We have three apartments, and we've also built two houses; the third is almost finished: there's also a whirlpool and sun loungers on the terrace...

The Vlahović family owns three apartments, has also built two houses, and the third is nearing completion.

The picturesque mountain village of Lič, the oldest in Fužine, a municipality proudly celebrating its 150th anniversary of tourism this year, is among the most beautiful places in the entire region. This season, the area saw record numbers of visitors. The proximity to the sea, the significantly more pleasant climate, and the enchanting natural surroundings were certainly key factors in choosing to stay in the green heart of Croatia, as were the more affordable prices compared to the coast.

"We don't take a break, we're really busy all summer long," say the married couple Vlahović, Renata and Hrvoje, who have successfully combined tourism and agriculture in their lives and work.

An electric German Shepherd also guards the area.

Twenty-three years ago, they opened the "Volta" tavern with a guesthouse and guest rooms in the center of Fužine, Renata's hometown. They grow fruit and vegetables for their own use in nearby Lič, Hrvoje's hometown. They live in Lič with their daughters, Ena and Nina.

The Gorski Kotar region is famous for its strudels, especially the blueberry strudel. But the strudel made with aronia berries, which the Vlahović family grows themselves and which is on their restaurant's menu, is also impressive. Equally impressive is the gluten-free cake they bake with this fruit. To ensure their offerings are based on regional specialties, they source products from local producers that they don't offer themselves, such as honey from Gorski Kotar, walnuts, and the highly praised dairy products from the Frančišković family farm in Begovo Razdolje.

The Vlahović family also cultivates a potato field, harvesting about 10 tons of potatoes annually – just enough to cover half of the restaurant's needs. They grow the potatoes from their own seed potatoes, and because wild boars frequently invade, they had to fence the field with an electric fence; otherwise, the harvest would be pointless. The tubers are stored in a trap, just as they were in the old days.

“We used to produce between 120 and 130 tons of potatoes annually. We also had piglets, sheep, popcorn…” lists the busy Renata.

The family farm, run by Hrvoje and named after her youngest daughter, 18-year-old Nina, was founded in 2015. Besides potatoes in the fields and aronia berries in the orchard, they also grow apples, pears, and plums. Elderberries are also cultivated, from which liqueur is made. Guests of the Vlahović family's holiday apartments and houses on the farm can enjoy a toast with them. The accommodations have been awarded four suns – the highest rating for rooms, apartments, holiday homes, and campsites on the farm.

E-charging station coming soon

"We have three apartments, and we have also built two houses; the third is almost finished," say the Vlahovićs, opening the doors of their beautifully decorated country houses with a whirlpool and a sun terrace equipped with deck chairs.

Guests will find a welcome basket containing products from the Vlahović family, including jam, apple mustard, pickled apples, and Gorski Kotar herbal tea. The houses feature a kitchen, living room, and sauna on the ground floor, with bedrooms on the upper floor. The land, construction, and furnishings were co-financed by EU funding. The family receives support from the county and municipality for all their projects and initiatives. The Vlahović family recently won a grant from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport to invest in an e-bottling plant and the digitalization of their business.

“We had planned to build a fourth house, but our Nina says there will be horses, stables, a riding hall…” say her parents.

High school student Nina has big plans for developing equestrian tourism. She rides herself and is training to become an instructor and riding guide. Three beautiful horses already live in a spacious paddock on the Vlahović family farm. Since Nina was celebrating her graduation at the time of our visit, Hrvoje showed us how to give a high five and a kiss to the tune of "Midnight Rain."

Unlike their older sister, who chose a different path in life, Nina and Ena will most likely continue the successful tourism and agricultural tradition of Gorski Kotar. This tradition was established, among others, by Renata's grandmother, one of the pioneers of tourism in Fužine, where she ran a guesthouse. Although Ena is about to complete her law degree, she sees her future in this field.

– She is the fourth generation in the family to work in tourism and the third to work in agriculture – say the satisfied parents Renata and Hrvoje Vlahović.

OPG Nina, Lič, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County

By combining tourism and agriculture, the Vlahović family has written a success story in Gorski Kotar. They keep three horses on their farm in the village, offer holiday apartments and houses for a total of 20 to 25 people, and sell all the fruit and vegetables they produce in Lič through their restaurant in Fužine.