THE ISLAND OF KRK

Baška, Dobrinj, Klimno, Krk,
Malinska, Njivice, Omišalj, Punat, Vrbnik

The famous centuries-old history of Krk has been recorded in the most beautiful way through innumerable traces and paths as symbols of stability and perseverance during the continuous changes and challenges imposed by time. The island of Krk is a network of tracks and paths pulled off time and finiteness. Unchanged through the centuries, it leads through wood covered «drmuni» and bare pasture grounds, fenced by dry walls, strewn by aromatic plants and sheep droppings. The most recent track, with cleared paths along the seaside, has been called a promenade. Krk shepherds and farmers have imprinted in the soil the traces of their steadiness, endurance and diligence, but also testimonies of the joy of living, life and belief. These are kilometres long traces, passing along fertile vineyards and olive-groves, near stone huts, graveyards and chapels. They head towards quiet bays, fishing ports, towns and villages celebrated in songs. The marks and signposts are part of the new inventory, guiding those who are interested to an adventure rich in diversity. The island of Krk, with the neighbouring island of Cres, belongs to the category of the biggest Adriatic islands. Its size stands out if the pertaining islands and ridges Prvić, Plavnik, Sv. Marko, Zec, Galun, Košljun are added to the surface (405.78 km2): The area of the island of Krk, 38 km long and 20 km wide is most frequently divided into two units. The northern one, lower, covered by wood, more inhabited and the southern one in the direction Vrbnik - Punat, mostly bare, only partially covered with dense wood with the spacious Bašćanska draga cut in.

From the old times it has been called Zlatni otok (Insulae Aurea – golden island), due to the fertile vineyards and olive groves, the great number of hours of sunshine (2500 per year) and other characteristics, including the 1500 plant spacies, numerous Kvarner-Liburnian endems, 30 autochtonous species of anphibians and reptiles, more than 1450 butterfly species, special reserves : the ornithological one (Prvi, Glavina, Mala luka), wood vegetation reserve (Glavotok), park wood (Košljun). There are another 16 zones and localities proposed to be protected as special reserve protected landscapes and monuments of nature. The historical values are another specific feature of the island. They consist of archeological, hydroarcheological, rural, profane, memorial and sacral units as well as of lively ethnological heritage. The island has been awarded six Blue flags for its beaches and one for the marina. Numerous tracks and paths lead to these sights. Today, they are marked and are called promenades and hiking tracks. The printed manuals help you to discover these sights, feeling the sounds and experiencing the beauty of nature in the silence and harmony of the rural architectural heritage.

TOWN OF KRK

The ancient Curicum, Frankopan castle, seat of the diocese, numerous valuable monuments of culture, the famous Krk summer fair, the secular tourist tradition, music and other festivals and programmes, are part of the varied offering of the Town of Krk. Recreation is offered in no smaller diversity and extent. Walks are arranged towards the old part of the town, the promenade along the coast, but also to the Prnib peninsula and to the town’s wider surroundings. We single out: Easy walks along the Prniba peninsula (surface area: 1.5 km2) southeast of the town, for a length of 7.5 km, in the pine trees, holly trees and underbrush to the bays of St. Mikula, Valunt and St. Danijel. Particularly impressive is the isolated small church of St. Krševan, an exceptional architectural gem in the preserved Krk environment, today a pasture ground, relatively far from the inhabited places.

