Gospic, Croatia

Capital City

This mountainous Croatian town is no postcard. With a county seat population under 15,000, Gospić has seen its fair share of turmoil - including the massacre of up to 120 predominantly Serb civilians by Croatian military units in 1991. The harsh continental climate means blizzards dumping over 50cm of snow can hit up to 5 days per year, while record lows reach a bone-chilling -33.5°C. Bureaucracy is also a persistent headache, with the town's status as a county capital doing little to spur development - the region has in fact seen a steady population decline over recent decades. Gospić may appeal to those seeking an authentic, if challenging, taste of rural Croatian life, but most would be wise to look elsewhere.