A new attraction is about to be added to inland Croatia's diverse tourism offer, with the prison which incarcerated Presidents Tito and Tudjman set to offer accommodation.
It was once a monastery owned by the Pauline fathers before being turned into a prison and used by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Independent State of Croatia and Communist Yugoslavia, but the latest twist in the rich history of Croatia's most notorious prison at Lepoglava, with the opening of the building as a tourist resort, according to a report in regional web portal E-Varazdin, on February 28, 2012.
The building, which became a prison in 1854, has held many high-profile figures in captivity over the years, from various political persuasions as the country was ruled by various different powers. Among the most famous 'guests' were President Josip Broz Tito (as Communists were rounded up during the Kingdom of Yugoslavia), Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac and the future President of Croatia, Franjo Tudjman (during the period of Communist Yugoslavia).
Tito's enduring popularity will be used as bait to attract tourists, and the Croatian Times reports that there have already been requests to spend the night in the ex-Yugoslav president's cell.
The prison tourism is another example of the varied nature of inland tourism in a country which is better known for its coastal attractions such as Dubrovnik and the island of Hvar, but there has been a recent shift in emphasis away from the coast in promoting Croatia internationally, most notably in the official promotional material from the Croatian Tourist Board. The new video, featuring cellist Ana Rucner (see below) is attracting international acclaim, the most recent being from influential Belgian travel portal, Pagtour.
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