	Required time: one hour and 30 minutes - path Krk - Lamartin - Krk - path Krk - Sv. Juraj - Krk - path Linardići – St. Krševan church - path to the Čavlena bay (to the highest oak trees on the island) the paths’ length is from 8 to 10 km on average, and the expected walking time is approximately three hours.
	Procure the prospectus Prniba Promenade
	Town of Krk Tourism Office phone 051/221 414 www.tz-krk.hr tz@tz-krk.hr

TOURIST TRACKS OF BAŠKA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

On the southeastern part of the island of Krk, in the northern part of Baška draga, lies the place and the port of Baška. Owing to its location, the long beach and its valuable heritage, Baška is a place of extraordinary appeal. Here, with the assistance of Czech tourists and guides, the existing paths were developed and marked as tourist tracks, among the first ones in Kvarner. The total of 16 marked tracks, 85 km long, has been classified in four categories: non-demanding, demanding, semi-demanding and very demanding. The tracks’ difficulty depends on the type of ground, the difficulty of the ascent and other factors. Nondemanding tracks extend for a length of 2 to 3.5 km and may be passed in approximately one hour and twenty minutes, while the very demanding ones in some localities - though shorter, will require a longer walking time. The 16 marked tracks offer the possibility to visit the most important places and localities of Bašćanska draga (Batomalj, Jurandvor, Draga Bašćanska) and monuments of exceptional historical value such as the church of St. Lucy (Sv. Lucije) (11th century) in which the best known epigraphical monument of Croatian literature - Bašćanska ploča is kept (the Baška stone tablet). Bašćanska ploča dates back to the year 1100 and the church of St. Mary Majke Božje na Gorici (15th century), the biggest sanctuary in the Krk diocese, is also located here.

MOUNTAIN TRACKS ON OBZOV

The highest peak on the island of Krk, Obzov (569m), the sixth peak by height on the Croatian islands, may be reached from several points of departure. Obzova is a hillock on the big Karst plateau that the millenial presence of the «bura» wind stripped bare and presented with many cracks and with only a few round meadows, fenced by drywalls. The view from the top is something that really has to be experienced. The most frequent points of departure are Treskavac (Malmašuta) or Draga Bašćanska (possible departures also from Stara Baška and Punat). Climbs should not be undertaken during the scorching summer heat.

Recommendation:
- wear hiking boots
- bring dry food, drinkable water or other refreshments along
- undertake the more demanding tracks in groups

Some tracks end in the picturesque sea bays that give the possibility of pleasant bathing, others reach belvederes offering exceptional views (Bag, 185 m, Zakam, 194 m, Stražice, 372 m, Veliki Hlam, 484 m). The more demanding ones lead, either through climbs or steep descents, to the Vinodol Channel and offer a view on the town of Senj, or on the other side, of Kvarnerić, Stara Baška. Return to the point of departure is also possible by taxi boat. Two of these tracks lead to the highest peak of the island of Krk. We recommend the track no. 7, called “Way to the Moon” promenade.
 

	Required time: - Treskavac (319 m) – Obzova one hour and 30minutes - Draga Bašanska – Obzova 2 hours and 30 minutes - Vaclavov put: (track no. 14) 4 hours
	Procure the map of promenades, the guidebook of Opatija and Sveta Lucija, the guidebook of the Baška church and chapel
	Baška Municipality Tourism Office phone 051/856 817 www.tz-baska.hr tz-baska@ri.t-com.hr

TRACKS OF OMIŠALJ AND NJIVICE

In the northwestern part of the island of Krk, on the Vela sten hill, 82 metres above the Omišalj Bay, stands the town of Omišalj. The story of its civilization dates back to prehistoric times. The major settlements that were built up in the area of Omišalj and Njivice developed their fishermen roots into a significant tourist activity. In terms of parochial, territorial-administrative, and today also tourist-organization, Omišalj and Njivice represent a single entity. Walking is possible in three directions that lead to historical monuments, to the Krk natural wood landscapes and the relaxing promenades along the seaside (lungomare).



FULFINUM-MIRINE

From Omišalj, one shoud head by foot to the southwest towards the Sepen bay, the first-class archeological locality Fulfinum-Mirine. The toponym Podokladi hides the remnants of the ancient town Fulfinum (1st century), built for the Roman military veterans. This was a town with complete urban facilities (forum, basilica, port installations, spa, acquaduct, etc.). A great part of this space is still undiscovered and unexplored. To the east of the site, on the toponym Mirina, walls, remnants of the big early Christian basilica from the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century are visible. The building is also mentioned as the Benedictine monastery St. Nikola that was abandoned in the 15th century.

