Throughout the 1960's (1963-1968), legendary movies about the adventures of the Indian Apache chief Winnetou, based on Karl May's novels, were filmed in Croatia.
Karl Friedrich May (1842.-1912.) was a German writer of adventure novels, remembered by millions of readers. His travelogues were translated into three dozen foreign languages and printed in millions of copies. The Winnetou films, originating in a coproduction of Rialto Film from Berlin and Jadran Film from Zagreb, are considered as the most popular films of all time in Germany.
Among many potential locations worldwide, numerous Croatian areas were finally chosen for the filming: National Park Paklenica, National Park Plitvicka jezera, National Park Krka, the canyon of River Zrmanja, Nature Park Velebit(Tulove grede ridge, Prezid pass), Nature Park Vransko jezero, sites Modric, Rovanjska, Jasenice, Rastevic, Omis, then river Cetina, Grobnicko polje, Platak and others.
As many as 7 out of 11 Winnetou films were shot close to Starigrad-Paklenica which subsequently became a favourite destination of fans of Karl May's novels and Winnetou films, and the beautiful filming locations are perfectly preserved in all their glory.
The Velika Paklenica Canyon, which is the most attractive part of the Paklenica National Park, is the place where numerous scenes from films about Winnetou were shot.
There are about 10 Film locations from the entrance of the new presentation center (Bunkeri). Although, due to the growth of vegetation over the last decades, the view of the canyon has changed a great deal but the places where the shooting took place are still recognizable and remind us to the famous Winnetou period.
Traveling along the Winnetou trail wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Winnetou commemoration site in Starigrad-Paklenica with its permanent film exhibit.
The exhibit is set up in an authentic spirit of the original space of Bluesun hotel Alan in Starigrad-Paklenica (Motel Paklenica).
This space was used by the film crew during filming, and it’s possible to see, along with many film props, photographs and other documentary materials, original rooms from that time.
Films made at this location:
From the D54 State Road, in the direction of Obravac, approx. 8 km after passing Jasenice, you should turn left onto the old road in the direction of Sveti Rok. On the wide-open plain on the left side of the road, in the film The Desperado Trail there was a camp of railway men and traces of mounted rails and still recognizable there.
After 9 km, the street becomes a 6 km long macadamized path. Half way to the summit, on the right side and before the sharp curve near the old watchman’s house, is the place where the totem for the white father of the Apaches was situated.
Immediately before arriving at the summit, you will reach the place where the scene from the Film The Half Breed was made, where Happy (Marinko Cosic) tries to get a feather from the eyrie for his sister Apanatschi (Ursula Glas).
Then you reach the stone windscreen from where you will have a magnificent view over the peaks of Tulove grede, the wide-open green plain decorated with small stones of different shapes can be seen.
From where the wall begins, on the right, you can see an elevation that was the refuge of a band called Geier (vulture). Here the last scene of the conflict between the bandit Weller (Miha Baloh) and Old Surehand (Stewart Granger) and the most dramatic scene of any Karl May Films – the death of Winnetou was also made there.
To the west of the stones close to the stone windscreen there is a large crater. Here scenes of the Apaches and bandits conflict in Winnetou The Warrior (Apache Gold) as well as the death of Winnetou’s father and Santer were shot.
In a meadow under the crater, a sad scene was shot here where Nscho-tschi (Marie Versini) dies in the arms of Old Shatterhand and you can also find remnants of the stone graves. The same place was also used at the beginning of The Desperado Trail as the place where the blood brothers met. In fact, right here numerous photographs of the film stars – Lex Barker, Pierre Brice and Marie Versini were taken together with the legendary movie poster for Winnetou The Warrior (Apache Gold).
Films made at this location:
To reach the location of Pueblo plateau (Pariževačka glavica) you can arrive by road from Starigrad-Paklenica to Obrovac direction. Once you have passed Jasenice, you will turn right onto the macadamized path that brings you to a fairly big plateau situated at the very edge of the imposing River Zrmanja canyon, found in the film as Rio Pecos. There was an Indian village here – Winnetou’s homeland where Winnetou (Pierre Brice) and old Shatterhand (Lex Barker) become blood brothers.
From this plateau there is a magnific view of the deeply incised canyon of the River Zrmanja that will remain and unforgettable memory for every visitor.
During the organized boat excursion departing from Starigrad-Paklenica you can see locations along the river where the film was made. Along the impressive cliffs protruding from the river itself, immediately after its estuary, the scene with Old Shatterhand and Intschu-tschuna begins. The scene ends 2 km upstream, near to the imposing stone wall on the right. There, scenes of Old Shatterhand’s attempts to reach the totem pole as the spectacular drive of the bandits on floats along the burning river Rio Pecos can be seen.
Films made at this location:
Driving from Starigrad-Paklenica towards Zadar, you turn right into Rovanjska in the direction of the locality of Modrič špilja (cave), where there is a view of a beautiful sunset and because of this, the area close by was chosen to make the famous scene where the blood brothers are riding towards the sunset (Winnetou The warrior / Apache Gold), and the last scene from The Desperado Trail, where Winnetou is brought to his grave.
Pass over the Velebit known as Prezid, which was mainly where The Half Breed 1966. was made.
Films made at the National Park Krka area:
Places of shooting: Skradinski buk, Roški slap.
Near the fabulous Skradinski buk the mission station of “Paloma Nakama white dove” (Valley of the Death) was places, whilst in Winnetou The warrior (Apache Gold), Winnetou and his beautiful sister Nscho-tschi were seen fishing here.
On the other side of the coast, a summer Apache camp was allocated for “Valley of the Death” film purposes and the scene when the brave solider Kingsley died in Winnetou’s arms was made.
Today, National Park tourist boats pass through the same river passing where once, Winnetou and Shatterhand rowed their canoes whilst a scene where the Indian chief is trying to get the map of American army’s hidden treasury was made near to attractive waterfall Roški slap.
Films made at the National Park Plitvice Lakes area:
Places of shooting: waterfalls Galovački buk, Prštavac i Veliki slap, the Kaluđerovac and the Galovac lakes.
“Silver Lake” in the Film is in fact the Kaluđerovac Lake, whilst the small natural cave at the end of the lake that is accessible through the sheer stairs, is represented as the famous treasure cave.