THE KASTAV AREA
Kastav, Klana, Matulji, Viškovo
The
spacious area of Kastav, North-west of Rijeka, between Istria and
the Croatian Littoral area, has been defined by its
strategic-traffic significance. This crossroads, and frequently the
boundary of historical changes, power, events and various cultural
influences, possesses a powerful, distinctly Croatian identity,
preserved “vernacular, ancient customs and habits”. The
centuries-old belonging to the Kastav administrative and judicial
organization (pravica,kapetanija, sučija i kastafska komuna) has
profoundly marked and deeply permeated this area. Particularly
specific are the eastern part (Halubje) and the western one
(Rukavac, or Matulji). Today, Kastav is divided into four
territorial– administrative units: the Town of Kastav and the Klana,
Matulji and Viškovo municipalities. The walk along Kastav, the wood
Lu ina and Lozun, the Klana wood and Lisina are the most significant
part of the hiking-recreational offering. These are moderated walks
through the gentle landscape made of hills and valleys, arable land
and courts, well-preserved folk architecture, sink-holes and caves.
In every cave, according to the legend, live «malik» that five-six
year old boy «mischievous, but not bad, “with his red hat”. The
paths of the powerful and impressive «zvončari» (bell-ringers) from
Halubje, Rukavac and Zvoneće, and all the others from the Western
side, are part of the impressive winter, carnival, landscape image.
Walk along Kastav
A town on a dominant hill (377m) overlooking the Kvarner is a
wonderful belvedere attracting with its historiccultural,
museal-sacral, music-festival, fair, ethno and gastro features. This
popular excursion place is full of sacral, museal (Bačvarski –
Cooper’s museum) and fortification buildings. Here are located the
famous, well-preserved town of Loggia (16th century), the Great Men
Alley, the building and memorials of the well-known school Delavska
škola (19th century) and the Reading Room, the first Croatian
reading room in Istria (1866). The belvederes, the old fortress -
today promenade - Fortica, the space in front of the parish church
and the view from the udika tower, offer a special experience and
are always a reason for visiting Kastav.
Walks along the woods Loza and Lužina
The Lužina wood (proposed for the category of protected landscape)
and the nearby Loza wood, is “the biggest coherent wood complex in
the Rijeka hinterland”, rich in Karst phenomena. The most
interesting is the tour of the two highest peaks of the Lužina wood
- Stanić (465 m) and Makov vrh (504 m), from which a view extends on
the Kastav area, Lisina and Učka. The cracks, sink-holes and caves
are particularly interesting. The deepest sink-hole is Kneždol, with
varied wood life and ponds. The Šparožna and Crljenina caves
(nominated for the category of natural monuments) are another couple
of interesting features of the Lužina wood. Only Šparožna wood is
accessible to visitors (the visit must first be announced to the
speolologists’ association). Flora: the protected species of holly
(Ilex aquifolium), dwarf bay (Daphne laureola), spinose butcher’s
broom ( Ruscus aculeatus)... A cave bear’s scull was found in the
Šparožna cave (exhibited in the Natural History museum in Rijeka).
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Walk duration
- Eco path through Loza Wood - Kastav (Crekvina) – Japenice – Spinčićev breg - Kastav 1 hour and 10 minutes - Kastav (crekvina)-Brajani – vrh Stanić- hunting lodge Zvirić – Kastav 2 hours and 25 minutes - Kastav- Brajani-vrh Stanić – Mačkov vrh- breza- Sebenjino- Jelovičani – Kastav 5 hours |
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Duration of
the walk:
Zvoneće - Gašpari - Škrapna - Lisina one hour and 15 minutes Rukavac - Kukići - Pelinovo - Beljača - Lisina 3 hours Jušići - Lisina |
(track R3 hours |
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Town of Kastav
Tourism Office phone 051/691 425 www.tz-kastav.hr tzkastav@kvarner.net Matulji Tourism Office Klana Municipality |
Klanj Wood
According to many, the Klanj wood is one of the cleanest woods in
Croatia. It is characterized by numerous mushroom species. The Klanj
mountain path has been marked from Klana, across Gumanac to Obruč.
In addition to the climb to the peak Pliš (933m), next to the state
border, there are also easy paths: leading up to “the wood queen”,
path from Lisac to the newly renovated house Rebar and the old Klana
beech (757m), the Trstenik path and the path from Gumanac to the
Trstenik valley (960m). In the vicinity of Klana stands a monument of
nature, the Gotovž precipice (560m), in which the Ričina sinks. It
is some 320m deep (accessible to speleologists only).
Mushrooms: St.George’s mushrooms, morells, chanterelles,lactarius, russula etc.
Walking time required:
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- Lisac
- Rebar - “kraljica šume (Wood Queen)” one hour
- Gumance - Trstenik one hour - Studena - Obruč 4 hours - Klana - Pliš - Lisac - Studena 4 and a half hours - Pliš - Gumance one hour 45 minutes - Klana - Hahlići (via RT) 4 hours |
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It is recommended to procure a guidebook as well as the day-book of the Klana mountain path and also to carry personal documents along, given the vicinity of the state border. | |
Lisina
The Lisina wood, mostly featuring beech trees and protected in the
category of significant landscape, is located in the eastern part of
Ćićarija and is contiguous to the Park of Nature Učka. Crni vrh
(1037m), Kadički vrh (1104m), the popular Vodike gri e (1143m) with
the source Vodice at the foot of Lisina (1183m) and Gomila (1241m)
are the most interesting destinations in this area. Flora: tertiary
relict lousewort (Pedicularis acaulis), the lung-wort (Pulmonaria
australis), the gentian (Gentiana tergestina), primrose (Primula
columnae)... Fauna: grey doormice (Myoxus glis), foxes, badgers,
hares... Rich mushrooms (rare species of edible boletes,
Boletaceae). The climber’s lodging Lisina (710 m) has 3 rooms with 5
to 6 beds, water, electric power
Following the bell-ringers’ (zvončari) paths
In the Carnival period (January-March) the Kastav area brings the
traditional customs alive, first of all with the bell-ringers’
parade. The walk along the entire Kastav area, meeting and getting
together with them in the winter forest landscape or in the various
destination points is a unique experience. By tradition, and
following previous arrangements, they go around local places at
special and Carnival dates (on the Sundays, Monday and Tuesday
preceding Ash Wednesday).
We single out:
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The parade of bell-ringers from Rukavac to Zvoneće:
Rukavac - Biškupi - Kučeli - Mihotova ravan - Zdemer - Škrapna - Gašpari - Zvoneća - Zaluki - Brešca - Mučići - Deklevi - Jušići - Rukavac. |
Duration of the parade: from 9 to 10 hours |
| Parade of the
bell-ringers from Halubje on Carnival Monday: Marčelji - Kosi - Jardasi - Brnčići - Jelušići - Banov Križ - Kastav - Jurčići - Šporova jama - Bani - Kudeji - Ferenci - Donji Sroki- Dovičić - Brnasi - Široli - Viškovo (Sv.Matej) |
Duration of the parade: 10 hours
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