Novigrad

NOVIGRAD is a town and port at the western coast of Istria; 15 km southwest of Buje. Situated on a small limestone peninsula comprising the south-western top of the Bujstina region and, in the north, the entrance into the vast bay of the harbour of Mirna.

The position provides favourable shelter due to which the location was inhabited in the early times. The port is protected from all winds, except the westerly and north-westerly winds which raise waves.

A breakwater protects the port from the southwest, along which, on the inner side, smaller vessels with the draught of 3.5 m can anchor. The little port in the south-eastern part of the port can accommodate yachts only. The anchorage ground is 200 m northeast of the pier at a depth of 3 to 4 m. In 1983 a marina was constructed.

The forested surroundings and well-indented coast are a special attraction. Chief occupations are farming and fishing. Fishing grounds in the coastal zone of Novigrad expand from the harbour of Dalja in the north to the harbour of Mirna in the southeast.

The marina has 120 berths and 50 boat places on land. All berths have water and power supply. Facilities: Reception, exchange office, grocery shop, nautical gear shop, repair shop, 12 t crane. The gas station is in the marina and next to it there are hotels with all facilities.

The beginnings of tourist trade in Novigrad go as far back as the end of the 19th century, and in 1896 the hotels Al Lido and Al Porto were already open. Parallelly the public beach was constructed. Between the two world wars tourists were offered accommodation in the boarding-houses Citta di Trieste and Trovatore.

A sudden expansion of tourism in Novigrad began in the 1960s, when companies from Slovenia started to build numerous holiday centres on the Karpinjan peninsula, and then the company Plava Laguna from Porec made large-scale investments. Today Novigrad can provide accommodation for up to 10,000 visitors a day. Tourists can choose to stay in a hotel, pension, campsite, apartments or rooms. Sports and recreational facilities add to an eventful stay - the usual ground and water sports, terraces with live music, rich gastronomic offer, organized excursions, sightseeing.

The tourist offer of the coastal ambience includes the possibility of hunting in the Mirna valley, canoeing on the Mirna, etc. Traditional events: Jazz Festival Heineken Music Nights (in August); folk feast of St. Pelagus, the patron saint of the town, which lasts for three days (end of August).

Road connections are very good. Novigrad can be easily reached from all European directions. Distances: Trieste - 50 km, Milan - 440 km, Graz - 350 km, Vienna - 530 km, Munich - 550 km. The Airport is in Pula and the nearest international airport is in Trieste (90 km).