Municipality of Viškovo: Bell-Ringer Tradition, Cultural Heritage and Trails

Customs and local history

The Kuća halubajskega zvončara houses an interactive museum about the local tradition of the Halubajski zvončari and the Pust customs of Viškovo. The Halubajski Carnival takes place every year on the first Saturday after St Anthony’s Day, 17 January. It features masks, music, dancing and groups of bell ringers. The museum and carnival offer different ways to explore these customs: the museum focuses on presenting them, while the carnival is an annual event featuring music, dance and masks.

The “Tragom Halubajskih zvončara” trail also draws on this tradition. It is an easy circular cycling route that follows sections of the Halubajski zvončari’s three-day procession route. Along the way, it passes the original locations associated with the procession, which feature educational displays. Those interested in the cultural background who would also like to go cycling can use this as another way to engage with the tradition, distinct from a visit to the interactive museum.

In the centre of Viškovo stands the Church of St Matthew, built in 1862 on the site of an older chapel. Ronjgi, Viškovo, is also home to the Spomen-dom Ivan Matetić Ronjgov, an institution serving as both a museum and memorial. In Brnasi, the Širola-Kovačić house offers a glimpse of a typical residential and farmstead unit in the Kastavština region in the 19th century. Together, these different places reflect religious history, remembrance, and the area’s historic form of residence and farming.

The šterne are also part of the cultural heritage: every settlement in the Municipality of Viškovo has at least one central šterna. Once an important source of life for the community, it now serves as cultural and historical heritage that recalls the past and earlier ways of life. Local history can therefore be explored not only through individual buildings or institutions, but also through features associated with life in the settlements.

Woodland trails, hills and views

The “Od kalića do kalića” trail connects Blažići and Mladenići. It passes through wooded areas and over hills with views, as well as by hidden kalići, which are part of the area’s natural heritage. It is suitable for an easy one-hour walk as well as a cycling trip. You can choose how to explore the route: on foot or by bicycle, taking in the woodland sections, hills and kalići as distinct features along the way.

Lončeva Griža in Lučići is a dedicated viewpoint. At an elevation of 506 metres, it offers views of Kvarner Bay, the Grobnik Field, Gorski Kotar, the Velebit Mountains and neighbouring Slovenia. Below the viewpoint, an open-air exhibition is displayed on the rocks. The works are by members of the Braća Baštjan amateur artists’ association and are inspired by traditional motifs from the Viškovo area. The views and the exhibition offer two different reasons to visit: the sweeping vistas across the landscapes mentioned above and the artistic interpretation of regional motifs.

When planning your holiday, you can first consider whether you would prefer to focus on local customs and history, an easy cycling trip, or a walk and the views. While “Tragom Halubajskih zvončara” is a circular cycling route, “Od kalića do kalića” is suitable for an easy one-hour walk or a cycling trip. Choose your accommodation to match the experience that matters most to you, rather than selecting a holiday apartment based on unspecified amenities.

If you would like to explore individual places within the municipality in more detail, also consider Viškovo and Marinići.

For the broader travel overview: Kvarner Bay.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Municipality of Fužine, Municipality of Mrkopalj, Municipality of Bakar, Municipality of Mošćenička Draga, Municipality of Kastav, Municipality of Vrbovsko.