Podgrad – Heritage between Brkini and Čičarija

Podgrad is a destination with historic buildings, local traditions and a route through diverse landscapes. When planning your trip, you can consider local history, a pre-booked group visit and the landscape route as separate points of interest. These interests can help you decide which places to focus on during your stay.

Location and landscape

Podgrad lies in the southeastern part of the Podgrajsko podolje between the Brkini Hills and Čičarija. The Čičarija Route leads from the Podgrajsko podolje first into the Brkini Hills and then across the karst plateau of Čičarija. Podgrad is also on an important route between Trieste and Rijeka. For planning purposes, these are two distinct geographic details: the connection between Trieste and Rijeka places the town on an important route, while the Čičarija Route describes a sequence from the valley through the hills to the karst plateau.

Churches and architectural history

The Church of St James was built in 1645 on a rise below Stari grad. The ruins of Novi grad Castle, which dates back to the 13th century, lie on Stari grad hill. The town’s history therefore brings together two clear historical periods: a 17th-century church and a medieval castle. The Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius was built before 1910 and is clad with dressed stone blocks. Dressed stone blocks are worked stones shaped into blocks; this detail adds a specific feature of the exterior cladding to the information about the building’s date.

Narodni dom and the town’s former appearance

The Narodni dom in Podgrad was ceremonially opened in 1905; historically, it housed a savings and loan bank. In the old rural part of the town, the houses once had steep, thatched roofs. The town’s history thus extends from a public building to the former style of residential architecture.

Tradition and visits

Organized groups can visit the ethnological Škoromati collection in the village of Podgrad by prior arrangement. Visiting arrangements may change. If you plan such a visit, be sure to arrange it in advance.

Nograjsko opasilo is celebrated in Podgrad on 25 July, the feast day of St James; a mass is held that day at the Church of St James as part of the celebration.

Restaurant Isabella in Podgrad is a family-run restaurant with a tradition of more than 40 years.

Plan your trip and hotel search

The two reasons for visiting require different planning: visiting the collection requires a group visit arranged in advance, while Nograjsko opasilo is celebrated on 25 July and is accompanied by a mass at the Church of St James. If either is the reason for your trip, confirm the arrangements or the current event date in advance. When searching for a hotel in Podgrad, you can first decide whether to plan your trip around a fixed occasion or focus instead on the landscape route.

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Go to the main travel overview: Ilirska Bistrica.