Buzet lies in the very heart of the northern part of Croatian Istria. It covers an area of 165 km2, with about 6,000 inhabitants.The old town of Buzet is situated on a 150-meter-high hill overlooking the fertile Mirna river valley, whereas the new part of the town called Fontana, spreads at the foot of the hill. Buzet is also known as the “City of Truffles” since it is situated in an area rich in this highly prized underground fungus.
Arriving in Buzet
If you are arriving in Istria by bus or car from the west, i.e. Slovenia, you will pass one of the three border crossings; Plovanija – Sečovlje, Kaštel – Dragonja or Požane – Sočerga (this border crossing is recommended since it is not so busy during the heavy traffic in Istria’s peak season).
Istrian Y
www.bina-istra.hr
Buzet is situated some 50 km from cities such as Rijeka, Poreč, Trieste in Italy, Kopar in Slovenia, and 90 km from Pula.
Bus
Buzet has very good bus connections with Rijeka, Pula, Poreč, Umag, Trieste, Venice and Zagreb. The bus station is located at the crossing of Riječka street and the road Kopar – Rijeka.
Aditional info:
Autotrans d.d., tel. 060 302 010
Fils d.d., Pula, tel. 052/386 752
Brioni Pula, tel. 052/535 155
Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb
Train
About 4 km north of Buzet towards ĆiĆarija is Buzet train station, with trains leaving in the direction of Pula and Slovenia.
Aditional info:
Željeznička postaja Buzet: 00 385 (0) 52 662 899
Željeznička postaja Roč: 00 385 (0) 52 666 420
Hrvatske željeznice – Informacije o redu vožnje: 060/333 444
The closest international airports: Pula (90 km) and Rijeka (Krk island), as well as Zagreb (Pleso), Ronchi dei Legionari near Trieste (Italy), Ljubljana (Brnik).
LINKS:
Airport Pula
Valtursko polje 210
T. 052.530 105
F. 052.550 914
E. zracna-luka-pu@pu.t-com.hr
www.airport-pula.hr
Turistic airport Vrsar
GSM. 091.5009 808
You can also arrive at other airports in Croatia or those in neighboring countries.
Airport Zagreb (HR)
www.zagreb-airport.hr
Airport Rijeka (HR)
www.rijeka-airport.hr
Trieste (I)
Aeroporto FVG Ronchi dei Legionari
www.aeroporto.fvg.it
Venice (I)
Aeroporto Marco Polo
www.veniceairport.it
Ljubljana (SLO)
Airport Ljubljana
www.lju-airport.si
Interesting facts
Stjepan Konzul Istranin, the first translator of the New Testament into Croatian was born in the Old town of Buzet, near the parish church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Buzet is well known for the production of beer “Favorit” in its brewery (BUP).
At the southern side of Buzet is St. John’s spring: owing to its pure and clean water the construction of the Istrian waterworks began here in 1930 and consequently the water supply system for nearly entire Istria.
Replica of Gutenberg’s printing press is exhibited in Roč, visits are possible by appointment.
The oldest cannon, Venetian bombarda from the 15th century is displayed in Roè near the summer stage.
Hum has interesting town gates made of copper with large handles in the shape of ox horns. Specially attractive are the 12 medallions, called calendarium representing characteristic activities of each month of the year.
The oldest brass band in Istria dates from 1905. The Music society “Sokol” was founded and is active even today.
Istrian Sahara – Piski – marly areas without any vegetation can be seen on the slopes below the villages Prodani and Krušvari.
The largest linden tree in this part of Istria is in the small village Slum, north of Buzet.
Breathtaking view of a hundred villages of north Istria from the bell tower in Vrh.
Minjera (Italian “miniera” – mine) – the oldest bauxite deposit in Europe. In Istria, below Sovinjak in the Mirna valley bauxite was mined 400 years ago and was used for the production of vitriol and alum.
Outdoor sports
Cycling
Tour the wonderful canyons, meadows, hilltop villages and peaks that reveal their past, by bike. Set off on the trail “PEAKS OF ISTRIA” and discover magical and mystical Ćićarija. The trail “VIA TARTUFINA” guarantees a truffle experience.
