Motovun

Motovun is a fortified hill town above the Mirna valley and one of the most recognisable views in inland Istria. Its historic core is enclosed by walls overlooking vineyards, Motovun Forest and the surrounding hills. The main square brings together St Stephen's Church, the bell tower and palaces from different periods, while narrow streets follow the slope of the hilltop. Motovun Forest in the valley is protected as a special forest vegetation reserve and is well known as a truffle habitat. White truffles from the Mirna valley are an important part of local gastronomy, especially in autumn. Vehicle access to the upper core is restricted, so visits normally continue on foot from parking areas lower on the slope. The Parenzana route crosses the wider Motovun area and provides a cycling perspective on the valley. Grožnjan, Oprtalj and Buzet can be combined with Motovun on the same trip. The town is particularly pleasant early in the morning or later in the afternoon, when the walls, views and compact centre can be experienced with fewer daytime crowds.

Motovun is more than a medieval silhouette on a hill: it anchors a landscape linking the Mirna Valley, Motovun Forest, Teran wine and truffles. Its core centres on Andrea Antico Square, a 13th-century Romanesque-Gothic bell tower and the 17th-century Church of St Stephen, while Gradiziol descends outside the walls toward the lower settlement. The Parenzana, a converted narrow-gauge railway route, crosses the valley below and offers a cyclist’s view of the hill town. Truffle shops and small galleries along Gradiziol connect Motovun’s historic fabric with its living food culture and contemporary crafts.