Municipality of Novigrad: Coast, Culture and History

In the Municipality of Novigrad, pebble beaches on the Karinsko more meet historic churches, the Fortica fortress and local culture. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, first consider what you want your trip to focus on: the coast, history, cycling, or culinary and cultural experiences.

Fortica and the History of Novigrad

The Fortica fortress, also known as Castrum Novum, stands on a hill above Novigrad and is listed in Croatia’s Register of Cultural Goods. One notable historical event is associated with it: in 1386, Maria, Queen of Hungary and Croatia, and her mother, Elisabeth, were held captive in the fortress. Its position above the town and this story give Fortica a special place among the municipality’s historic sights.

Churches Between Novigrad and Pridraga

The oldest church in Novigrad is Sv. Kate. Croatian Ban Butko Kuriaković, a magnate from Lika-Krbava, commissioned it in 1393. At the entrance to the harbour stands Sv. Nikola, a church dating from 1800. The two buildings offer distinct historical points of reference in the townscape.

In an open field beside the road from Novigrad to Pridraga lies the early Christian church of Sv. Martina. It was built in the 5th or 6th century as a single-nave church with three apses. Nearby, in 1940, the pre-Romanesque, six-lobed church of Sv. Mihovila was discovered; it dates from the 9th century. In Pridraga, the church of Gospe od Ružarija was built near the rectory on the site of an earlier chapel: the chapel of Sv. Marka dated from 1882.

Pebble Beaches and Activities on the Water

Pridraga has natural pebble beaches on the Karinsko more. A narrow channel connects this body of water with the Novigradsko more. Vrulja Beach in Pridraga is a natural pebble beach with clear water, considered a place for swimming and family recreation. As a result, the coast offers a different focus from the historic buildings in the settlements along the shore.

At Novigrad Beach, visitors can explore marine fauna along an underwater trail. Kayaking, pedal boating, rowing and windsurfing are among the other activities mentioned there. So, activities on the water range from exploring beneath the surface to different ways of getting around on the water.

Cycling Routes of Different Lengths

A marked, 30-kilometre cycling route runs along gravel and asphalt roads and offers views of Novigrad and the surrounding area. A different distance was covered by the traditional 12-kilometre cycling tour in 2026: it started on the Posedarje waterfront and finished in front of the municipal building in Novigrad. A total of 128 cyclists of all ages took part. The two distances therefore refer to different rides; the 12-kilometre ride should be understood as a specific event from 2026.

Food, Language and Local Tradition

The Zrmanja flows into the Novigradsko more, creating conditions for mussel farming; mussels are considered a local delicacy there. At the second Brudetijada in Pridraga in August 2026, seven culinary teams prepared brudet and two teams prepared black risotto. Novigradska ribarska noć is a traditional fishing festival celebrating Novigrad’s fishing heritage.

Folklore also connects food with cultural heritage. The festival “Dalmacijo, Pridragu ti ljubim” showcases traditional dances, music, language and customs. A communal dinner features Novigrad mussels and traditional hunting stew, prepared according to recipes from the oldest members of KUD Luzarica. The Novigrad dialect has been included in the Register of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Croatia.

The klapa group “Težaci” is associated with Paljuv; klapa singing is considered an expression of local culture there. At the beginning of the 19th century, Paljuv was settled by people who moved there from Novigrad. The first inhabitants were exclusively livestock breeders. Alongside the coast and its buildings, language, singing and settlement history are therefore among the varied facets of a stay.

On 7 and 8 August 2026, the Nature i Kulture festival was held in Novigrad for the eighth time. It introduced protected areas and Natura 2000 sites, particularly the Novigradsko and Karinsko more and the surrounding areas, through cultural and traditional heritage.

Discover more destinations: Pridraga, Novigrad, Antenal, Bužinija, Municipality of Gračac, Municipality of Škabrnja, Municipality of Jasenice, Municipality of Zadar.

For the broader travel overview: Zadar County.