Novaki Motovunski: Cycling Route, Churches and Waterways

Novaki Motovunski can be explored through a range of interests: a 30-kilometre cycling route, religious buildings dating from several centuries, and waterways with their own place in the landscape. Agricultural production of grapes, olives and spirits, as well as historic buildings, also feature here. If you are looking for hotels for your stay, these themes can help with your planning: consider whether cycling, architectural history or the natural landscape is your main interest.

Cycling and a themed trail

The 30-kilometre Staza dobrih okusa i doživljaja route runs as far as Brigi and continues from there towards Rakotule. Brigi is a hamlet within Novaki Motovunski. The route length gives you a concrete point of reference for estimating how long a cycling trip will take. Check the markings and route conditions before setting out, as both can change.

Another way to explore the area is the Put Istarskog razvoda themed walking trail. It begins at the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, built in 1898, and is equipped with information panels in four languages. When planning, you can thus choose between a cycling route with a stated length of 30 kilometres and a themed trail with multilingual panels.

Churches and architectural history

The parish church of Saint Marina in Novaki Motovunski was built in 1879 on the site of an older church dating from the 16th century. Opposite the parish church, only the portal of the former Polesini family palace remains. These examples differ in how their history is preserved: for the church, both a new building and its predecessor are identified, while of the former palace, only the portal survives.

The Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary near Novaki was built in 1683. Together with the dates of the parish church, this provides different historical points of reference: a church from the 17th century and a later church built on the site of a predecessor from the 16th century. If you are interested in architectural history, these different dates can help you distinguish between the religious buildings.

Waterways and geological context

The Krvar belongs to the Mirna River basin and runs through the area of Karojba and Motovunski Novaki outside the built-up area. The Čiže is a sinking watercourse made up of several streams and tributaries; these extend from Kašćerga towards Novaki Motovunski. The two waterways can be described in different ways: for the Krvar, the focus is on its course and basin, while for the Čiže, it is on its sinking nature and tributaries.

Another geological context concerns the cadastral municipality of Motovunski Novaki: it lies where Red Istria and Grey Istria meet, along the boundary between flysch and karst limestone. Alongside the waterways, the geological terms describing the bedrock of this cadastral municipality are also relevant.

Agriculture and local products

OPG Koraca is located in Motovunski Novaki, 425 metres above sea level. Traditional grapevines and olive trees are cultivated there. Under the “The spirit of wine” brand, the farm produces spirits and liqueurs using traditional methods. Grapevines and olives are among the farm’s stated agricultural activities; spirits and liqueurs make up a separate part of its production.

In the wider destination of Općina Karojba

The wider destination of Općina Karojba also has natural and cultural heritage associated with specific locations. The “Ćetiri Pinije u Karojbi” botanical natural monument has been protected since 1966. The four pine trees stand on the road between Karojba and Pazin. The oldest trunk has a circumference of 3.30 metres and a height of 14.5 metres.

Dolac Sopajac lies between Karojba and Vižinada, near Škropeti, and is considered the largest and deepest doline in Istria. Access to its floor is difficult because of the terrain and vegetation. Valigaštar is a drinking water spring near the hamlet of Močibobi; its water has been used since Byzantine and Roman times.

The region’s architectural history also includes the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene in the hamlet of Konobari and the Chapel of Saint Nicholas in Rakotule. The Church of Saint Mary Magdalene dates from the 12th century and has a bell from 1607. The Romanesque Chapel of Saint Nicholas preserves frescoes depicting Christ in Majesty (Maiestas Domini), as well as scenes from the legends of Saint Nicholas. These examples add to the architectural history of Novaki Motovunski with places explicitly associated with the wider destination of Općina Karojba.

Discover more destinations: Karojba, Rakotule, Škropeti

To the overview of the wider destination: Općina Karojba.