Discover Grandići

In Grandići, you’ll find the small wine museum “100% made in Grandići by Johan and Matija”. It is housed in a stone house that has remained unchanged for more than 300 years. The museum gives a stay in Grandići a tangible cultural connection: its old tools and objects tell the story of traditional activities in the area around Barban.

Wine, rakija and wine vinegar

The exhibits show how people in the Barbanština used to make wine, distil rakija and prepare wine vinegar. The collection therefore covers more than the history of a single drink: it explores three different production methods that are part of the area’s traditional knowledge. Those interested in regional cultural history can explore it through tools and objects from everyday life in the past. At the same time, the museum’s name makes its connection to the locality clear: Grandići is at its heart, while the production methods on display relate to the wider Barban area.

Visits to the wine museum are by prior arrangement. You can make a reservation by phone at +385 98 513 526. Arrange your visit before travelling and confirm the contact details and arrangements. This makes it easy to include a museum visit in your travel plans.

Cultural heritage in the wider destination of Općina Barban

Barban itself also offers a historical perspective on the development of settlements. Over the course of its history, it developed into a fortified settlement with walls, round and square towers, bastions, large and small town gates, and a castle. These features trace Barban’s development as a fortified place and offer a different perspective on regional history from the objects displayed in the wine museum.

Several churches in Barban add to this picture, each with its own art-historical and architectural context. The Church of St James the Apostle contains the only surviving fresco cycle in Istria depicting the legend of St James. The Church of St Anthony the Hermit preserves frescoes from the early 15th century. The parish church of St Nicholas the Bishop was built in 1701 and fully completed in 1708. Frescoes and the history of a church building are both in focus here.

The cultural heritage of Općina Barban also includes traditions and forms of expression that extend beyond historic buildings. Trka na prstenac was added to Croatia’s Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage on 4 April 2016. KUD Barban preserves local folklore through groups of dancers, traditional singers and musicians who play traditional instruments. KUD also passes on the čakavian dialect of the Barbanština. The area’s cultural profile therefore encompasses architectural heritage as well as music, dance and language.

Barbanski kolač is another of the distinctive traditions passed down in the area around Barban. This traditional cake is round with a hole in the middle; historically, it was associated with weddings. The wider area of Općina Barban also offers opportunities to try traditional cuisine in local restaurants and taverns. The cake tradition and regional cuisine in general are distinct aspects: one tells the story of a pastry associated with weddings, while the other reflects food culture in restaurants and taverns.

Routes and activities in Općina Barban

In the wider destination of Općina Barban, the landscape features walking, riding and cycling routes; there are also opportunities to explore the area on horseback or by bicycle. Two routes can be distinguished by their stated distances: cycling route 631 starts and finishes in Barban and is 33 km long. The “Tepla stran–Puntera–Blaz” trail is suitable for hiking, trekking, horse riding and mountain hiking. Its one-way distance is 7.25 km, and the round trip is 14.5 km. Check local route conditions before setting out.

Other activities in the wider destination of Općina Barban offer different experiences. Glavani Park offers activities for all age groups, including three elevated courses and a 113-metre-long zip line; check the latest opening information and offerings before travelling. The “Barba Tone” ranch in Manjadvorci organises guided treks in nature, as well as one- and multi-day horse-riding programmes. Depending on your interests, you can choose between marked routes and guided activities without confusing these offerings with a visit to the wine museum in Grandići. The ranch’s current programme may also change.

Discover more destinations: Kožljani, Puntera, Hrboki, Prhati, Melnica, Orihi, Šajini, Juricev Kal.

For the overview of the wider destination: Općina Barban.