Žagrići – Cycle Route 683 and Cultural Sites Nearby

• The 683 Stazom Grimanijevih loop runs from Svetvinčenat via Žminj and back to Svetvinčenat, passing through Žagrići.
• The cycling route is 34 kilometres long, fully paved and rated easy.
• Villa Sagri can host up to seven guests.
• The Žminj 1 area includes grassland that also extends across Žagrići.

The official 683 Stazom Grimanijevih cycling route connects Žagrići with a loop that starts in Svetvinčenat, runs via Žminj and returns to Svetvinčenat. The route is 34 kilometres long in total, fully paved and rated easy. These details refer to the entire cycling route, not just the section through Žagrići.

The estimated time from start to finish is approximately one hour and 20 minutes to one hour and 40 minutes. The total elevation gain is 200 metres; the highest point is 388 metres and the lowest is 275 metres above sea level. The distance, time and elevation figures provide different planning information: the time is an estimate for the full route, while the elevation figures describe its terrain. Check the route conditions and signage before setting out, as conditions may change.

Along the cycling route, almost every small village has traditional konobas serving regional cuisine made with seasonal ingredients. Individual places to eat may change; if you have a particular konoba in mind, check its availability in advance.

The Church of St Foška, near Žagrići, brings together several phases of construction. It was built during the Byzantine period in the 6th century, destroyed in the 7th century and rebuilt around 800 under Frankish rule. The structure of the present-day church was built at the beginning of the 18th century, incorporating the front and side walls of the earlier pre-Romanesque church. A bell tower was added to the front façade in the mid-18th century.

The side façade also features a distinctive architectural detail: pierced stone slabs, known as transennae, close the window openings. This design is characteristic of early Christian architecture of the 6th century. A description from 2018 also mentions a relief on a façade in Žagrići. It depicts a person holding a skull.

Općina Žminj, particularly the village of Žminj, is home to further historic sites. Remains of the town fortifications dating from the 15th century are preserved there. The castle was probably built in the 15th century on a square plan. Today, a smaller part of the citadel is visible, including one of the four round towers, a wing of the fortification and an outer section of the defences. The well-preserved public water cistern dating from 1863 is also part of the visible heritage. Žminj is also home to the Baroque parish church of St Michael and three churches decorated with frescoes.

Next to the castle is the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, decorated with artworks by an unknown artist in 1471. The stone Calvary of Žminj dates from 1728: three crosses are enclosed by a wall and secured by an iron gate. It is in the western part of Žminj, near the road between Pazin and Pula.

The Žminj 1 area is part of the local landscape. Its grasslands extend from Tomišići and Mužini through Galanti, Pucići and Žagrići to Klimani, Rudani, Balići and Brešnica. The area is classified as a special reserve.

An official cycling itinerary starts in Žminj and connects the village with Feštinsko kraljevstvo cave. Another route, 761 Žminj–Feštini, starts beside the tower in Žminj, passes through the square in front of the parish church of St Michael and continues through the old town along the old stone street “Štradi”. Check the route details before setting off. Inside the cave, safe paths run for approximately 100 metres; check current accessibility before visiting.

For culture and regional cuisine, consider the seasonal “Žminjska štuorija” guided tour. The one-hour tour introduces the history and customs of Žminj’s residents, their language, and the area’s sacred and secular architectural heritage. It includes tasting specialities from local producers and a demonstration of how to make typical pasta such as Makaruni and Fuži. Check the dates before planning your trip around the tour.

The Istrian Pasta Festival in Žminj aims to preserve and nurture the local tradition of Istrian pasta, promote indigenous pasta varieties and support their producers. Bartulja is a folk festival in Žminj with a tradition of at least one hundred years, held on the last Saturday in August. It still includes a mass at the Church of St Bartholomew at the entrance to Žminj. As event dates and programmes may vary, check the details for the year you plan to visit.

Various exhibitions are held in the tower in Žminj, including exhibitions of handmade nativity scenes, a small tower market and exhibitions for Bartulja. If you are planning a visit, check the current opening details in advance.

Villa Sagri is in Žagrići and can host up to seven guests. If you are considering this accommodation, check availability and terms directly.

Discover more destinations: Cere, Pifari, Vidulini, Gradisce, Žminj, Šivati, Gržini and Brkići.

How long is Cycle Route 683?

The fully paved cycling route is 34 kilometres long. The estimated time from start to finish is approximately one hour and 20 minutes to one hour and 40 minutes.

Which accommodation is in Žagrići?

Villa Sagri is in Žagrići and can host up to seven guests. You should check availability and terms directly.

When does Bartulja take place?

The folk festival in Žminj takes place on the last Saturday in August. Check the date for the year of your trip.

Go to the main travel overview: Općina Žminj.