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Viškovo, Hrvatska

Welcome to Viškovo

According to an estimate by historians, Viškovo was created in the 18th century in the area of

Halubje, a name which originated from halupa – a shepherd’s hut. From the outset, it was referred to as Viški or Viškov hill, and then later it was renamed St. Matthew after a chapel of same name that was erected within the settlement. The first mention of this settlement was in an old Austrian map dating back to the period from 1763 to 1784.

Today, Viškovo is proudly presenting its heritage, which was passed down by composer and musicolo-gist Ivan Matenić Ronjgov, a productive author and the creator of Istrian scale, and is also embodied within the phenomenon of Halubje Bellemn, a per-manent protector of the carnival tradition.

After a relaxing experience of the natural surround-ings, treat your stomachs to the food served in the pleasing ambient settings of our top restaurants and authentic konobas. There you’ll certainly enjoy cui-sine from the home kitchen and also contemporary specialities.

The stage, with all of its natural surroundings and its setting under the open sky, is home to many events and programmes that honour the tradition, culinary history and customs of this area and attract more and more visitors.

Come and experience your own story through the tastes,

essences, flavours, culture and character of Viškovo.

The essence of Halubje can be found in its centu-ries old rainwater collection tanks and its factories

that tell the stories of the past. Its sculptures of dairy maids, diggers, hay makers and bellmen scattered through the parks remind us of their historic ways of living and the customs of people from this area.

Many prominent figures were born in Halubje such as Ivan Matetić Ronjgov, whose birthplace is home to an institution of the same name that upholds the iden-tity of Istrian and Littoral national music. Ivo Jadras is the author of “Kastavština,” an almanac regarding the cakavian dialect, which describes our area and our people in a unique and comprehensive manner. The brothers Matko and Ivan Baštijan were also famous, the former as a writer and the latter a painter.

Recall for a moment an impressive past. Enjoy its musicality and its tales of the present.

Cultural heritage

Halubje is home to The Bellmen of Halubje. Dur-ing the Pust carnival period, they don sheep

skins and furs and animal masks on their heads and tour the villages in a historic tradition announcing the coming of spring through loud bell ringing that brushes the winter aside.

Due to their uniqueness and attractive appearance, the walk of the bellmen has been entered into UN-SECO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Antonja comes, the bells sound all around.

Long live the pust!

The Bellmen Of Halubje

The “Plešivac” walkway and “Lončeva Griža” pedestrian trail invite you to experience relax-

ing walks through forested landscapes, relaxation and recreation, bike rides and pure enjoyment of the fresh outdoor air. The calcareous rocks on top of Lončareva Griža offer unhindered views of the un-spoiled gulf of Kvarner and the mountain ranges of Gorski Kotar, Kastac and Grobnik. Enjoy recreation and exercise in numerous sports centres and fields suited for all kinds of sporting activity.

Peaceful and quiet forest treks; enjoyment and recreation in the kingdom of nature.

In the Kingdom of

nature

The irresistible and delicious culinary mixture of sea-side and hillside regions comes at the highest rec-

ommendation for high quality gastronomic experiences. The aromas of the past fuse with domestic cooking, with wild game specialities and forest fruits, seafood dishes and fish. There are also specialities from contemporary gastronomy as well as sweet delicacies and desserts.

Culinary variations, imagination and hospitality

that we recommend with pleasure.

Irresistible blend of seaside and hillside

Today, we very much cherish our cultural tradition through various events during the whole year that are equally as enjoyed by Viškovo locals as they are by their guests.

We know well how to preserve old traditions and great recipes as well as how to stage the most excellent entertainment. Be sure to convince yourself to come. The fun never ends…

This event was named after the patron saint of the parish and set-tlement itself – St. Mat-thew. It is celebrated each year on the 21st of September. Vari-ous associations and groups from around the Viškovo Municipality, along with guest per-formers from around Croatia, present their programmes.

This event is held in October, marking the Walking Day and used to promote the walkways and trekking routes as well as rec-reation in the natural settings in and around the area of Viškovo Municipality.

This gathering of elementary school students and pupils is organised in work-shops (singing choirs, young composers, art workshops, publish-ing, literary, recital and photography work-shops) with the basic aim of developing the artistic creativity of the youth and preserva-tion of the native land. Works of art are cre-ated and consequently presented in a joint exhibition.

