All cultural sights

Important national parks, botanic gardens, natural heritage

Numerous Istrian natural beauties are protected under various categories, from national and nature parks to special reserves.

The Istrian peninsula has managed to preserve authentic natural beauties. The protection of such natural wealth, inherited from numerous past generations is the unwritten code for current generations. Apart from the national park, there are other various protected categories in Istria such as the nature park, special botanical and forest vegetation or marine reserves.

Brijuni consist of 14 islands and islets, among which the biggest is Veliki Brijun. Except its beautiful nature, the archipelago has numerous dinosaur footprints. It was declared the national park as well.

National Park Brijuni

More than 270 species of birds live in the ornithological reserve in Sečovlje. By connecting the sea and swamp, a separate ecosystem has emerged. Thus, in 2001, it was declared the nature park.

The Ornithological Reserve in Sečovlje

The Lim Bay is a sunken karst valley, almost 13 km long. It stretches further into the interior, all the way to Pazin creating the Lim Cove.

Lim Bay

The Palud Bay is the only ornithological park in Istria with over 200 bird species. By connecting the sea and the swamp, it got inhabited by various animals such as fish who prefer brackish water.

Palud

Cape Kamenjak is a peninsula on the south of Istria with a well indented coast and specific flora and fauna. Among 600 various plants, orchids stand out. They have been protected by law.

Cape Kamenjak

Istria's Thermal Spa has several thermal springs, the largest of which is the St. Stephen's. Water is rich in minerals, which made the spa well known as early as the Roman period.

Istria's Thermal Spa

The Istria's highest peak, Vojak, is located on Učka. The nature park includes not only Učka but also a part of Ćićarija. The sea vicinity conditioned the development of the specific climate and rich fauna and flora.

Nature Park Učka

The forest of Motovun is the last preserved lowland Mediterranean autochthonous forest of common oak, narrow-leafed ash and elm. There are only three such forests preserved on the Mediterranean.

The Forest of Motovun