Pietrapelosa Buzet

Pietrapelosa, the “hairy stone”, is a medieval castle clinging to a near-vertical rock face in the valley of the Mirna river, near Buzet in the interior of Istria. Its name comes from the moss and vegetation that coat the cliff it stands on, and it is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the Istrian interior, with walls and a church apse still standing against the rock.

The castle was first recorded in the 11th century and was held through the centuries by a succession of Istrian noble families before being abandoned. Unlike the coastal forts, it was a true cliff stronghold, reached by a single difficult path, and built to be defended by a handful of people.

It is reached today by a marked footpath from the road near the village of Sošići. The climb is short but steep, and the path is rough, so wear real shoes. There are no facilities or fences at the top, so treat the edges with respect, the drop is genuine.

For photographers, the castle silhouetted on its rock is the classic image, best from the approach path in the morning. Combine it with the hill towns of the Mirna valley, Motovun, Oprtalj and Buzet, for a proper inland Istria day.

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