 

	Time required: -Omišalj - quay - Pesja - Mirine, Fulfinum -30 minutes -Omišalj – Path Konska - Buč - Fortičina - Mirine - Fulfinum - 25 minutes
	Procure the prospectus Fulfinum - Mirine and the map of the hiking tracks

NJIVICE HIKING TRACKS

From the Njivice motorcamp there are marked hiking tracks directly towards the Cerova hills (58m), Veli vrh (69m), Vršek (52m) and the Dražica, Dumboka and Blatna bays. They are divided into three types: the main and circular path and paths towards the sea (branch roads from the main track), for less demanding walks.

	Time required: main track 2 hours circular track 45 minutes tracks to the sea 20 minutes
	Procure the map of hiking tracks in Njivice

PROMENADES ALONG THE SEASIDE

Traced along the sea coast, along the settlements’ quays, their origin lies in tourism. Those in Njivice, in particular, lead to some restaurants with excellent gastronomic offerings. In Njivice this is the direction from the motor camp to the Kijac Bay. It is linked to the hiking track for Malinska. In Omišalj this is the route from hotel Adriatic to the Pesja bay.

Promenade through the park Dubec, Omišalj
With a length of 995 m and a surface area of 18 km2 extends a park area full of paths, resting places, belvederes and varied vegetation. Time required: 15 minutes
 

	Walking time: - lungomare Njivice: 45 minutes - lungomare Omišalj: 20 minutes - promenade Dubec: 15 minutes
	Procure the map of Njivice and Omišalj
	Njivice-Omišalj Tourism Office Omišalj, phone 051/ 841 042 tzo-njivice@ri.t-com.hr Njivice, phone 051/846 243 www.tz-njivice-omisalj.hr

DUBAŠNICA TRACKS
MALINSKA

Dubašnica is a spacious, verdant, fertile and wooded area opening onto the Rijeka Bay. Its name originates from the oak woods (dub = oak tree), that are also complemented by woods of oriental hornbeam. At the beginning of the 15th century, this area was inhabited by many families whose names have been inherited by the current settlements of Vantačići, Turčići, Zidarići, Milčetići, Milovčići, Bogovići, Radići, Maršići, Kremenići, gombići, Oštrobradići, Ljutići, Barušići... In the tourism-development period (at the end of the 19th century) Malinska - a port for timber loading and unloading was transformed in the principal centre of the Dubašnica area and almost ousted the name Dubašnica from geographical and other terms. The search of new «contents» began to be felt in the area. The Dubašnica tracks are full of agricultural traces, one can still hear the almost forgotten bleating of flocks of sheep and be a witness to the visible and recognizable ethnic and religious identity here. According to their level of difficulty, the tracks are classified into those stretching along the seaside and those that stretch around the hinterland.

Walking time:

Malinska - cape Čuf 45 minutes
Malinska – Vantačići 45 minutes
Porat - Sv. Martin 1 hour and 25 minutes

PROMENADES ALONG THE SEASIDE

The coastal path Rajska cesta (Road of Paradise) is the best known promenade, traced towards the coast and the bathing resorts Haludovo and Njivice even before World War II. It is intended for all types of hikers, and besides wood landscapes, it also stretches along the numerous bays and beaches. The second one connects Malinska and Vantačići and leads to Porat, 3 km away, and to the monastic church of St. Marija Magdalena of the Tertiary Franciscans (Glagolitic priests) (15th century). The valuable polyptych (1556), olive grinder, museum and collection of stone monuments «lapidarij» with copies of the oldest Croatian glagolitic inscriptions are kept in the monastery. The path along the seaside from Porat to the Bay of St. Martin is somewhat more demanding, since it also comprises less accessible terrain, offering in return preserved nature sights and a very impressive view of the sea.



