Momjan

Momjan occupies the hills of north-western Istria, roughly 18 kilometres from the Umag and Novigrad coast, and is divided into Upper and Lower Momjan. Above the Dragonja valley, at an elevation of about 280 metres, stand the ruins of Rota Castle, begun in the first half of the 13th century. The Rota family acquired the stronghold in 1548, converted it into a residence and continued using it until 1835. In the village centre, the House of Castles interprets Istria’s fortifications through multimedia exhibits, including a virtual tour of Momjan Castle. The village’s defining wine is Muškat momjanski, protected by an EU designation of origin since 2021. Five local families—Brajko, Kozlović, Markežić, Prelac and Sinković—cultivate it within the small area between Oskoruš and Merišće. Kozlović’s winery traces continuous production in the Vale valley to 1904, while Prelac combines its cellar with a family tavern and tasting room. St Martin’s Church and its 22-metre bell tower mark the historic core of Lower Momjan. Together, the castle, vineyards and proximity to the Croatian-Slovenian border make Momjan both a medieval hill settlement and a working wine destination.

Momjan is a hilly settlement in the Buje area, divided into Upper and Lower Momjan, with its core roughly 270 metres above sea level. Its slopes descend towards the Dragonja valley and the Poganja stream, while vineyards on white and grey soils surround the smaller hamlets. First recorded in 1035, the village now combines a medieval castle landscape with active family wineries. Muškat momjanski is more than a local speciality: since 2021 it has carried an EU protected designation of origin and may be produced only within a narrowly defined part of the Momjan area.