istarske toplice Archives

BIG ROCK AND THE CHURCH OF SV. STJEPAN NEAR OPRTALJ

ISTRIADUCTION March| All Year | Free Entrance Above the Istrian Spa rises on an 85 meter high rock that dominates the landscape of the northwestern part of Istria. It is called Gorostas, and below is the healing spring of St. Stephen who was used in ancient times. At the top of the giant rocks are the ruins of the old church of St. Stjepana, which was built on the foundations of old churches from the 16th century, which offer a beautiful view of the Mirna valley and the Motovun forest. The legend of the rock Gorostas The story is about a chaste and good girl who took her own life due to accusations of immoral decision-making. Namely, the count from Oprtalj, hunting in the area of Motovun forests, met the girl Marija while she was tending sheep and spinning wool, and completely obsessed with her beauty, he fell passionately in love and wasted no time. No, the startled and frightened girl was in love with the serf Jaka, her neighbor. The daughter of the Oprtljan pedestal was in love with that count, and because of jealous malice she spread rumors that Mary was

HALLELUJAH CAVES

ISTRIADUCTION All Year | No working time | Free Entrance Between Buzet and Motovun, lies a health spa Istarske toplice with massages, saunas and swimming pools, but the climber‘s gaze will drift to the rocks that surround it. There you can find spectacular climbing sector called Hallelujah Caves, equipped by living legend of world's climbing scene Gerhard Hoerhager and his friends. They also made a trail so everyone in good condition can climb to this magnificent place with overview on Mirna river's valley and picturesque Motovun. Author of the most difficult route is Klemen Bečan Bečko from Slovenia. Name of the route is Cavemen's Playground (difficulty grade 8c+). These are the directions to climb, from the trail author himself: "There is a trail going up what we made and we always parked on the end of the road in a old quarry. You drive in to the area from the thermae then go right to the end of the road and up an S curve on a gravel road (50m) in to the quarry and Park there. From there you can see a wire fence from a water reservoir, that's where the trail