The “GLAGOLITIC TRAIL” takes you back into history to discover Glagolitic heritage, whereas the trail “TO ROČ BY BIKE” reveals a completely new town where most of the locals play at least one musical instrument.
Visitors who are interested in discovering Buzet and its area by bike have now a possibility to hire professional bike guides. Members of the local bike club BK Buzet have undergone a course and obtained a bike guide certificate.
Hiking trails
Hiking and mountaineering are becoming increasingly popular in Buzeština. Proof of this is the section of the Mountaineering Association “Planik” from Umag which was founded in Buzet with an increasing number of members.
Mountaineers and recreationists have at their disposal the mountaineering trail “IPP” Istarski planinarski put, and 2 hiking trails: Buzet – Raspadalica and Buzet-Kotli – Hum – Buzet.
Paragliding
Raspadalica lies about 5 km north of Buzet. This equipped site is ideal for hang gliding and paragliding almost all year round.
Other activities that can be arranged here are team building, mountain biking, free climbing and trekking.
Paragliding is a fascinating experience that offers an unforgettable sense of freedom.
Discover Buzeština from above! You can fly alone if you are an experienced paraglider. Or you can experience the beauty of paragliding in tandem at the paragliding sites: Raspadalica, Ćićarija (Zavoj), Sv. Donat, Veli Mlun.
Horse riding
Free climbing
Culture
Hum frescoes
The oldest and most famous frescoes are kept in the small church of St. Jerome at the Hum cemetery. These frescoes dating from the second half of the 12th century are a very rare example of Byzantine painting in these parts. Fragments of The Annunciation are preserved on the triumphal arch, on the southern wall was the cycle from the life of Christ where only a detail of The Visitation has been preserved, while on the northern wall the following details from the cycle of Christ’s Passion remain: Last Supper, Juda’s Kiss, Crucifixion, Deposition from the Cross and The Entombment. In the lower part of the northern wall is a preserved fragment presenting images of the martyrdom of St. Lawrence.
The painted walls have been inscribed with numerous Glagolitic graffiti, among them is the famous Hum graffito.
The Romanesque small church of St. Roch in Roč has an apse painted with two layers of frescoes: the older layer dates from the 14th century whereas the younger one is from the second half of the 15th century. The older layer with hagiographic scenes belongs to the Italian Trecento, and the younger layer is the work of an unknown Friulian master of the Renaissance presenting Christ in Glory and the Twelve Apostles.
Pillar of shame
The only preserved pillar of shame in the shape of a human figure stands near the village Salež. The local population call it “Berlin”, after the four-seat carriage known as berlina which once drove between Berlin and Paris and according to legend it was used to expose offenders to public derision. This pillar is made of white stone which cannot be found in the village and presents a human figure wearing a hat in the shape of a Turkish fez; his left arm, to which once shackles were attached for tying up prisoners, is on his chest, and his right arm is lowered, so his fist is between his legs.
Castle of Petrapilosa
«The overgrown Town» is history full of legends and oral traditions. The castle served for the surveillance of the valley of the River Mirna and the central Istria for the Aquileian patriarchs in the Middle Ages and for the Venetians in the 15th century.
Regional museum
The museum was founded in 1961 and until 1975 functioned as an independent institution. From the very beginnings it has preserved its features of a regional or municipal museum, so most of the exhibits have been collected in the Buzet area.
The Regional Museum is housed in the Bigatto Palace in the old town dating from 1639. It houses a permanent display of archaeological stone monuments, ethnographic collection and gallery for organizing art exhibitions and concerts. There are also exhibitions entitled “Anti-fascist battle in the Buzet area” and “Petrapilosa Castle – traces of frescoes from the chapel of St. Mary Magdalene”.
Within the museum complex is a hall for temporary exhibitions, arts and crafts workshops, as well as library and photograph archives. One of the most interesting museum exhibits is the Buzet earring.