Kirmenjak: Trail 162, Dinosaur Footprints and Limestone

Kirmenjak offers several points to consider when choosing your destination: the official Trail 162 Faragude Kontija, dinosaur fossils and limestone with its own building history. These themes range from cycling and geological context to the stone’s use in historic buildings. If you’re planning a hotel stay, you can consider which of these interests you’d like to shape your trip.

Cycling on Trail 162

Trail 162 Faragude Kontija is an official trail of moderate difficulty. Its route passes through restricted areas of the still-active Kirmenjak quarry. Follow the trail and safety rules there. The difficulty rating and the route through the active quarry are two practical points to consider when planning your ride.

At St. Becic Hill, the trail reaches the bike park. There you’ll find XC routes associated with the Poreč Cycling Club; riders can also do repeated laps around the hill. XC stands for cross-country and refers to the routes at the bike park, while the repeated laps are another option. MTB Trail Centar San Servolo is listed as a point of interest connected with Trail 162.

Dinosaur Footprints and Their Geological Context

The national decision published in April 2021 protects dinosaur fossils and their sites; Kirmenjak is among the protected locations. Kirmenjak I is designated as a protected dinosaur fossil site in western Istria; 2001 is recorded as the year of its discovery. For the dinosaur footprints at Kirmenjak, the decision lists 971 footprints, 161 of which form a total of 23 trackways.

The footprints are preserved in shallow-marine sediments from a coastal environment. Shallow-marine sediments are deposits from a shallow marine area; this term adds geological context to the dinosaur site.

Kirmenjak Stone in Nature and Building History

At several sites north and south of the settlement, light to light-brown Jurassic limestone is extracted from the quarry associated with Kirmenjak. Its distinctive stylolithic texture and resistance to sea salt define the material. Its color and texture describe the stone’s appearance, while its durability is a technical property.

Kirmenjak stone was used in the construction of the Ponte di Rialto and the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Poreč is also associated with the material: stone from the Kirmenjak quarry was used in the 6th century to build the early Christian Euphrasian Basilica. For architecture enthusiasts, these three buildings offer a tangible comparison between the local limestone and its use in two cities.

Putting Kirmenjak into Perspective as a Destination

When choosing a destination, different questions may take priority: Would you like to plan a trip around the trail and bike park, or are you more interested in the fossil site and the stone’s building history? If you’re looking for hotels in Kirmenjak, you can use these interests to guide your travel planning.

Discover more destinations: Jehnići, Kadumi, Dracevac, Veleniki, Porec, Jasenovica, Bonaci, Montižana

For the broader travel overview: Općina Poreč.