Municipality of Sveti Lovreč: Paths, Water and History
Accommodation in Municipality of Sveti Lovreč
The Municipality of Sveti Lovreč can be explored in several ways: the Put vode circular hiking trail leads to water sources in the municipality, a cycling route connects Sveti Lovreč with other places, and the area’s architectural history spans everything from a prehistoric hillfort to medieval fortifications. There is also St Martin’s Church, with an exceptionally old organ and a significant ensemble of frescoes. Which of these aspects you would like to make the focus of your stay can also guide your search for a holiday apartment or holiday home in the municipality.
On foot along the water sources
The Put vode circular hiking trail, also known as Istra Trails No. 720, is 11.2 km long and runs through the Municipality of Sveti Lovreč. It connects several water sources. The starting and finishing point is the restored town fountain in the centre of Sveti Lovreč, near Velika vrata. Since the loop begins and ends at the same fountain, it can be considered a self-contained hiking destination; the stated distance can help you factor the route into your day’s plans.
The trail links a specific route with the theme of water, without requiring you to plan a second route. If you are particularly interested in Put vode, you could consider Sveti Lovreč itself as a place to search for a holiday apartment: the trail starts there. The Puč spring in Vošteni is considered the best-known natural water source in the municipality. It adds another named place to the water theme, without Puč necessarily being part of the hiking trail.
Cycling route and different starting points
The Staza lovrečkih kapetana cycling route runs through Poreč, Ženodraga, Baderna, Sveti Lovreč, Montižana and St. Bečić, before returning to Poreč. Sveti Lovreč can also serve as a starting point. This gives the route a different character from the circular hiking trail: it is described as a sequence of stops through several named places, whereas Put vode starts and ends in Sveti Lovreč. If you are more interested in the cycling tour than the circular walk during your stay, you can take this difference in route format into account when choosing where to stay.
Church, frescoes and fortifications
St Martin’s Church has the oldest organ in Istria. Petar Nakić, also known as Pietro Nacchini, created the instrument in 1735; it was restored in 2013. St Martin’s Church is also home to one of the oldest surviving ensembles of frescoes in Istria. These include recently restored frescoes in the northern and southern apses. The organ and frescoes each give the church a distinct cultural and historical focus: one is a musical instrument with precise dates of creation and restoration, the other, surviving wall paintings.
The layout of Sveti Lovreč also tells a story of different eras. Its circular shape dates back to a prehistoric hillfort on the hill. In the 14th century, the town walls were extended and expanded when the town was the seat of the captains. The fortified complex includes the Funtanela Tower, a nearby triangular tower and a bell tower that once served as a defensive tower. The Romanesque bell tower next to the church in Sveti Lovreč was added in the 11th century. The townscape thus brings together an early history of fortification and later expansions.
Planning your search
Gallery Placa in Sveti Lovreč is an information centre and gallery. It provides information about the tourist attractions of Sveti Lovreč and central Istria, making it a useful place to get your bearings in the region. This choice concerns the focus of your trip; specific routes and places are more useful for that than a general impression of the municipality.
Other places in the municipality
The municipality also includes Kruncici, Sveti Lovrec, Flengi, Bralići, Radići, Marasi, Čehići, Gradina, Knapići, Stranići Kod Lovreča, Heraki, Vošteni, Jakići Dolinji, Medvidići, Selina, Kloštar, Perini, Medaki and Orbani. These names can help you broaden your search beyond the main town to include other places within the municipality.
For an overview of the wider region: Istria County.
