Driving south from Plitvice, headed to the town of Gospic, we had the choice of going south, around the end of the mountains, which would have taken us far out of our way, or simply turning right and driving over the mountains. We turned right.

This took us over the Velebit mountains, along a series of switchbacks that took us up over winding mountain roads and down the other side. This area — barren and rugged — appears to have been along the frontlines of the last war, and we saw many destroyed houses, or houses without windows, and many empty villages.

Halfway along, and high on a hill, we came to the empty village of Bunic, with a church we later learned was destroyed in World War II. I took some photos of the church and the area around. A haunting place.