The official cycling route 443, Stazom Svetog Martin / Baronova staza, runs from Sveti Martin through Ružići, Županići, Stepančići, Santalezi, Cere, Markoci, Golji, Snašići, Turini and Paradiž, and finally back to Sveti Martin. Županići is therefore a named place along a route that connects several settlements. The area around the route is known as a Terra Rossa landscape with vineyards, and can be explored by bike through villages and hamlets.
Cycling routes with specific route details
The 27-kilometre Saint Martin / Baron’s cycling trail is rated as a moderate route. It runs from Sveti Martin through Ružići towards Županići. The ride is estimated to take around 3 hours and 30 minutes; 20 kilometres are on asphalt and 7 kilometres on macadam. The distance, surface and estimated riding time give you a practical basis for planning your own tour.
Cycling routes are also a key feature of the wider destination of Općina Sveta Nedelja. Three routes connect its natural and cultural heritage with local gastronomy and wine. Route 441, “Staza Plemića i Kalića”, is a circular route from Nedešćina through Jurazini, Eržišće, Blaškovići, Radovići, Šumber and Grašići, and back to Nedešćina. Route 442, “Tragom rudara i kamenih skulptura”, is a circular route from Nedešćina through Štrmac, Vinež, Tomažići, Cere and Santalezi, and back. The routes differ in the places they pass through; check current route conditions before setting out.
Nature along the way and near Županići
The Reški kol pond near Županići can be visited from the cycling route. It provides a habitat for fish and frogs; the plants around it attract butterflies. Another cycling route, the 403 Liburnia, leads to Liburna, a nature reserve for native animals. Sociable donkeys can be seen there. The cycling tours described here therefore feature different aspects of nature: pond life and butterflies at Reški kol, and the nature reserve and its animals at Liburna.
Walking trails in Općina Sveta Nedelja
The wider destination offers further options for walks. The Šumberske Dine trail is 7.3 kilometres long and passes through a distinctive area with marl dunes. It connects natural phenomena, local family businesses and unspoilt nature. Check current trail conditions before hiking. The Kalića i Bukalete walking trail combines Istria’s wine-growing landscape and vineyards with several ponds that are important for freshwater habitats, as well as traditional Istrian cuisine.
The Boksitna Pruga walking trail follows a former bauxite railway from the mining era in Labinština. A visit to the animals at Farma Drijade is available along the way; advance booking is required. This condition is particularly important if you want to combine the walk with a visit to the farm: do not plan a visit without making arrangements in advance.
Local cuisine and a connection to the history of technology
In Sveti Martin, Agroturism Pineta offers dishes and products from the Radićanin family farm, including honey, homemade juices and jams. The Reska lokva pond is also in this locality, about two kilometres from the Chapel of Saint Catherine near Agroturism Pineta. The names Reški kol and Reska lokva refer to different landmarks in the landscapes described here.
A special connection to Županići leads into the history of technology: Josip Belušić was born on 12 March 1847 in Županići near Labin. He invented the velocimeter, an electrical device that recorded vehicle speed, driving and stopping time, passenger numbers, and passengers’ boarding and alighting times. The place is therefore associated not only with cycling and walking trails, but also with the history of a specific technical device.
Dubrova Sculpture Park
Outside Županići, in the wider destination of Općina Sveta Nedelja, Park skulptura Dubrova is located next to Stancija Dubrova, which features the Baroque Franković-Lazzarini Palace. The park contains 68 sculptures, the Dolac amphitheatre and an information centre. Bijela cesta, the White Road, is a walking trail with 16 sections, each 25 metres long. Since 1970, the International Sculpture Symposium has added to the collection of sculptures made from Istrian stone year after year; the programme may vary from one symposium to another.
The park is open to visitors year-round, 24 hours a day, and admission is free. Guided tours for groups are available by prior arrangement. Check the visiting arrangements before your trip, especially if you are planning a group tour.
Discover more destinations: Vrecari, Markoci, Mali Golji, Jurazini, Nedescina, Mali Turini, Paradiz, Strmac.
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Općina Sveta Nedelja.
