Pazin

Pazin offers to its residents and visitors much more than the beautiful nature of this truly extraordinary compound of stone and greenery. Apart from plenty of historical and cultural sights, exceptional traditional cuisine, excellent wine and homemade grappa, Pazin and its surroundings offer varied places for an active holiday. Due to the peculiarities of the natural resources, sports and adventure lovers will find the right source of interesting activities: unrepeated conditions of the terrain for mountain and recreation biking, a large number of walking and hiking trails for beginners and experienced climbers who can see beautiful natural phenomena and almost forgotten old churches and palaces. Here, there are famous locations for climbing, impressive speleological trips, rich fishing in fresh waters while this whole attractive territory can be visited riding some of the race but gentle horses, getting to closely know the treasures of the former county of Pazin.

History

It was first mentioned in 983 as Pazin castle (castrum Pisinum) although Pazin as a settlement existed long before this first document. At that time, there was a ditch around the castle and it could be reached through five doors with movable bridges. Behind the walls of the castle, a small town was developed. Since then, during the upcoming centuries, the old Pazin underwent a turbulent history. In the 12th century, Pazin became the center of Pazin County called Grafschaf Mitterburg, Contea di Pisino or Pazin County and in 1374, it finally fell under the control of the Austrian Habsburg family. In the 15th century, the city began to develop outside of the walls of the citadel. Pazin was the scene of many violent attacks, the strongest being towards Venetian conquests.

The Venetian army was attacking Pazin repeatedly, but managed only once to conquer it in 1508 when the entire County fell under Venetian government in less than five days. The castle was conquered and plundered by the attackers who first cannoned it from the surrounding hills. The Habsburgs were able to regain the lost areas in the spring of next year and in 1510, after repeated Venetian attacks, they successfully defended the city. Along with armed conflicts, there were the plague, threat of Turkish invasions as well as the large fire in 1584 when 180 houses burned. In 1615, another Austrian-Venetian war broke out, destroying the old Pazin in 1616. This war in Istria lasted up to 1619.

In 1797, Venice collapsed and fell under Napoleon government, whose army soon took over the whole Istria.The French remained in Istria until 1813. With the abolition of the French government, Istria fell under Austrian rule, while in 1825, Istria became a single administrative unit called the Istrian District with its headquarters in Pazin. In the second half of the 19th century, Pazin became one of the centers of Croatian cultural revival, and reading rooms, the Croatian gymnasium and the Croatian people’s home were founded. All these institutions were abolished in 1918, when, after World War I,  Pazin was occupied and then annexed by Italy. After its capitulation in 1943, Pazin was occupied by partisans who, in September of that same year, annexed it to the country of Croatia. In 1991, following the declaration of Croatian independence, Pazin became the administrative center of the Istrian County.

Recommendation

Parish Church of St. Nicholas – the original form was built in 1266, rebuilt during the 15th and 18th century. The mesh Gothic vault of the presbytery with the cycle of frescoes painted in 1460 is particularly interesting. The large church organ is the work of Gaetano Callida, originally from 1780. Next to the church, a high tower was erected in 1705.

Franciscan Monastery – Monastery and Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dating back to the mid 15th century. During the past centuries Pazin’s Franciscans had a pharmacy and hospital in the monastery.

Pazin old gymnasium – The crown of a long struggle for the right to education in their mother tongue, in 1899 the big Imperial and Royal state high school was opened in Pazin, the first high school institution of the Istrian Croats.

Diocesan seminary – The building was built by the Students Society for Istria before World War I, with the intention of it being the pupil’s home.

Pazin stream – Pazinčica – the Pazin stream or Pazinčica is formed from three small streams: Lipa, Rakov potok and Borutski potok, and on the north side it flows into the valley of Pazin. Here it comes to a karst terrain, and on its course to Pazin it forms larger or smaller number of falls, small waterfalls and ponds, some of which are suitable for summer swimming. In the past, the power of the water was used to run a number of mills, whose remains can still be seen along the stream.

Pazin Cave – A hundred feet below the level of the town, the underwaters create two underground lakes connected by a siphon. During periods of abundant rain, the mouth of the abyss cannot swallow all water, and in the canyon a lake forms, up to 2 km long.

Beram – Beram is known all over the world for its frescoes, which can be seen in the church of Sv. Martin and the Church of Sv. Mary on Škriljinah.

Events

Eco march to Učka – three day hike from Pazin to Učka 01.05.-03.05.
Journey to the center of the Earth – INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF  PUBLISHERS -15.05.-16.05.
Dance Encounters of Istria – Memorial Centre, Istrian dance groups’ performance 28.05.
The day of the City of Pazin – Sports competitions, games, concerts, exhibitions, promotions, entertainment 02.06.
Tradinetno – Pazin castle, the festival of traditional and folk music 05.06.
Jules Verne Days – literary event 27.06.
Rim – a pilgrim’s feast, the town feast 02.08.