Zabrežani: Landscape and Local History

Zabrežani combines opportunities for relaxation in the landscape with local historical and cultural connections. The local landscape is flat and wooded; local history includes a chapel church, a memorial monument, and a traditional gathering of accordion players. For travel planning, this offers distinct options: time outdoors, historical remembrance, and a cultural event to attend.

Landscape and walks

The area of Zabrežani extends along a plateau on the Pazin–Pula road, after the turnoff to Sveti Petar u Šumi. The landscape is flat and wooded, and walks offer a way to relax here. The plateau and road reference describe the geographical setting, while walks indicate how the landscape can be enjoyed for recreation. If you are also planning your stay around time outdoors, this is a concrete point of reference. The geographical location and the walks answer different questions and together provide a more precise picture of the area’s character.

The chapel and the place name

The chapel church of Sv. Ivana i Pavla was built in 1635 and is located near Zgrablići, which almost adjoins Zabrežani. In local usage, the entire area is commonly named after the church of Sveti Ivan i Pavao. The name thus extends beyond the individual church and also serves as the local name for the area. The construction date places it in the 17th century. In this way, a specific historical reference is linked to a name used for the whole area.

Remembrance in the area

In Dolac, below the church of Sv. Ivana i Pavla in Zabrežani, a memorial commemorates 62 victims from seven villages in the Pazin Field who died during the 1943 Rommel Offensive. The memorial monument in Zabrežani also bears the names of eight local residents who died on other fronts. The details have different points of focus: the memorial commemorates victims from several villages and a specific offensive, while the monument names local residents who died on other fronts. In this way, remembrance connects a regional historical context with the fates of people from the area.

Armonike u Polju

The traditional gathering of accordion players, “Armonike u Polju,” takes place in Zabrežani. The event has been held continuously and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. The anniversary gives the event’s history a specific point of reference in time. If you would like to plan a trip around the gathering, check the event dates before making plans. This lets you plan your travel dates around a cultural event.

Things to consider for your trip

When deciding whether to visit Zabrežani, you can distinguish between these themes by their purpose. Walks connect your stay with the landscape; the chapel and memorial monument offer a connection to local and commemorative history. The accordion gathering, by contrast, is a specific event, and its date may be important when choosing your travel dates. You can consider whether you would prefer to plan your visit around outdoor recreation, local history, or a cultural event.

Discover other destinations: Pazin, Brajkovići, Ježenj, Grdoselo, Zamask, Beram, Zarecje, Trviž

For the broader travel overview: Općina Pazin.