Peruà ¡iàis a settlement and a municipality in Lika-Senj County, Croatia. In 2011, the municipality had 2,638 inhabitants, while the central settlement had 852. The municipality is within the mountainous Lika region of central Croatia. The Kosinj valley region sprawls alongside it.
Peruà ¡iàis one of the lowest inhabited municipalities in Croatia, with a shrinking population. Farming and agricultural industries are the main occupations. The small settlements of the municipality are built on hillsides due to frequent flooding.
The Municipality of Peruà ¡iàis located in the southeastern part of Lika, at an altitude of , in a valley of the Lika River watershed. It lies in a field, Peruà ¡iÃÂko polje, bounded by the hills west of Klis and the railway line east of the Old Town of Peruà ¡ià(Stari grad Peruà ¡iàGradina).
Peruà ¡iàconnects to major roadways including the D50 state road, and the ZagrebâÂÂSplit motorway (A1). The main railway line M604 also connects to Zagreb and Split, with daily passenger and freight service.
The region has been inhabited since the ancient times. Stone Age artifacts have been found on the road to OtoÃÂac, while more finds come from the Bronze Age including grave sites from the 8th or 9th century BC. In the woods of BegovaÃÂa near Kosinje there is a Roman monolith engraved with the verdict of a water dispute between Illyrian tribes.
Peruà ¡iàbecame an organized settlement in the 16th century, when it was on the border between the Ottoman Empire and European states. It was first called Peruà ¡iàin 1487. It was founded by brothers Dominik and Gaà ¡par Peruà ¡iÃÂ, from a noble family who came from the hinterland. The family built a hill fortress, known by various names in writings of that time, including Stari grad Peruà ¡ià(Old Town of Peruà ¡iÃÂ), Gradina (fortified town), and most often Peruà ¡iÃÂka kula (Peruà ¡iàtower).
When the Turks conquered Lika and Krbava, 1527, the fort became the main stronghold of Turkish Lika. This borderland between three empires â the Habsburg monarchy including the remains of the Croatian-Hungarian Empire, the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire â was the scene of constant warfare. Liberation from the Turkish authorities in Lika began in 1685.
Until 1918, Peruà ¡iàwas part of the Austrian monarchy (Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia after the Compromise of 1867), in the Croatian Military Frontier, administered by the Kommando Ottotschaner Regiment 2. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, Peruà ¡iàwas part of the Lika-Krbava County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.
During World War II, the town was occupied by Axis troops and was included into the PaveliÃÂ's Independent State of Croatia (NDH). On 6 August 1941, the Ustashe killed and burned more than 280 Serbs in Mlakva near Peruà ¡iÃÂ, including 191 children.
After 1945, the forests became general state assets, administered by the District Councils. The Forestry Building in Peruà ¡iàwas erected in 1970.
During the Croatian War of Independence (1991âÂÂ1995), Peruà ¡iàwas near the front lines. It was not safe even after the stabilization of the battlefield and the international recognition of Croatia as part of the European Community. In addition to artillery attacks, Serbia launched an infantry attack on 19 January 1992 which was repulsed by Croatian troops.
In 2021, the municipality had 1,973 residents in the following 19 settlements:
According to the 2011 census, the municipality was primarily Croat (90.22%) and Serb (8.49%).
The population of the Municipality has fallen by more than a third between 1991 and 2011. Reasons for this include the emigration of population to more developed areas, attacks during the War of Independence, the aging population, and frequent flooding.
Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs. At the 2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections Serbs of Croatia fulfilled legal requirements to elect 10 members minority council of the Municipality of Peruà ¡iàbut the elections were not held due to the absence of candidatures.
The Lika region has a temperate oceanic climate with Köppen climate classification Cfb, moderately humid with a warm summer. The Velebit mountain range restricts the thermal influence of the Adriatic Sea, but allows moist air to reach the interior resulting in high precipitation (particularly in winter and autumn). The growing season is 210âÂÂ250 days, and there are 140âÂÂ180 days with temperatures above .
Farming and agricultural industries are the main occupation. The nearby highway brought rapid economic development, though Peruà ¡iàremains one of the poorest inhabited municipalities in Croatia.
According to historical documents, Peruà ¡iàcan be called the cradle of Croatian literacy. Shortly after a printing machine was invented in the nearby village of Kosinj, Missale Romanum Glagolitice (Croatian: Misal po zakonu rimskoga dvora) was printed, one of the oldest printed books in Croatia and Europe, with numerous illustrations and ornaments. It was printed in 1483, just 28 years after the Gutenberg Bible.
The local football team is NK Peruà ¡iÃÂ.
GrabovaÃÂa is a cave park situated between the Lika karstic plains and fields, from the center of Peruà ¡iÃÂ. It is above sea level at the mid-elevations of the Velebit mountains, near the karst basin of the river Lika. In an area of there are an abundance of underground karst forms, complex calcite formations. The park represents one-quarter of the protected caves in Croatia. The caves are closed to the public in winter.
It covers the area of 5620,72 ha. Its unique geological feature is Velebit breccia rock. There are 118 species of plants (16 strictly protected, 6 endemic), 19 species of cave fauna (Typhlotrechus bilimekii kiesenwetteri, endemic beetle), 15 species of butterflies (8 strictly protected), 81 bird species (24 strictly prohibited), 10 strictly prohibited species of bats and more than 20 species of mammals. Golden eagle is critically endangered.
Kosinj Bridge is a stone bridge crossing the river Lika, connecting Upper and Lower Kosinj. It was designed in the 19th century by architect Milivoj FrkoviÃÂ, built using an early Croatian bridge-building technique known as uklinjenje kamena (clipping stone).
Lake Kruà ¡ÃÂica is an artificial lake and reservoir created in 1966 to help control flooding of the Lika. Behind a dam high, the reservoir contains a flooded village with the church of St. Ilya.
Old town, known as "Gradina" or "Turkish tower" () on the locality Vrhovina was first mentioned in 1071. It was ruled by Frankopan family. Town was renamed in 1487 and bestowed to the brothers Peruà ¡iÃÂ. During Ottoman occupation (until 1696) Peruà ¡iàbecame Turkish stronghold due to its position and proximity to the Venetian Republic and Habsburg monarchy. After the liberation of Lika and Krbava by the Catholic priest Marko MesiÃÂ, remaining Turkish population were baptised. Peruà ¡iàwas first part of Croatian Military Frontier, then in 19th century part of Banate of Croatia.