Park Istra's guidebook
Kastelec and around
Park Istra is located at the end of the village Kastelec with around 100 inhabitants.
On the site you can use slackline, trampoline, small fitness room and many small areas outside to relax. Behind the house we have volleyball/basketball/football field that you can use anytime.
Our surroundings, Istria is a fine region to practise hiking, biking and climbing, as much in the mountainous inland as in the coast.
Istria is one of the Europe's top locations for culinary experiences.
Slovenian cost offers opportunities for swimming, great climbing sites nearby offer planty climbing opportunities, Slavnik and hills nearby offer treking and cycling oportunities in preserved natural environment.
There is a regular bus to Koper that takes 20 minutes. Koper is 10 min car drive (on highway) away.
About half an hour car drive from us are: - The old Venetian town of Piran - Škocjan and Postojna caves.
Towns of Venezia, Ljubljana, Pula, Rovinj and Julian Alps with Triglav national park are 1 to 2 hours away.
Kastelec
KastelecPark Istra is located at the end of the village Kastelec with around 100 inhabitants.
On the site you can use slackline, trampoline, small fitness room and many small areas outside to relax. Behind the house we have volleyball/basketball/football field that you can use anytime.
Our surroundings, Istria is a fine region to practise hiking, biking and climbing, as much in the mountainous inland as in the coast.
Istria is one of the Europe's top locations for culinary experiences.
Slovenian cost offers opportunities for swimming, great climbing sites nearby offer planty climbing opportunities, Slavnik and hills nearby offer treking and cycling oportunities in preserved natural environment.
There is a regular bus to Koper that takes 20 minutes. Koper is 10 min car drive (on highway) away.
About half an hour car drive from us are: - The old Venetian town of Piran - Škocjan and Postojna caves.
Towns of Venezia, Ljubljana, Pula, Rovinj and Julian Alps with Triglav national park are 1 to 2 hours away.
Sightseeing, trekking
Overlooking the Gulf of Trieste, only 20 min walk away from Kastelec, you can find a beautiful Socerb Castle,
that was founded on the ruins of an Illyrian hill-fort. The fortress expanded during the Middle Ages. Due to its excellent geographic position, it used to be a constant target in the wars between the Venice and the people of Trieste.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Socerb Castle
7 SocerbOverlooking the Gulf of Trieste, only 20 min walk away from Kastelec, you can find a beautiful Socerb Castle,
that was founded on the ruins of an Illyrian hill-fort. The fortress expanded during the Middle Ages. Due to its excellent geographic position, it used to be a constant target in the wars between the Venice and the people of Trieste.
Climbing
World class climbing sites are only a few km away from Kastelec.
Find your way up in Osp and Mišja Peč.
Even if you are not climbing, you can make a nice hike from Kastelec or from Socerb to the village of Osp. It takes 1 hour each way.
From the bridge in Osp you can continue up for about 20 min to the impressive wall and cave above the village.
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Osp
World class climbing sites are only a few km away from Kastelec.
Find your way up in Osp and Mišja Peč.
Even if you are not climbing, you can make a nice hike from Kastelec or from Socerb to the village of Osp. It takes 1 hour each way.
From the bridge in Osp you can continue up for about 20 min to the impressive wall and cave above the village.
5 min drive or 1h walk one way you find world class climbing site Črni Kal.
There is a nice view, especially at the sunset, from the ruins of the fort above the village of Črni Kal.
Črni Kal Castle of San Sergio
43 Črni Kal5 min drive or 1h walk one way you find world class climbing site Črni Kal.
There is a nice view, especially at the sunset, from the ruins of the fort above the village of Črni Kal.
Food scene
A great place with amazing veiws to taste Fuži (handmade traditional pasta) with truffles. Istria is well known for truffles. Locals are searching for them with well trained dogs.
Don't miss: Fuži with truffles and young cheese with truffles!
Gostilna Belvedur
1 BelvedurA great place with amazing veiws to taste Fuži (handmade traditional pasta) with truffles. Istria is well known for truffles. Locals are searching for them with well trained dogs.
Don't miss: Fuži with truffles and young cheese with truffles!