HIKING TRACKS

These are easy and non-demanding paths that intersect the area of Dubašnica connecting the villages, the so called «drmuni» and votive localities. They stretch from the hills, belvedere Fumak (61 m) overlooking the Čavlena Bay t o the orientation point of the Northern part of Krk, the Church of St. Peter (252 m), above Gabonjin in the Dobrinj area, up to the church and settlement St. Vid - Miholjice. The paths on the map have been marked in yellow and they touch the picturesque old graveyard, adjacent to which until 1855 stood the parish church (later on it was transferred to Bogovići), a trace of which is the mighty stone bell tower (1618), the votive crucifix and the stone Way of the Cross on the hill Fumak and the one on the crossroads Bogovići- St. Anton - Milovčići, pass along the votive chapel of St. Ivan de Mathe (Matahara) in the vicinity of Oštrobradić, built with the support of Dubašnica emigrants to America and to the famous small church of St. Petar na Verhu. 41

 

	Walking time: - Fumak – old cemetery o ne hour and 25 minutes - Old cemetery - Oštrobradići one hour and 15 minutes - Oštrobradići - Sv.Petar one hour and 25 minutes - Sv. Petar- Sv. Vid - Miholjice one hour and 35 minutes
	Procure the prospectus of Malinska promenades and hiking paths.
	Malinska Municipality Tourism Office Phone 051/859 207, 858 254 tzo-malinska@ri.t-com.hr www.tz-malinska.hr

VRBNIK PATHS AND GORGES

In the central part of the eastern coast of the island of Krk, 49 m above the sea, on the foundations of another Krk prehistoric fort, stands the town of Vrbnik. This town, which has been exhibiting its steadiness for 900 years, is famous as a town-castle, a town of farmers, shepherds, excellent wine-growers, confraternities, of the famous library, old Slavic liturgies, priests and artists. Vrbnik will unveil its town streets, offer its Karst surroundings full of the fragrances of aromatic plants and its fertile, rich vineyards to the curious traveller. The Vrbnik Statutes square is the starting point towards all directions – either towards the narrow street «all around» (okolo-naokolo) the town or to isolated capes and sea bays, to vineyards or pasture grounds in the hinterland. The target destination of the majority of routes are first of all historical-sacral buildings preserved to a great extent in the town, while those in the surroundings are mostly in a dilapidated state. The town streets lead to the parish church St. Marija of Uznesenja (11th/ 12th century), the Church of St. John the Baptist (St. Ivan Krstitelj), Baćin dvor, Frankopan buildings (16th century) today transformed in a cafè gallery, to the stone sacral collection Destinac, to «Klančić», the narrowest street in the world. They lead to the church of St. Marija od Zdravlja (1859) and the Park Gospoj from which a marvellous view extends on the Vinodol channel and the littoral. Outside the town, paths and passes head towards pasture grounds and vineyards. In each new season, fragrances and colours of autochtonous plants translate in complete and unspeakably pleasant sensations. Particularly worthy of mention is the month of May, when the countryside is dappled with the purple of sage flowers.
 

Vrbnik Municipality Tourism Office phone 051/857 479 www.vrbnik.net  tz@vrbnik.net

TO THE CHURCH OF St. JURAJ

South of Vrbnik, on the cape of St. Juraj, in the homonymous bay, the remnants of the small church dedicated to St. Juraj may be found. The image of St. Juraj as well as the illustration of the vessel, the oldest preserved one on the Croatian coast (12th/13th century) are discernible from the church walls.

Walk duration: about 2 hours
 

TO THE CHURCH OF St. MARKO

In order to reach the ruins of the small church St. Marko (Marek) one should head to the village of Risika, then turn right to the parish church and reach the homonymous bay with the beach that is a favourite destination of many bathers. A peculiarity here are the bushes of the evergreen strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo).

