Viškovo Municipality: Bell-Ringing Tradition and Routes

The Halubajski zvončari give Viškovo Municipality a distinctive cultural theme: their local tradition and Viškovo’s Pust customs are at the heart of the Kuća halubajskega zvončara. At the same time, local routes wind through forests and over hills, while buildings and memorial sites reveal different aspects of the area’s history. Explore the municipality through its cultural landmarks, landscapes and opportunities for activity.

Culture, Bell-Ringing Traditions and Architectural History

The Kuća halubajskega zvončara houses an interactive museum about the local tradition of the Halubajski zvončari and Viškovo’s Pust customs. The Halubajski karneval also includes groups of bell ringers, along with masks, music and dance. It takes place every year on the first Saturday after the feast day of Saint Anthony, January 17. If you are planning your trip around the festival, check the specific event date in advance. The museum’s cultural traditions and the annual festival offer two distinct ways to engage with this heritage.

The Church of Sv. Matej stands in the centre of Viškovo. Built in 1862 on the site of an older chapel, today’s building and the former place of worship represent two different periods at the same location. The Širola-Kovačić House in Brnasi is a typical 19th-century residential and farmstead complex of the Kastavština region. In Ronjgi, Viškovo, the Spomen-dom Ivan Matetić Ronjgov is an institution that serves both museum and memorial purposes. These three places offer different perspectives on architectural history, regional architecture and cultural remembrance.

The šterne are also reminders of an earlier way of life. Every settlement in Viškovo Municipality has at least one central šterna. Once an important source of life for the community, it is now part of the cultural and historical heritage and a reminder of the past. This transformation from a shared source of life into a historical record adds a connection to everyday life in the past to the story told by the churches and houses.

Routes Between Settlements and Cultural Landscapes

The “Tragom Halubajskih zvončara” route is an easy circular cycling route. It follows sections of the Halubajski zvončari’s three-day procession route and passes the original locations, which feature educational exhibits. Here, cycling and learning about bell-ringing traditions come together on the same route.

The “Od kalića do kalića” route connects Blažići and Mladenići. It passes through wooded areas and over hills with views, and goes by hidden kalići that form part of the area’s natural heritage. The route is suitable for an easy one-hour walk or a cycling trip. This gives you a practical distinction when choosing a tour: “Tragom Halubajskih zvončara” is a circular cycling route linked to the procession route, while “Od kalića do kalića” can also be planned as a one-hour walk and connects two settlements.

Views, Art and Water Features

Lončeva Griža is located in Lučići at an elevation of 506 metres. From the viewpoint, you can see the Kvarner Bay, Grobnik Field, Gorski Kotar, the Velebit Mountains and neighbouring Slovenia. Below the viewpoint, on the rocks, there is an outdoor exhibition featuring works by members of the Braća Baštjan amateur artists’ association. The works are inspired by traditional motifs from the Viškovo area; the specific pieces may change. Views and outdoor art share this location, and the exhibition is not limited to a single motif.

Another local landscape feature is the Kapitovac kalić. It lies in the deepest dolac in the Viškovo area and has never dried up. Together with the hidden kalići along the route of the same name, it is one of the area’s distinctive water features.

Discover more destinations: Viškovo, Marinići, Lokve Municipality, Mošćenička Draga Municipality, Čavle Municipality, Kastav Municipality, Brod Moravice Municipality, Skrad Municipality.

For the broader travel overview: Kvarner Bay.