If you wanna try our favourite fuži (localy traditional pasta) with truffles, this restaurant is one of the greatest in our region.
Don't miss: Fuži with truffles and amazing home made bread that will be served with it.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Gostilna Korte
44 KorteIf you wanna try our favourite fuži (localy traditional pasta) with truffles, this restaurant is one of the greatest in our region.
Don't miss: Fuži with truffles and amazing home made bread that will be served with it.
The nearest pub to our place is about 3 km away near the village of Črni kal. Go there for burgers, beer and ice cream.
Okrepčevalnica Viki burger
24 Črni KalThe nearest pub to our place is about 3 km away near the village of Črni kal. Go there for burgers, beer and ice cream.
City/town information
Only 10 min drive away, is a port city of Koper with many shops, pedestrian only historical center and many events during summer season.
Don't forget swimming suit to jump in the Adriatic sea.
For events check: https://dogodki.kulturnik.si/?where=Ju%C5%BEna%20Primorska
46 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Koper
Only 10 min drive away, is a port city of Koper with many shops, pedestrian only historical center and many events during summer season.
Don't forget swimming suit to jump in the Adriatic sea.
For events check: https://dogodki.kulturnik.si/?where=Ju%C5%BEna%20Primorska
30 min drive away, is the nicest coastal city in Slovenia. The best way to experience is to get lost in it's narrow streets and observe the sunset from its church tower.
Don't forget swimming suit to jump in the Adriatic sea.
For events check: https://dogodki.kulturnik.si/?where=Ju%C5%BEna%20Primorska
160 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Piran
30 min drive away, is the nicest coastal city in Slovenia. The best way to experience is to get lost in it's narrow streets and observe the sunset from its church tower.
Don't forget swimming suit to jump in the Adriatic sea.
For events check: https://dogodki.kulturnik.si/?where=Ju%C5%BEna%20Primorska
20 min drive from Park Istra, you can find italian city of Trieste, the capital city of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. A port city, it occupies a thin strip of land between the Adriatic coast and Slovenia’s border on the limestone-dominated Karst Plateau. Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Slovenian influences are all evident in its layout, which encompasses a medieval old city and a neoclassical Austrian quarter. ― Google
For events in Trieste check: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/italy--trieste/events/
173 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Trieste
20 min drive from Park Istra, you can find italian city of Trieste, the capital city of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. A port city, it occupies a thin strip of land between the Adriatic coast and Slovenia’s border on the limestone-dominated Karst Plateau. Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Slovenian influences are all evident in its layout, which encompasses a medieval old city and a neoclassical Austrian quarter. ― Google
For events in Trieste check: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/italy--trieste/events/
Sightseeing, trekking
20 min drive away, you can find unique Škocjan caves.
Due to its exceptional significance, Škocjan Caves was entered on UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites in 1986. International scientific circles have thus acknowledged the importance of the caves as one of the natural treasures of planet Earth. Wikipedia
More about guided tours: https://www.park-skocjanske-jame.si/en
115 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Skocjan Caves
12 Matavun20 min drive away, you can find unique Škocjan caves.
Due to its exceptional significance, Škocjan Caves was entered on UNESCO’s list of natural and cultural world heritage sites in 1986. International scientific circles have thus acknowledged the importance of the caves as one of the natural treasures of planet Earth. Wikipedia
More about guided tours: https://www.park-skocjanske-jame.si/en
Val Rosandra / Glinščica is a beautiful italian valley only 10 min drive from Kastelec.
Park your car for free at Centro visite della Val Rosandra, walk 15 min to the entrance of Riserva Naturale della Val Rosandra, walk 5 minutes up till you can reach the river and hike/swim up the river to the big waterfall.
To go back from the waterfall scramble up the slope on the right until you reach the marked trail down to Bagnoli Superiore.
Take at least 3 hours to do the trip. If you want to go all the way up to the waterfall, the trip includes some moderately hard climbing and swimming. Otherwise you can just find a nice spot by the river and relax.
Have in mind that you will need to leave all the non waterproof things in the car in case you are planning to swim all the way up.