Walk duration: 2 hours


TO GRADAC

In order to reach the Krk princes’ ruins, one should pass along the fringes of Vrbničko polje, to the village of Garica, and there enquire as to the onward route.
 

Walk duration: 2 hours


 

IN THE DOBRINJ AREA

The Dobrinj area is a spacious, mildly undulated green area on the northeastern part of the island of Krk occupied by the villages: Či ići, Dobrinj, Gabonjin, Gostinjac, Gornja and Donja Hlapa, Klanice, Klimno, Kras, Meline, Polje, Rasopasno, Rudine, Soline, Su an, Sv. Ivan, Sv. Vid, Šilo, Tribulje, etilac, Županje and the town of Dobrinj, the oldest Croatian town on the island of Krk, cultural and administrative centre of the entire area.

The area of Dobrinj is an autochtonous, rural landscape, with ethnological heritage, preserved environment, varied plant communities, underground Karst phenomena (Biserujka cave), protected bays with curative mud and a pleasant climate. In this area, some sixty kilometres of sandy paths have been marked. Their course is circular. The departure point is also the point of arrival. It may be passed in one day, or, in an easier way – as one prefers – from one point to the other.

There are eight marked points (Šilo, estilac, Gostinjac, Sveti Vid, Dobrinj, Gornja Hlapa, upanje, Šilo), with different tour lengths. In each control point, a photograph should be taken or a stamp affixed. The award for the traversed path is the numerated badge and the opportunity to register in the Visitors’ Book.

Along these fifty kilometres we shall pass through protected sea bays, the Stipanjska Bay, the gentle, shallow Soline Bay, stop near the ruins of the Roman villa in Šilo, near the churches of St. Marija of Porođenja in Polje (1876), St. Martin in Gostinjac (1576), the early romanic St. Vid (1100, endownment of the “famous Dragoslav”), St. Klement in Klimno (1381, the Renaissance carving, St. Filip and Jakov in Soline (1382), the Dobrinj parish church of St. Stjepan (1100), St. Trinity (1480, pučki St. Antuna) along the park Jardin... The Dobrinj path will lead us to Polje, to the nuns’ monastery and the nursing home in the beautiful locality of Zviranj, to valuable sacral and ethnological collections, to the belvederes “Zemljine” in the vicinity of the Dobrinj marketplace and the bell-tower from which the bell ringing reverberates through the entire area of Dobrinj and beyond, then to the mythical hill of St. Juraj (327 m). The paths lead through a wood covered by unique wood vegetation. Here grows the durmast oak-tree (Quercus petraea), hop hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), sweet chestnut trees(Castanea sativa), lime trees (Tilia cordata), sycamore (Acer pseudopatanus)... all species growing in the mountain woods of the mainland, but on no other Adriatic island – except for Krk.

Duration: - Šilo – Žestilac one hour and 30 minutes - Žestilac - Gostinjac 30 minutes - Gostinjac - Sv. Vid 40 minutes - Sv. Vid - Dobrinj 10 minutes - Dobrinj - Gornja Hlapa 40 minutes - Gornja Hlapa – upanje 35 minutes - Županje – Šilo one hour

THE GLAGOLYTHIC PATH

The small St. Petar’s Church (1279) on the western part of the island of Krk, endowment of two sisters according to the legend, may be reached from the village of Gabonjin via a path along which 37 stone plates have been recently placed, with engraved messages and a glagolythic alphabet. The church dominates the landscape and represents a secular orientation point but also a guard house (hence the name St. Petar na Stra išu (252 m), (stra a=guard). It is worth climbing St. Petar, particularly on St. Peter’s Day (29th of June) when, in the area in front of the church, celebrations are held.

