Bakar is an old town, full of historical stories and buildings preserved from ancient times. Today it has the status of a town, and it is also a port in Croatia. It lies in the Bakar Bay and is part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
The town of Bakar is located on the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea and consists of 9 settlements. The settlements that make up this town are: Bakar, Hreljin, Krasica, Kukuljanovo, Plosna, Ponikve, Praputnjak, Škrljevo and Zlobin.
The town of Bakar lies on a hill in the northwestern part of the bay of the same name. It is surrounded by hills rising up to 300 m above the sea. This whole area is rich in springs of drinking water, and the rocks above the town have the characteristic karst surface we are used to seeing along the Adriatic coast. The steep hillsides are covered with broadleaf trees and low vegetation.
We should mention right away that the old part of the town, its historical core, was declared a monument of culture as early as 1968.
As it developed, the old part of the town was divided into two parts:
The older upper part, “Grad” – where a settlement surrounded by town walls developed
The lower part, consisting of the areas “Zagrad” and “Primorje”
Just as befits a town with this location and the climate it enjoys, its architecture resembles similar Mediterranean towns, with winding, narrow, steep and stepped streets.
Bakar is only 15 kilometres away from Rijeka, and it is connected to the other parts of our coast by the Adriatic Highway. The economy of our small town was until recently based on tuna fishing, and we were the best-known tuna fishermen in this part of the Adriatic. Our fishermen supplied Rijeka, Trieste and Venice with quality tuna meat caught in the waters of the northern Adriatic.
Bakar once had a fleet of 60 merchant sailing ships, and it gained its reputation through the production of quality sparkling wine, which later enjoyed worldwide fame.
The story of the well-known sparkling wine began as early as the second half of the 18th century, when Empress Maria Theresa allowed the nearby wastelands to be turned into vineyards. The land was granted to serfs, who grew the Belina vine. From this vine the sparkling wine “Bakarska vodica” was made.
Due to historical events, the presses were abandoned for a period, until the area was declared an ethno zone and entered in the register of cultural monuments in 1972.
In 2001, the cultural and social association Dolčina from Praputnjak started rebuilding the necessary facilities for the production of traditional sparkling wine, whose production is regulated by the wine law of 1929. Because of this, today we can still enjoy the sparkling taste of quality sparkling wine that has proven itself all over the world.
If you have come to visit Bakar, we believe your gaze will linger on the town walls. The beginnings of the town's fortifications reach back to the early Middle Ages, to the time of the migration of peoples. In that period dwellings were built on the nearby hills, at a height of 50 m above the sea, mainly for reasons of insecurity and easier defence. The town thus took the shape of a three-sided truncated pyramid, and its cut-off top was an ideal place for the fortress, the Kaštel. From this place the walls run to the Turan fortress in the southwest and to the square Fortica tower in the southeast. In the middle are the main town gates.
During the rule of the Krk counts, the fortress was closed off even more. The fortress is decorated with raised defensive walls, which are up to one metre wide and reinforced on both sides by towers.
Today this place is interesting to guests who visit Bakar, especially to lovers of the history and architecture of bygone times.
The church was built in 1658, next to the port of Bakar. The main altar is decorated with a painting by the Slovenian painter Valentin Metzinger from 1757.
Until the First World War the church had two bells, one of which alerted citizens to the outbreak of a fire, while the other called people to rest. After the end of the war, only one bell was returned. The church once also housed a statue of St. John of Nepomuk, which in 1804 was moved to the square in front of the Magistrate building. The church is a historical detail of the town and every year attracts a large number of both believers and guests who enjoy its historical moments.
Another church from past times is the Church of Our Lady of Porat. It was renovated and consecrated in 1641, and from that time dates the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary with the dead Jesus in her lap, which stands on the main altar.
If we mention Bakar, we certainly need to write a few words about the most famous medieval building in this town.
The Frankopan Castle is the best-known and certainly the most attractive building in Bakar. This monumental and imposing building, in the form in which we see it today, dates from the 18th century, after various rebuildings. Yet the original origin of this structure goes even further back in time.
The architectural foundation of the castle as we know it today has its beginnings in the 16th century, when this Frankopan fortress was further strengthened and fortified because of the threat of the Turkish danger. A Glagolitic inscription from 1530, carved into the upper part of the stone gateway of the entrance, bears witness to this.
