Torch-lit Swimming Pool (Gradski Bazen Delnice)

Delnice is the largest town in Gorski Kotar in Croatia, the forested mountain region behind Rijeka, and it sits at some 700 metres above sea level, among fir and beech woods. Summers here are shorter and cooler than on the coast, and a swimming pool is one of the town's favourite places for warm days. The municipal pool, known as Gradski Bazen Delnice also called the Torch-lit Swimming Pool, serves residents and visitors who want a swim in the fresh mountain air rather than a trip to the sea, which lies about an hour away by car.

Outdoor municipal pools of this type are an important part of life in small Croatian towns. They are a meeting place for families, a training spot for children learning to swim and a venue for local events, and in the mountains they are most active between late spring and early autumn, when the weather allows. Because the nights are cool in Gorski Kotar, the character of an evening at the pool is quite different from the coast: the air is crisp, the scent of conifers drifts over the water and the surrounding woods darken against the sky.

The pool is known in particular for special evening events at which the area is lit with torches, creating a warm and unusual atmosphere beside the water. The flames reflect on the surface and the shadows of the trees fall on the surrounding lawns, a setting that appeals to families and couples looking for something a little different. Details of when these events happen are not fixed, and the programme depends on the season and the organisers, so it is best to ask at the local tourist information point before planning a visit around one.

As with any municipal pool, opening times, prices and rules depend on the season, the weather and the maintenance schedule, and they can change from year to year. It is advisable to check locally, bring a towel and swimming cap if needed and expect cooler water than at coastal pools.

The pool fits naturally into a day in the Delnice area. The Delnice Ice Rink, the park-forest of Japlenški vrh, Drgomalj, Hiza Hajda and the mountain centre of Petehovac offer other options for outdoor activity, and a drive through the woods is a pleasure in itself. The pool suits families with children, couples and visitors who like relaxed, small-town leisure in the mountains.