Forčići: Glagolitic Heritage and Culture

The Chair of Cyril and Methodius in Forčići

A specific cultural point of interest in Forčići is the Chair of Cyril and Methodius at the foot of the village. The monument was unveiled in 1978 in memory of Cyril and Methodius. Their names appear on its rim in Latin script, Old Cyrillic, and angular Glagolitic script. This single memorial allows visitors to view three different writing systems, making it especially interesting for travelers interested in Glagolitic history and its visible traces.

Glagolitic Sites in the Surrounding Area

The Alley of the Glagolitic Alphabet is a Glagolitic memorial complex along the road from Roč to Hum. It stretches for seven kilometers and includes eleven monuments. In Brnobići, a lapidarium displays copies of significant Glagolitic monuments. The Žakan Jurij memorial site offers a different perspective: a book-shaped stone block stands there, accompanied by seven smaller blocks that evoke Glagolitic printing type.

Other monuments bring together script, book forms, and landscape in their own ways. Sijelo Klimenta Ohridskog consists of a chair and eight stone seats beneath an oak tree; the monument was unveiled in 1978. The Belvedere of Gregory of Nin is a stone block shaped like a closed book, carved with Glagolitic, Cyrillic, and Latin characters. Klanac hrvatskog Lucidara is dedicated to the medieval Croatian Lucidarium. Its design includes a dry-stone wall shaped like the Učka massif and a stone feature representing a cloud.

Hum and Roč: Settlement History and Written Culture

Hum preserves features of a medieval fortified settlement and its medieval urban layout. The Church of St. Jerome contains valuable frescoes from the late 12th or early 13th century. Roč, in turn, developed into a fortified settlement with walls, defensive towers, and two gates. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Roč was a center of Croatian written culture, publishing, and printing based on the Glagolitic script. Comparing the two places highlights different aspects: Hum’s settlement layout and frescoes, and Roč’s fortifications and history of writing and printing.

Landscape and Trails in the Surrounding Area

Kotli combines architectural heritage with a striking river landscape. This protected rural settlement preserves kortas, baladurs, and watermills; one of its two mills has been partially restored. Here the Mirna River flows in cascades. At Korita, a 45-minute walking trail from Brgudac passes through hornbeam and oak woodland to the spring. Protected plant and animal species live in the forest. There is a furnished rest area at the spring with a view of the Učka massif. Trail conditions may change, so check them before setting out.

Cultural Experiences and Events in Hum

At the Hum Aura Museum, visitors can make a cream from local plants, taste biska, and hand-write a bottle label. Check the program before your visit. Hum also hosts an annual rakija exhibition in late October. If you plan your trip around this event, confirm the current dates and arrangements in advance.

A Regional Highlight: Buzet

In the wider region, Buzet is promoted as a truffle destination; truffle areas lie in the forests along the Mirna Valley. This adds a regional culinary point of interest to the cultural and landscape themes around Forčići.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Pračana, Hum, Juradi, Buzet, Prodani, Ročko Polje, Šćulci, Sveti Martin.

For the broader travel overview: Općina Buzet.