou met his maker - and at Pueblo Plateau beside the River Zrmanja, a real Winnetou festival was organised. Fans enjoyed the exquisite nature, a book promotion, dinner round a campfire, and original music from the films, returning home full of thrilling experiences
Source www.rivijera-paklenica.hr
