Rakotule can be explored through two distinct themes: sacred architecture with dated details and frescoes, and the Parenzana, a trail along a restored historic railway line. For your stay, you can focus on churches or plan to walk a section of the former Poreč–Trieste railway. Rakotule is a cluster of smaller villages and hamlets. As you arrive along the main road, you will see the stone bell tower of the parish church.
Churches from Different Periods
At the parish church of St. Roch, a stone niche decorated with reliefs is dated 1560; a Romanesque apse arch is also visible. The church itself is thought to date from around the time the parish of Rakotule was first mentioned, in 1580. This places a dated detail alongside a tentative dating of the church building. A fresco fragment from the original parish church was discovered in 1958 and is preserved at the Diocesan Museum in PoreÄŤ.
At the church of St. Nicholas, the focus is on a different period: it was built in the 14th century and extended at the front in the 15th century. The surviving frescoes depict Christ in Glory (Maiestas Domini) and episodes from the legends of St. Nicholas. The building’s history and the subjects of its images offer two distinct starting points for exploring the church interior.
The church of St. Magdalene and St. Blaise stands in Pahovići (Konobari), in the Rakotule area. It dates from the 12th century and was remodeled several times later. The Church of St. Magdalene in the hamlet of Konobari also has a bell dating from 1607. Together, the three churches reveal different building phases and artistic themes, rather than focusing on a single period.
Walk a Section of the Parenzana
The Parenzana is a recreational trail along a restored section of the historic railway that connected Poreč and Trieste. Near the Sv. Vital or Veli Most viaduct, the trail crosses the Rakotule–Špinovci road. You can park your car here and walk about 2.5 kilometres towards Vižinada. If you plan to walk this section, check local parking arrangements and trail conditions before setting out.
The Parenzana offers a different focus from the churches: here, a section of the historic railway line is paired with a specific walking route. The approximate distance of 2.5 kilometres refers to the route towards ViĹľinada; it is not a time estimate. This makes it easy to distinguish between planning a visit focused on culture and taking a walk along the route.
Local Scenery and Regional Nature
Motovun is visible from several places in Rakotule. Beekeeping offers another perspective on the village: OPG Anton Kramar continues a beekeeping tradition in Rakotule that is more than 100 years old. Views of the landscape and a craft tradition add two different perspectives on the area to its church and railway history.
In the wider destination of Općina Karojba, the botanical natural monument “Ćetiri Pinije u Karojbi” has been protected since 1966. The four pine trees are located on the road between Karojba and Pazin. The oldest trunk measures 3.30 metres in circumference and is 14.5 metres tall. Also in Općina Karojba is Dolac Sopajac, between Karojba and Vižinada, near Škropeti. It is considered the largest and deepest doline in Istria; access to its floor is difficult because of the terrain and vegetation. These natural sites add to the regional picture, while churches, the Parenzana and beekeeping are the specific themes of Rakotule.
Discover more destinations: Karojba, Novaki Motovunski, Ĺ kropeti
View the wider travel guide: Općina Karojba.