 

 

	Walking time: - Gabonjin - Sv Petar 20 minutes - Ljutići - Sv. Petar one hour and 25 minutes - Rasopasno - Sv. Petar 45 minutes
	Procure the guidebook «Putovima Dobrinjštine»
	Dobrinj Municipality Tourism Office phone 051/852 107, 091 505 35 95 tzo-dobrinj@ri.t-com.hr www.tzo-dobrinj.hr

PUNAT PATHS AND THE KOŠLJUN ISLET

The soutwestern coast of the island of Krk, precisely the eastern part of the shallow Puntarska draga, separated from the Krk Bay by the Prniba peninsula, belongs to the settlement and port of Punat. Today, it is one of the leading centres in Croatian nautical tourism (Blue flag), famous also for its high quality olive oil products (Olives Days are held each year in October). Punat (first mentioned in 1377) is proud of its other values as well. The most important of these are the St. Trinity Church (1777) and Maggiotto’s painting of St. Ivan’s sermon, on the main altar, the sculpture of Ana Samotreća (15th century), the old houses for the common people (18th century), the toš olive grinder (18th century) and the Toš Gallery. Special appeal to Punat is also given by the Košljun islet, “island in the island”, a wood reserve and cultural monument. Eight kilometres southeast of Punat, below the white limestone rocks and protected from the «bura» wind, sits the quiet settlement of Stara Baška. Hikers and recreationists are offered sphepherds’ tracks and seaside promenades, traced in the ancient times and well marked today, as well as the Košljun islet, with its many attractions.From Punat, paths climb up to the highest peaks of the island of Krk: Veli vrh (541 m), Brestovica (558 m), Obzova (568 m), Zminj (537 m) and Veli hlam (482 m). There are three starting points: Prgon, Ricompi and Zarimon; from Stara Baška one for Punat and two for Batomalj in Bašćanska draga. It is also possible to walk from one destination to the other without reaching the highest peaks of the island. The difficulty of the paths ranges from medium to high because of the ascents, particularly those in Stara Baška. At the starting points, tables have been set up, containing information about the walk’s direction and expected duration. The paths are well-marked with colours (red and white, blue and white, green and white) and the marks have been set up each 20 to 50 metres. Directions are marked on large stones on the crossroads. The Punat promenades extend on the part from Prgon to Kanajt, and we recommend to proceed along the road, to the Old Croatian church of St. Dunat (9th century) and from the centre of Punat through the Debilj cape to Camp Konobe.
 

	Expected walk duration: Prgon - Kalabrin - Veli vrh one hour and 50 minutes Ricomp - Runtel - Veli vrh 2 hours Zarimon - Suha lokva - Veli vrh 2 hours and 50 minutes Zarimon- Runtel - Kalabrinj – Prgon 2 hours and 25 minutes Prgon – Kanajt 25 minutes
	Procure the map of the Shepherds’ path and of Punat

ISLET OF KOŠLJUN

Small by size (0,06 km2), and great in terms of offer, only a few metres above sea level and only 190 metres away from the mainland, it is an area of luxuriant vegetation: flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus), laurel (Laurus nobilis), holly oak (Quercus ilex), montpellier maple (Acer monspessulanum). The Franciscan Berard Bari has managed to count as many as 540 plant species and classify them in 111 families, found as much as 151 mushroom species from 33 families. Various species of birds live in Košljun, predominantly song-birds. At the same time, Košljun is a Franciscan monastery (1447) that contains the famous library consisting of 30.000 volumes, incunabula, glagolithic documents, valuable atlases (16th century). Once seat of the Croatian secondary school (since 1894), today keeps an exceptionally rich range of works of art, music and ethnographic collections, a beautiful crèche (16th century), the miraculous crucifix. There are also several wooden chapels here: Chapel of Bethlehem (1651) St. Križ (1579), St. Franjo (1654), the Lurdska spilja cave (1914)...

 

Punat Municipality Tourism Office
phone 051/854 970, 854 860
www.tzpunat.hr   tz-punat@ri.t-com.hr