Municipality of Cerovlje: Hilly Landscape and Cultural Heritage

The municipality extends northeast of Pazin across a hilly landscape. Its central town is Cerovlje. Distinctive visitor attractions include churches with medieval features and frescoes, local craft traditions, and routes for walking and cycling.

Grimalda is a viewpoint in central Istria, on a hill 447 metres high. The history of individual towns can also be read in their buildings: in Draguć, the former settlement was destroyed by a fire during the Uskok War of 1615 to 1618 and rebuilt according to a precise plan. The Church of St Elijah there is a Romanesque building dating from the late 12th century, made of two-coloured stone blocks. Another church in Draguć, Our Lady of the Rosary, was built in 1641.

In Paz, the remains of the castle are visible on the hill above the settlement. The town lies on the route from the Učka Mountains and the Boljun field through the gorges to Pazin. In addition to its hilltop setting, Grimalda also offers a historic attraction: the Church of St George dates from the 13th century.

The buildings vary in age and features. The Church of All Saints connects the settlements of Gradinje and was built in 1604. Frescoes and Glagolitic graffiti lie beneath layers of plaster. In Cerovlje, the Church of the Holy Trinity dates from the 15th century and has remnants of frescoes from the time it was built.

Near Moloni stands the Church of St Michael the Archangel, with a Romanesque semicircular sanctuary dating from the 13th century. Its furnishings include stone statues of St Michael, the Virgin Mary and St Joseph. In Pazinski Novaki, you will find two churches from different centuries: the Church of St Roch dates from the 15th century, while the parish Church of St Michael the Archangel was built in the 17th century.

Gologorica also offers several historic points of interest. The Romanesque Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary has Gothic frescoes painted by an unknown artist around 1400. You enter the town through Vela vrata, which used to be the main gate. The De Franceschi house was built in 1711. In Borut, meanwhile, brickmaking, practised for centuries, is a reminder of local craftsmanship: locals shaped clay from the Borut stream by hand and fired it in field kilns known as “frnaže”.

For a hike, the Path of St. Kocijan starts at Borut railway station and is 13 kilometres long. On the hill of Sveti Antun above Pagubice, there is a designated picnic area. It can be reached via a hiking trail connecting Grdoselo–Zelengrad and Grimalda. If you prefer cycling, consider the Trail of Waterfalls (614): it climbs from Pagubice to Cerovlje and then heads towards Pazin. The uphill section is a useful factor to consider when choosing your route.

In Cerovlje, the ponds offer a green setting for a walk or picnic. As the municipality is extensive and hilly, you can then compare the location of a hotel or other accommodation with the places you plan to visit.

At the beginning of the year, Cerovlje holds a traditional carnival featuring colourful parades of masked groups from central Istria. In Draguć, Bajs players meet annually under the name “Z bajson u Draguć” on the third Sunday in June. In Pagubice, the traditional musicians’ gathering “Nadalinu u pohode” takes place on 13 June.

For further guidance around the municipality, you can also view the town pages for Previž, Grimalda, Paz, Draguc, Borut, Gologorica, Novaki Pazinski, Korelići and Cerovlje.

How long is the Path of St. Kocijan?

The trail starts at Borut railway station and is 13 kilometres long.

When does the “Z bajson u Draguć” gathering take place?

The annual gathering of Bajs players takes place on the third Sunday in June.

What is distinctive about brickmaking in Borut?

Locals shaped clay from the Borut stream by hand and fired it in field kilns known as “frnaže”.

For the broader travel overview: Istria County.