Pust Tuesday marks the end of Pust events in the area of Viškovo Municipality. The carnival entertain-ment program held on Breg includes the Bellmen tombola game awards drawing and the Pust is burned.

The Viškovo Municipali-ty Day is marked on the 15th of April. On that day in 1993, the first Municipality Council assembled for the first time. This is also the day when numerous sporting and cultural associations and enti-ties from the Viškovo Municipality present their programme and competitions.

“Majevica” is held on the first Sunday in April and is dedicated to tra-dition, the preservation of cultural and historic heritage, cuisine and the old customs of the Halubje area. In the past, the first Sunday of April was marked through dances by young boys and girls before they went out to perform seasonal work in the fields. Majevica is also connected to the tradition of flower gifting – lilacs (of Ma-jevica) to girls who the boys fancied and giving away “broskva” (cabbage) to those that offended them.

A three day festivity established in 1980 to mark the celebration of the 100th anniver-sary of the birth of I. M. Ronjgov. This encompasses concerts by choirs and vocal ensembles, which are held primarily in The Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral in Rijeka, as well as expert gatherings and congresses in the composer’s birth house in Rogonji.

Kanat pul Ronjgi An event uniting choirs from the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.

Mantinjada pul Ronjgi This is a traditional folk-lore exhibition organised to mark the “Day of St. Matthew.” The aim of this event is to encourage musical crafts performed on traditional instruments and to inspire local chanting and singing, since the authentic musical expression of the Istria and Primorje regions is one of the most archaic, dating back to Croatia’s past – sopnja sopela, roženica, miha and vidulice as well as dual kanat and “tanko and debelo” – and is gradually fading away. This exhibition also features a competition of young players and sing-ers under the age of 18.

Takes place in August in Kastav, Viškovo (Ronjgi), Matulji and Čavli, and is charac-terised by numerous blues workshops and concerts by famous blues musicians.

An event that is a mix-ture of entertainment, theater and poetry, organised in June on two stages at different locations in the Viškovo Municipality.

A sporting and cultural event where the people and inhabitants of Marčelji present them-selves and their village and customs.

Pust

Viškovo Municipality Day

Majevica - Fešta od mladega leta

Spring in Ronjgi MatetiÊ Days

Kastav Blues Festival

Walk along with me…

Šterne - The Source of Life MarËelji Days Matejna

Events

Antonja 17.01. At the start of the Pust season in the Viškovo Municipality, the municipal keys are handed over to the Carnival Master, and the Pust is hung up.

Halubje CarnivalSince 1999, the frame-work for the organisa-tion of this event has been a long standing tradition of the Bell-men of Halubje. The carnival takes place on the first Saturday after Antonia and is the fa-vourite event, gathering together around 4000 carnival participants and visitors.

Croatia

Croatia

Italy

Italy

Austria

Slovenia

Hungary

Zagreb

Rijeka

RijekaOpatija

Krk

CresRab

Lošinj

Viškovo

Viškovo

Split

Bos

nia-

Her

zego

vina

Primorje-Gorski Kotar County

How to get here

The Viškovo Municipality is located in the north-western part of the hinterland of Rijeka and as

such, it encompasses the eastern part of the Kastav county. The proximity to larger cities and towns such as Rijeka and Opatija as well as to Istria and Slovenia allow one to actively explore the region.

Set on a relatively small area amounting to 20-some-thing km², with a population of 16,000 people living in harmony and diversity, the region is grouped in and around 7 villages: Marinići, Viškovo, Marčelji, Saršoni, Mladenići, Sroki and Kosi.

Viškovo is extremely well connected to the Croatian motorway network. There is only a 4.5 km distance to the Rujevica interchange on the Rijeka bypass that connects the A6 with the A7 and A8.

N 45°22’40’’E 14°23’10’’

Photography: Aleksandra Jurdana, Boris Sušanj, Željko V. Šepić, Igor Popović, Damir Zamaklar, archive TZ Viškovo

TURISTIČKA ZAJEDNICAOPĆINE VIŠKOVO

Viškovo 31, 51216 ViškovoTel. 051 257 591Fax 051 257 591info@tz-viskovo.hrwww.tz-viskovo.hr