Brkač brings together two travel interests: cycling routes with different characteristics and a local history whose traces span from antiquity to the present-day church. The 603 Stara Ferata and the 601 Veli Jože offer different points of reference when choosing a route. Those more interested in history will find several specific dates and historical points of connection.
Cycling routes: Parenzana, forest path, and regional route
The official cycling route 603 Stara Ferata follows the Parenzana towards Brkač and reaches the main road near the village. The 601 Veli Jože turns towards Brkač and joins a forest path before the village. Route 601 also runs along an embankment. The Veli Jože turns towards Brkač, joins a forest path before the village, and runs along an embankment; the Stara Ferata follows the Parenzana to the main road near Brkač. The two routes can thus be compared by their named route features.
Further along its regional route, the Veli Jože passes through the Motovun area and climbs towards Brkač after sections near the Mirna River and the villages of Valenti and Sveti Bartol. The route also passes through Motovun Forest, a habitat for truffles. The Parenzana offers a different regional point of reference: below Motovun, it follows the route of the former narrow-gauge railway that connected Trieste and Poreč. Thus, the Veli Jože is distinguished by its route through the Motovun area, while the Parenzana is associated with the former railway line.
From antiquity to the Church of St. Pancras
Brkač was inhabited as early as antiquity. An ancient villa rustica stood in the area of today’s village and produced construction ceramics, roof tiles, and bricks. These building materials provide a specific link between early settlement and production. Brkač is first mentioned in historical sources in the 12th century. The first written mention therefore dates to after the ancient settlement; it marks the earliest recorded written reference, not the beginning of settlement.
The present-day Church of St. Pancras was built in 1942 on the site of an older church. A Glagolitic inscription dating from 1602 is preserved inside. The two dates refer to different things: 1602 dates the inscription, while 1942 dates the construction of the present-day church. Together with the first mention in the 12th century, these provide further distinct points of reference in time alongside the ancient settlement.
When looking for accommodation in Brkač, you can first decide whether the cycling routes or the local history will play a bigger part in your stay. The route features and historical points of reference described above offer different ways to shape your visit.
Discover more destinations: Kaldir, Motovun.
Go to the regional travel overview: Općina Motovun.
