Boljunsko Polje brings together several distinct themes to help you plan your trip: the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the hamlet of Opatija, the endpoint of the Vela Draga educational trail, protected natural areas and a flying activity. These highlights can help you shape your stay around cultural heritage, hiking or scenery.
Church and Cultural Heritage
The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel stands in the hamlet of Opatija, which belongs to Boljunsko Polje. It was built in 1670 on the site of a former Benedictine abbey. Inside the church is an elaborately decorated wooden altar with a 1676 altarpiece, known as the “golden altar”. A statue of the Madonna and Child stands on the main altar.
The dates refer to different parts of the church: 1670 to its construction and 1676 to the altarpiece. Those interested in regional church history will therefore find both an older architectural reference and a furnishing with a more precise date.
Trail and Scenery
The Vela Draga educational trail starts at the Zrinščak Tunnel and ends in Boljunsko Polje. Its shorter, easier section leads to a viewpoint; the longer, more difficult one runs through the gorge. This offers two clearly different options: a shorter route with a viewpoint or a longer section through the canyon, described as more difficult.
Nearby, Vela Draga is protected as a nature reserve and geomorphological natural monument. Boljunsko Polje itself is considered an area of scenic importance. If you are planning your trip mainly around nature and scenery, you can distinguish the area’s designation from the protected-area status of its surroundings.
Protected Areas and Nature
The protected area HR2001215 Boljunsko polje is associated with six target species: Balkan barbel, Italian crested newt, yellow-bellied toad, lesser horseshoe bat, Bechstein’s bat and Primorska uklija.
A maternity roost of lesser horseshoe bats is located in the upper reaches of the Boljunčica stream. It is considered the largest of its kind on the Istrian Peninsula; future ecological surveys may change this assessment. The stream area is therefore another nature-related feature, distinct from the list of target species in the Boljunsko polje protected area.
Flying and Getting Around
Boljunsko Polje is the landing site for hang gliders and paragliders taking off from Vojak and Brgud. The associated Učka flying activity is marked as accessible to people with disabilities. Check the latest operating details before making specific plans.
The Vranja–Šušnjevica road runs along the edge of Boljunsko Polje; turnoffs lead towards Boljun and Paz. In nearby Boljun, the castle is preserved and considered worth seeing. From the castle, there are views across Boljunsko Polje and Učka. The road layout and the view from the castle thus add two different geographical points of reference to help you get your bearings.
Local Produce
The Buretić agricultural shop at Mandići 8, Boljunsko Polje, combines a livestock and dairy farming tradition spanning generations with the production of dairy products and organic cow’s cheese. If you are planning a visit, check in advance what visitor options are currently available.
Discover more destinations: Lupoglav, Brest pod Učkom, Boljun, Dolenja Vas, Semić
For the broader travel overview: Općina Lupoglav.
