Municipality of Kanfanar: Cycling routes, culture and Istrian history

Exploring by bike and on foot

One specific cycling tour is Captain Morgan and the Ghost Town: the route starts and ends in Kanfanar, passing through the Limska-Draga valley and Dvigrad. The circular route is 23.8 kilometres long and has a moderate difficulty level. These details give you a point of reference if you want to include a longer cycling tour in your holiday plans. Visitors can also explore natural and cultural heritage on the municipality's cycling routes.

The municipality has two appealing areas for sport climbing. Near the remains of Dvigrad is a climbing area with 63 routes. The Dvigrad Trek is another way to explore the area on foot; its categories are called Ultra, Challenger and Light. If you are choosing between cycling, climbing and trekking, you can select from different ways to experience the surroundings actively.

Medieval traces and historic sites

Nearby is Dvigrad, a medieval town that was abandoned in the 17th century. Its remains today form a well-preserved medieval fortified town, surrounded by two rings of walls. The ruins make Dvigrad a distinctive destination for anyone interested in historic settlements. A stone pulpit from Dvigrad is located in the parish church of Saint Sylvester in Kanfanar. The church was built in 1696; the pulpit dates from the 13th century.

Other sites also tell stories of different eras. The Church of Saint Agatha near Kanfanar is an early Romanesque building with wall paintings dated to the second half of the 11th century. Near the village of Sošići, the Maklavun tumulus is believed to be 3,500 to 4,000 years old. Kašteljir near Kanfanar is a prehistoric archaeological site below a former hillfort. Those interested in cultural history will find a range of points of interest, from prehistoric sites to medieval buildings.

Traditions and Istrian cuisine

Jakovlja is a traditional festival in Kanfanar, held on the last weekend of July. Visitors can watch the public weighing of Istrian oxen and traditional ploughing with oxen. The event offers a special insight into a local custom. At Fužijada, Kanfanar's housewives demonstrate the entire process of making homemade fuži. Along the coast of Lim Bay, shellfish and oysters are considered the most important specialities served by local restaurants. As well as nature and history, regional traditions and cuisine can therefore be among your interests during a stay.

Choosing the right location

Kanfanar railway station is in the village of Kanfanar, within the Municipality of Kanfanar. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can consider which places and themes you want to shape your stay: the cycling route to Dvigrad, historic buildings and sites, or the traditions surrounding Jakovlja and Fužijada. In the wider travel area, Limska Draga is the fertile continuation of the winding Lim Bay, extending inland as far as the centre of Istria. The Limski Channel in the Kanfanar area is protected as a significant landscape and a special marine reserve.

To find your way around the municipality, you can also visit the pages for Kanfanar, Sosici, Bubani, Dubravci, Kurili, Matohanci, Ladići, Putini, Burići, Barat, Mrgani, Okreti, Žuntići, Marići and Červari.

For the wider travel overview: Istria County.