In the middle of a green hilly landscape - in the
heart of Istria - lies
Pazin, a small town with 9000 inhabitants, that will
exceed all your expectations.
Initially rather inconspicuous, this city holds some
surprises.
The fortress - one of the best preserved and largest in Europe - the
Pazin castle, which was first mentioned in the 10th century, looks quite sublime. Located at an
abyss, it makes an
imposing impression and served the famous writer
Jules Verne in the novel “
Mathias Sandorf” as a backdrop and setting. During fine weather and at sunset it looks
golden and noble. It seems
mysterious and gloomy on cloudy autumn days and at night. Either way, you won't be able to take your eyes off of it.
Today the castle houses the
city museum and the
ethnographic museum, where lovers of culture and history can get to know the traditional
handicrafts, garbs and musical instruments of the region but can also learn everything about the development of the city.
The fortress also offers a fabulous background for all
adrenaline addicts who want to cross the 100m deep canyon by a
zip-line or who want to drop into the depths with a
bungee jump from the bridge.
Every adventurer and discoverer gets their money's worth in the
“Pazinska Jama” cave. The hidden underworld
is under nature protection and serves as a speleological object for caving. With 200m hiking trails, 118m difference in altitude and the 80m long
underground lake, the cave can be visited with a guide. We recommend sturdy shoes and long sleeves, as it can get quite cool inside.
You can
explore the beautiful surroundings of Pazin on a variety of cycling and hiking trails. Follow the
Pazincica River and you will come to the place at Cerovje where the three streams Borut, Lipa and Rakov meet to become Pazincica. In total, the Pazincica is 18km long and offers the
Zarecki Krov waterfalls - an ideal bathing place, where you can cool off in the fresh, clear water during the summer. The river ends first at the Pazin gorge, but then flows underground for
another 30 km to the Limski Canal near Rovinj, which then flows into the sea.
If you still want to go to the sea, the
most famous beaches are only about 33 km away in Porec or Rabac. Drive along the beautiful country roads through
untouched nature. Enjoy wide fields, green hills and shady forests. The region is just right for
travel romantics who want to feel the mild wind in their hair and who want to blink at the sun. Motorcyclists also love the winding roads that follow the well-known saying
"The journey is the destination." and give them meaning.
If you would like to come to
Pazin in autumn, then you are exactly right for
truffle hunting in the surrounding forests. Get to know the different types of truffles, watch the sniffer dogs and the hunters at work and explore the
truffle triangle between Pazin, Buje and Buzet. The misty and humid forests allow truffles to thrive and at the end of the hunt you can simply prepare them yourself.
If you prefer to be cooked for, Pazin has some
good restaurants and taverns that offer typical Istrian dishes. Try specialties like
“Zgvacet od Boskarina” - a kind of goulash - or
“Fuzi s tartufima” - delicious pasta with truffles. Malvazija, Teran, Muskat or Merlot are the
regional types of wine that wine connoisseurs would recommend. The famous Terranino liqueur goes best with the dessert
“Grasnjaki” - dumplings filled with chestnut puree - or with the traditional cake
“Pandispanj”, which is usually made with dried figs.
Enjoy Istria with all your senses in the heart of the largest peninsula on the Adriatic. Book one of our
villas in Pazin and
escape everyday life, as Mathias Sandorf once escaped from the
Pisino castle in Jules Verne's novel.
Daniela Vuleta
2.3.2022
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
