Translating as “a town in the hills”, Motovun is a historic village in rural Istria. Both the Celts and Illyrians established fortresses here before it was founded as a medieval town beside ancient Castellieri. Sprawling nearby is the Motovun Forest, which is famed for its black and white truffles.
On the edge of Motovun is the Parenzana Tunnel, which is located beneath a 123-kilometre-long railway line that once connected Porec and Trieste. Extending 220 metres, it has been transformed into a walking and cycling route, with sensor lights that automatically illuminate the tunnel.
At one end is the Roxanich Winery, which specialises in long-aged, rare and organic wines. Join a guided tasting to learn about the wine-making processes of Mladen Rožanić before dining at the gourmet restaurant. At the other end of the tunnel is Miro Truffles, which sells truffle products from the surrounding forest.
Getting there
Motovun is just over an hour’s drive from Rijeka and 1.5 hours from Rijeka International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses connect to Motovun and the village is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.