Osor

Cres is a small village on the island of Cres in Croatia. It lies on the channel Kavada that separates the North Island of Cres in the South Island of Lošinj. Here is the narrowest land connection between the two islands, in ancient times a strategic sea passage. Even today, the channel is used mainly by smaller fishing boats and tourist boats.

History

Cres, in ancient times Apsorus (also Absorus, Absarus, Greek Ἄψορρος Apsorros ) and mentioned in Byzantine sources Opsara, is the oldest settlement and the first major city of Cres and Lošinj. Under the reign of the Roman Empire of the isthmus was separated by a 11 m wide moat and made ​​navigable. After the fall of the Roman Empire Cres came under the jurisdiction of Byzantium. Since the 6th century it was a bishopric, which was assigned to the Ecclesiastical Province of Salona; to the diocese goes back the titular Absorus the Roman Catholic Church.

In the 9th century the Saracens Cres attacked and destroyed the cathedral and the 14th century, the Republic of Genoa, which also destroyed the cathedral.

Cres received its town charter in antiquity and was until the 14th century the capital of this island group. Witnesses this time V.A. the all-dominating Cathedral of Cres, which hosts concerts of today. At the time of the Venetian rule of the Roman ditch was silted up and ships and goods had to be brought about 100 meters above the mainland.

In the Middle Ages Cres had its heyday, it lived up to 30 000 people.

Cres was regularly hit in the Middle Ages because of the proximity of a large swamp of malaria epidemics. Therefore, we moved the island administration to Cres.

The Croatian Kuna ( which translates marten or weasel means ) was mentioned in Osor the first time in 1018, as payment of the Croats. A small monument in the form of a marten or weasel bears witness to this.

Presence

Today Cres is more of a small rural hamlet with historical center. Economically Cres is today without any influence and live here still only about 80, mostly older residents in the long term. Of importance next to the old cathedral is especially the steel swing bridge, on the one hand serves as a vital connection between the two main islands of Cres and Lošinj, on the other hand still daily always twice is opened ( at 09.00 and at 17.00 clock ) to allow smaller ships passing through the Canal. The main source of income in Cres is tourism.