Rakovci connects the life story of Joakim Rakovac with places of remembrance and a distinctive stage of an Istrian cycling route. The Joakim Rakovac Memorial House is at the heart of local history; nearby Rušnjak Hill recalls another event from 1943. Those interested in cultural history will find tangible points of connection here—and can also see the village as one part of a longer cycling tour.

Joakim Rakovac and the Memorial House

Joakim Rakovac was born in Rakovci in 1914. In 1943, he founded a local liberation committee there, whose influence spread from Rakovci across Istria. The Memorial House commemorates him as a national hero in connection with the years 1914 to 1945. The house is also protected as an example of Istrian rural architecture.

The exhibition brings together biographical and regional themes: the ground floor focuses on Rakovac’s life and work, while the first floor is devoted to the National Liberation Struggle in the Poreština region. In the courtyard, there is a monument bearing 705 names. Typical Istrian village homes, such as the one where Rakovac was born and grew up, are also part of the presentation.

The permanent exhibition includes weapons and other objects from the National Liberation Movement in Istria, as well as a small ethnographic collection from the Poreč area. The permanent exhibition is currently closed (as of August 16, 2026). Check current access to the Memorial House before your trip. The renovated house was officially opened in July 2024.

Rušnjak and the Region’s History

Nearby Rušnjak Hill is located above Rakovci, near Baderna. On July 29, 1943, the first large, organized group of volunteers and anti-fascists from this part of Istria set out from there to join the Partisan movement. The site is therefore a different historical point of reference from the Memorial House: Rakovci is Rakovac’s birthplace and the place where the committee was founded, while Rušnjak is the starting point of the departure.

At the end of 1978, Rušnjak was developed as a Partisan recreational area with a memorial house. The site was designed by Dušan Džamonja and Eliđa Legović. This historical development can be distinguished chronologically from the events of 1943, without equating the two places or their respective histories.

Rakovci on the Cycling Route

The 58-kilometer Epic Rides Istra / Poreč route runs from Poreč via Lim Bay to Sveti Lovreč. Rakovci is reached after 38 kilometers and, at 268 meters above sea level, is the route’s highest point. The final 20 kilometers then run mostly downhill toward Poreč. These details clearly place Rakovci on the route: the village comes after the tour’s highest point and before its final stretch toward Poreč.

Allow about 15 to 20 minutes for a walk around Rakovci and its surroundings. This short timeframe is for getting your bearings in the village; the cycling route, at 58 kilometers in total, is a much larger part of a trip. This lets you decide between a short visit to the village and a tour through several Istrian stops on different scales.

Local Cuisine in Rakovci

Restoran Idila Rakovci is located at Rakovci 4. It serves homemade and local dishes, both for dining in and takeaway. Both options are available for a meal in the village. Check current details about the offerings and service before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Frata, Kirmenjak, Veleniki, Jehnići, Baderna, Montižana, Porec, Dracevac.

For the broader travel overview: Općina Poreč.