There is an access road to the A7 near Rupa. This provides a specific landmark for travelling via the motorway; check current traffic conditions before setting off. If you are looking for accommodation in Rupa, you can consider the village and its own offerings, and also include experiences in the wider destination of Općina Matulji in your plans.

Food and Traditions in Rupa

Carpe Diem in Rupa serves local specialities and is particularly known for grilled meat dishes. Check the current opening hours before visiting. This lets you plan your restaurant visit without assuming fixed hours.

A traditional folk festival is also part of the village’s character: Dani Rupe is a folk festival in Rupa. The festival marked 50 years of the spit-roasted ox tradition, which dates back to 1976. This gives Rupa a specific culinary connection as well as a local custom. Dani Rupe and what Carpe Diem offers are two distinct occasions to consider, depending on your interests.

Culture and Visitor Planning in Općina Matulji

In the wider destination of Općina Matulji, the Memorijalni centar Lipa pamti offers a historical perspective on the Liburnian Karst. The centre opened in April 2015 at the site of an older memorial museum that operated in Lipa from 1968 to 1989. Its exhibition interprets the history of the Second World War in the Liburnian Karst. In addition to Lipa, the places named in this region include Pasjak, Rupa, Šapjane and Brdce.

The Memorijalni centar Lipa pamti is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursdays and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Check the opening hours again before your visit.

Suburban bus route 30 runs from Delta in central Rijeka to Lipa; Lipa is the terminus. From there, the Memorijalni centar Lipa pamti is reached via a slightly uphill walk of about 100 metres. Parking is permitted close to the centre. Since timetables and current visitor information are important for planning, it is advisable to check them in advance.

Rides, Carnival and Regional Routes

The interpretive Matuljicious Bike & Taste rides introduce local natural, historical and cultural features as a recreational and educational experience. Licensed guides lead the rides, technical support is included, and interpretation at selected points is provided in four languages. The programme structure may change from one season to the next.

In the wider destination of Općina Matulji, Carnival takes place in January and February; its central event is the Zvončari Festival. The Zvončari are traditional Carnival figures whose origins date back more than 500 years. The Zvončarska Smotra traditionally takes place in Matulji on Carnival Saturday. At the 29th edition, 14 Zvončari groups paraded through Matulji. Specific programme dates may vary.

For active exploration, the Matulji area has a network of 150 kilometres of cycling and hiking trails, including ten circular routes. Two routes differ considerably in length and elevation gain: the Bike and Hike route 119, “Od Golopusta do sup Šije”, is 15 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 240 metres and starts in the centre of Vele Mune. The circular route 113, “Mune i Žejane”, starts in Jušići, is 37.5 kilometres long, has a total elevation gain of 590 metres and runs mostly on asphalt. Check current trail conditions and waymarking before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Veli Brgud, Jurdani, Rukavac, Mučići, Pasjak, Zvoneće, Male Mune, Šapjane.

For the wider travel overview: Općina Matulji.