Municipality of Sveti Petar U Šumi – Church Art and Sausage Tradition
Accommodation in Municipality of Sveti Petar U Šumi
Location and orientation
The Municipality of Sveti Petar U Šumi is shaped by its sacred cultural history and long-standing sausage-making tradition. The municipality lies on a hilly plateau at an elevation of 300 to 350 metres. Sveti Petar u Šumi is also at a road junction, with roads leading from there in five directions to neighbouring municipalities. When looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether local history and sacred art or the sausage tradition will be the main focus of your trip.
Church and cultural history
The Church of St Peter and Paul was completed and consecrated in 1755. It has an organ by I. J. Eisl dating from 1770, housed in a Riedl case. The side chapels feature Baroque, gilded leather wall coverings of Venetian origin. The datable organ and the wall decoration, characterised by its material, style and origin, thus stand alongside one another as two distinct features of the church’s furnishings.
The pilgrimage tradition includes the account that the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa on the church’s main altar is said to have wept tears on Christmas Eve 1721. Around 1770, philosophical lectures were held at the Pauline Monastery in Sveti Petar u Šumi. The Hrvatska čitaonica was founded on 22 April 1889 and opened on 19 May of the same year. Local history thus brings together religious tradition, monastic learning and the history of a cultural institution from different periods.
Sausage house and events tradition
The first Croatian sausage house is a museum-gallery space where this traditional product is presented using multimedia. It was completely renovated and opened in 2021. If you are planning a visit, check the current programme in advance.
The 2026 programme for the “S klobasicom u EU” summer night market includes opportunities to try practical activities, learn something new, taste homemade products and experience Istrian gastronomic tradition first-hand. Later editions may have a different format.
The annual gathering of sausage producers includes exhibitions, lectures, competitions, entertainment programmes and sausage specialities. If you would like to plan your trip around this gathering, check the dates and programme details for the relevant edition.
Way of the Cross
Another sacred highlight is Father Danijel Hekić’s Way of the Cross. Established in 2019, it is 4.2 km long and comprises 14 stations featuring stone sculptures with sacred motifs. In contrast to the church’s furnishings, the focus here shifts to a series of visual stations along a specific route.
Within the wider destination of Istria County
Istria County also offers distinctive nature and hiking experiences. Brijuni National Park is part of the county’s protected natural heritage; Cape Kamenjak is a protected landscape at the county’s southernmost tip. In Učka Nature Park, the Vela Učka–Sedlo–Vojak–Plas–Poklon trek takes about five hours and is rated moderate to difficult. These regional nature and hiking themes differ from the local highlights of the Municipality of Sveti Petar U Šumi: church art, cultural history and sausage tradition.
Discover more destinations: Sveti Petar u Šumi, Municipality of Bale, Municipality of Vrsar, Municipality of Umag, Municipality of Motovun, Municipality of Kaštelir - Labinci, Municipality of Karojba, Municipality of Ližnjan.
Go to the wider travel overview: Istria County.