99 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Natural Reserve of Val Rosandra
507 Località Bagnoli della RosandraVal Rosandra / Glinščica is a beautiful italian valley only 10 min drive from Kastelec.
Park your car for free at Centro visite della Val Rosandra, walk 15 min to the entrance of Riserva Naturale della Val Rosandra, walk 5 minutes up till you can reach the river and hike/swim up the river to the big waterfall.
To go back from the waterfall scramble up the slope on the right until you reach the marked trail down to Bagnoli Superiore.
Take at least 3 hours to do the trip. If you want to go all the way up to the waterfall, the trip includes some moderately hard climbing and swimming. Otherwise you can just find a nice spot by the river and relax.
Have in mind that you will need to leave all the non waterproof things in the car in case you are planning to swim all the way up.
Hike up the Slavnik mountain for superb views. You will need 2h to do the round trip. Start from village Podgorje, 10 min drive from Kastelec.
At 1,028 metres high, Slavnik is one of the highest peaks of the Slovenian Istria. It is part of the Čičarija landscape. Tuma Hut on Slavnik, named after the mountaineer Henrik Tuma, stands about 10 metres below its peak. Wikipedia
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Slavnik
Hike up the Slavnik mountain for superb views. You will need 2h to do the round trip. Start from village Podgorje, 10 min drive from Kastelec.
At 1,028 metres high, Slavnik is one of the highest peaks of the Slovenian Istria. It is part of the Čičarija landscape. Tuma Hut on Slavnik, named after the mountaineer Henrik Tuma, stands about 10 metres below its peak. Wikipedia
30 min drive from Kastelec, you can find a gorgeous and peaceful walking path, linking Villa Opicina to Proseco (Italy), offering amazing views down to Bay of Trieste. On a beautiful sunny day the Napoleon’s road is full of local walkers, joggers and climbers.
Strada Napoleonica
Strada Napoleonica30 min drive from Kastelec, you can find a gorgeous and peaceful walking path, linking Villa Opicina to Proseco (Italy), offering amazing views down to Bay of Trieste. On a beautiful sunny day the Napoleon’s road is full of local walkers, joggers and climbers.
A peaceful 40 min hike both ways to waterfall surrounded with natural pool.
Don't forget your swimming suit, but note that the pool and the waterfall might dry up in the summer.
There is a 25 min drive to Sokoliči village. Park by the pond before you enter the village and follow the signs to Veli Vir.
Slap Veli Vir
A peaceful 40 min hike both ways to waterfall surrounded with natural pool.
Don't forget your swimming suit, but note that the pool and the waterfall might dry up in the summer.
There is a 25 min drive to Sokoliči village. Park by the pond before you enter the village and follow the signs to Veli Vir.
Sightseeing
Lipica: the cradle of white horses
Did you know that the noble white Lipizzaner horses are from Slovenia? Their original stud farm has been in Lipica in the Karst since 1580. You can marvel at their elegance while watching shows and classical riding training. You can experience the Karst Region in a carriage, or you can go riding.
Lipica is 23 min drive away from Kastelec.
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Lipica
Lipica: the cradle of white horses
Did you know that the noble white Lipizzaner horses are from Slovenia? Their original stud farm has been in Lipica in the Karst since 1580. You can marvel at their elegance while watching shows and classical riding training. You can experience the Karst Region in a carriage, or you can go riding.
Lipica is 23 min drive away from Kastelec.
The small stone church of the Holy Trinity lies beneath the walls of Karst edge of Slovene Istria in a small village Hrastovlje. Its interesting exterior will already draw your attention and the interior hides the most extensive and best preserved medieval frescoes including the famous 'Dance of the Dead'.
To enter the church and pay entrence fee call: 00386 31 432 231
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cerkev sv Trojice
19a HrastovljeThe small stone church of the Holy Trinity lies beneath the walls of Karst edge of Slovene Istria in a small village Hrastovlje. Its interesting exterior will already draw your attention and the interior hides the most extensive and best preserved medieval frescoes including the famous 'Dance of the Dead'.
To enter the church and pay entrence fee call: 00386 31 432 231