Cere: Church, Folklore and Trail 651

Together, these connections lead from architectural history and folklore to a trail section with forest, pond and views of Učka. Which of these aspects matters for your stay depends on what you would like to focus on.

Church and architectural history in Cere

The Church of Saints Apostles Matthew and Matthias stands in Cere, 5.5 kilometres southeast of the municipal centre of Žminj. The single-nave building was erected in 1630 on the site of an earlier church. The porch was added in 1698. The church was consecrated in 1711; this date is recorded in an inscription carved into the altar.

The three dates mark different stages: the construction of the church, the installation of the porch and the consecration. The surroundings are also part of the picture: the landscaped hill with the church is home to many older trees, mostly cypresses. Architecture and a tree-covered landscape therefore come together at this site.

Trail 651: forest, varine and views

Trail 651 passes through the forest of Cere and by a pond and varine: large artificial pits from disused flint-sand mines. After leaving the forest, the trail reaches a clearing with views of the peaks of Učka. The route thus links different landscape impressions with a reminder of the area's former use.

For orientation along the trail, you can distinguish two sections: the pond and pits lie along the trail in the forest; afterwards, the clearing opens up views towards the peaks of Učka. This offers a concrete complement to the history of the church and the village, without the two topics needing to be combined into a single visit.

Folklore and Matejeva

The Folklore Society of Cere brings together musicians, dancers and singers. Founded in 1945, it is considered the oldest folklore society in Istria. Its members regularly perform at folklore shows in Istria, Croatia and abroad; the dates of individual performances may vary. Children learn Istrian dances and songs at the society, including the Ceranski balun. Both performances and passing dance and song on to children are therefore part of the society's activities as described here.

Matejeva is also associated with Cere: the event has been held at least eight times as a humanitarian event. At Matejeva, volunteers from the Parish of Saint Matthew prepare the food and drink; the offerings may vary from one edition to another. If you would like to include Matejeva in your travel plans, check the date of the relevant edition.

In the wider destination of Općina Žminj

In Žminj itself, the castle was probably built in the 15th century with a square ground plan. Next to the castle, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity was adorned with artworks by an unknown artist in 1471. Today, only a smaller part of the Žminj citadel is visible, including one of its four round towers, a wing of the fortification, an outer section of the fortifications and a well-preserved public water cistern dating from 1863.

The Calvary of Žminj was built of stone in 1728. It consists of three crosses enclosed by a wall and secured by an iron gate. It lies in the western part of Žminj, near the road between Pazin and Pula. Another way to discover the history and culture of Općina Žminj is the one-hour guided tour “Žminjska štuorija”. It covers the history and customs of the people of Žminj, their language, and the sacred and secular architectural heritage. The tour is seasonal; check the dates before travelling. It includes a tasting of specialities from local producers and a demonstration of how typical pasta such as Makaruni and Fuži is prepared.

Discover more destinations: Krizanci, Šivati, Gržini, Krculi, Vidulini, Debeljuhi, Žminj, Tomisici.

Return to the wider travel overview: Općina Žminj.