Discover Hreljin

If you are considering Hreljin as a destination for a hotel stay, its local history and different routes can help you understand the character of the destination. The main highlights are the medieval Gradina, the themed Put Gradine promenade, and connections related to the Frankopans. The routes have different focuses: one leads from Hreljin to the ruins, while others connect the old town with a castle, a cycling tour, or a neighboring landscape tradition. This lets you distinguish between the historic site itself and broader route connections when planning your trip.

Gradina and the Vinodol Code

Gradina is the ruin of a medieval town built on a steep rock in western Vinodol, above Bakarac, its former port. Hreljin was one of the nine Vinodol towns whose representatives signed the Vinodol Code in 1288. The code associated with Hreljin was written in Glagolitic script. This brings two distinct historical connections into focus: the former town on the rock and Hreljin’s status as one of the places whose representatives signed the Vinodol Code.

Put Gradine: Promenade to the Medieval Town

The Put Gradine promenade is a themed 1.6 km route leading from Hreljin to the medieval Gradina. The gamified experience Frankopan Adventure is also part of the promenade. Along the way, you will come across three old water reservoirs, called Kalce or Lokve, about 15 minutes along the route.

Frankopan Connections on Foot and by Bike

The Frankopan route connects Nova Kraljevica Castle with Hreljin’s old town. From Hreljin Gradina, the Frankopan route descends through Mali Dol toward an old Roman road to Bakarac. The Frankopan route connects Nova Kraljevica Castle with Hreljin’s old town; the route continues through Mali Dol, descending toward Bakarac. The “Tracing Frankopan Footsteps” cycling tour is distinct from this route: it passes through Hreljin’s old town. Also connected with this cycling tour is the nearby Bakarske prezidi, terraces where sparkling wine was traditionally produced. This adds a regional production and landscape tradition to the historical local and route connections.

Jurjeva, St. George, and the Karolina Road

Jurjeva is Hreljin’s traditional celebration around the feast of St. George. Hreljin is also home to a Baroque parish church dedicated to St. George. The saint is thus associated both with the name of the church and with a traditional celebration; these are two distinct local connections. Another historical connection is the Karolina Road: Hreljin lies along this road, which was built in 1732. Together with the Vinodol Code of 1288, this provides a timeline for different themes: a medieval connection to Vinodol and an 18th-century road.

When planning excursions, the routes mentioned differ mainly in their points of interest. Put Gradine has a stated length and leads to Gradina; the named water reservoirs lie along the route. The Frankopan connections, by contrast, link Hreljin, Nova Kraljevica Castle, Mali Dol, and Bakarac, or pass through the old town. The cycling tour adds the nearby Bakarske prezidi and their sparkling wine production tradition to the options.

Discover more destinations: Škrljevo, Bakar, Mrzla Vodica, Krasica, Kukuljanovo, Praputnjak, Zlobin, Ponikve.

For the broader travel overview: Općina Bakar.