Southeast of Dubrovnik,
just breath away, like a guardian angel stands Lokrum island. Its
beauty unshaded by the magnificent city. The rivalry of The City and Lokrum
lasts for centuries as they compete in their undying dance of harmony only to
break even as they are a perfect match.
Also known as the island of kings, Lokrum has its first
writing mention in 1023 as the Benedictine abbey and monastery are
founded.
According to legend, Richard the Lion-heart shipwrecked in 1192 after
returning home from the crusades and found himself cast ashore, safe on
Lokrum, and he pledged to build a church on the island idebted for the
salvation but at the plee of Dubrovnik citizens, the church was not built on
Lokrum but in The City instead. That church is still there waiting for
your visit.
The very name Lokrum comes from the Latin, acrumen, meaning
sour fruit and it's a name that comes from the tradition of bringing and
cultivating exotic plants from all corners of the world on the island and this
tradition started in the time of the Bendictines.
This tradition was nurtured through the whole existance of The Dubrovnik
Republic and later on with the rule of the Maximilan Ferdinand of
Habsburg as he had a mansion built on the island in 1859 with a
magnificent garden laid out, criss crossed with pathways, full of amazing
plants and botanical wonders.
So it's not a surprise that in 1959 a Botanical Garden is founded on
Lokrum where you can see special and endemic tropic and subtropic plants and
other vegetation originating from Australia to South America. Today Lokrum is
a Nature Reserve and a Special Forest Vegetation Reserve.
There is also another famous Botanical Garden in Dubrovnik,
Arboretum in
Trsteno, considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
Beside the Botanical Garden there a few locations you
should visit on Lokrum mainly:
- Lokrum's special attraction, a small lake, called Mrtvo More (Dead Sea),
a unique lake linked with the sea, crystal clear and calm suitable for bathing
and it is a favoruite resort to many visitors;
- fortress called Forte Royale, star shaped built by the French in 1806 at the
highest elevated point of Lokrum, 91 m, giving a marvellousl, exquisite view
of the whole island and the city of Dubrovnik.
Lokrum is the favourite excursion destination of the
population of Dubrovnik, as well as of many tourists. From The City harbour
regular tourist boats run to Lokrum, in spring and autumn every hour and
during the summer every half an hour so it's very conveniant to visit this
fantastic Island. It takes only 10 minutes to get to Lokrum.
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