Croatia is a well-known travel destination rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage, tradition and history, and yet there are dozens of facts little known to Croats let alone to the millions of tourists visiting the country.

Here are some interesting facts about Croatia you probably did not know so test your knowledge and learn something new today.

Did you know that the richest site of Neanderthal remains in the world was discovered in Krapina in the Croatian region of Hrvatsko Zagorje?

- that the most famous Croatian beach Zlatni rat on the island of Brac changes its shape depending on the force of wind?

- if you spread out the map of the world, the Croatian town of Ludbreg would be at its very centre?

- that the Ston city walls, which are 5,5 kilometres long, represent the longest preserved fortification system in the world after the Great Wall of China?

- that Hum in Istria is the smallest town in the world with only 20 inhabitants?

- that the Zagreb Cathedral, with its 108 metres high pinnacles, is the tallest building in Croatia?

- that ‘’Star Wars’’, ‘’Robin Hood’’, ‘’Game of Thrones’’, ‘’Sofia’s choice’’, ‘’Dr Who’’ are just some of the famous cinema and television productions filmed in Croatia?

- that the national flower of Croatia is the iris flower?

- Croatia is the first among all European countries when it comes to the number of UNESCO cultural and historical protected sites and the number of intangible cultural heritage sites?

- almost 10 percent of Croatia is a protected area, which includes eleven nature parks, eight national parks and two strict nature reserves?

Plitvice Lakes 

- klapa singing is one of the Croatian UNESCO intangible heritages?

- Croatia is the fourth country in the world when it comes to alcohol consumption per capita?

- that the Dalmatian city of Zadar has the first organ in the world played by the sea?

- the island of Cres is a home to endangered colony of the griffon vulture?

- the 8,000-year-old city of Vinkovci is the oldest city in Europe?

- the city of Dubrovnik is one of the first medieval European cities to introduce the sewage system?

- Horvat is the most frequent surname in Croatia?

- the small island of Bisevo has only 13 inhabitants?

- the Diocletian’s Palace in Split is a home of a real Egyptian sphinx thanks to the Roman Emperor Diocletian who brought it from Egypt to adorn the entrance to his tomb?

- Richard the Lionheart was cast ashore on Lokrum in Dubrovnik after being shipwrecked in 1192?

The island of Lokrum