The castle is a building that stirs sighs, gives an overview of the past, adventures and wartime conflicts. It is certainly proof of glorious times, culture, literacy and creative work. It carries material and cultural layers within it, and that is why it is a true, original, authentic witness to the past centuries of the history of Bakar and of Croatia.
The Roman House is special, and it is one of the oldest buildings in Bakar. We can describe it as a characteristic building of Renaissance architecture, with a lavish loggia and vaults. It is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Castle and the parish Church of St. Andrew. If you are in the upper part of the town you will easily spot it, because it dominates the area.
Among the natural beauties near Bakar we will mention Lake Ponikve. Ponikve is actually a place in the hinterland of Bakar, but with a very interesting phenomenon of the karst region.
Namely, next to this place there is a lake, which either is there or is not – depending on the weather conditions. The karst phenomenon has the fitting name “now you see it, now you don't lake”, which is quite rare not only in Croatia but also more widely. It works like this: during exceptionally rainy periods, the surface and underground waters from the karst valley create a lake, and so Ponikve becomes a place by a lake within just a few hours. This phenomenon is short-lived, because the water from the lake will disappear already with the first appearance of the bora. The bora drives the water from the lake into the underground channels of the Bakar springs.
If you have booked in Bakar and feel like a swim, we recommend Melnić Beach. This beautiful pebble beach lies in the Bakar Bay, below the Bakar fortifications in the area of Praputnjak. The beach is suitable for families with children and couples. It is adorned by easy access to the sea and by the greenery in the background. Thanks to its calm, this beach is also preferred by older people, and it is equipped with a shower.
A rich history is accompanied by a significant cultural heritage. The Town of Bakar is enriched with various historical buildings, created across different times, which is why the town itself is indescribably rich in this respect.
The Bakar Castle is only one of the buildings that bear witness to the significant history of the town. We can mention the remains of the Liburnian hill forts, the Church of St. Andrew in Bakar, and the Roman and Turkish houses. The Bakar fortifications still serve us well today, so we can enjoy the well-known sparkling wine from this town. For more information about events in Bakar and its tourist offer, visit the link Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar.
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The town of Bakar is located on the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea and consists of 9 settlements. The settlements that make up this town are: Bakar, Hreljin, Krasica, Kukuljanovo, Plosna, Ponikve, Praputnjak, Škrljevo and Zlobin.The town of Bakar lies on a hill in the northwestern part of the bay of the same name. It is surrounded by hills rising up to 300 m above the sea. This whole area is rich in springs of drinking water, and the rocks above the town have the characteristic karst surface we are used to seeing along the Adriatic coast. The steep hillsides are covered with broadleaf trees and low vegetation.History of the town – Bakar in brief
We should mention right away that the old part of the town, its historical core, was declared a monument of culture as early as 1968.
As it developed, the old part of the town was divided into two parts:
The older upper part, “Grad” – where a settlement surrounded by town walls developed
The lower part, consisting of the areas “Zagrad” and “Primorje”
Just as befits a town with this location and the climate it enjoys, its architecture resembles similar Mediterranean towns, with winding, narrow, steep and stepped streets.
Bakar is only 15 kilometres away from Rijeka, and it is connected to the other parts of our coast by the Adriatic Highway. The economy of our small town was until recently based on tuna fishing, and we were the best-known tuna fishermen in this part of the Adriatic. Our fishermen supplied Rijeka, Trieste and Venice with quality tuna meat caught in the waters of the northern Adriatic.
Bakar once had a fleet of 60 merchant sailing ships, and it gained its reputation through the production of quality sparkling wine, which later enjoyed worldwide fame.
A few words about the sparkling wine – Bakarska vodica
The story of the well-known sparkling wine began as early as the second half of the 18th century, when Empress Maria Theresa allowed the nearby wastelands to be turned into vineyards. The land was granted to serfs, who grew the Belina vine. From this vine the sparkling wine “Bakarska vodica” was made.
Due to historical events, the presses were abandoned for a period, until the area was declared an ethno zone and entered in the register of cultural monuments in 1972.In 2001, the cultural and social association Dolčina from Praputnjak started rebuilding the necessary facilities for the production of traditional sparkling wine, whose production is regulated by the wine law of 1929. Because of this, today we can still enjoy the sparkling taste of quality sparkling wine that has proven itself all over the world.
Sights you can see in our town
If you have come to visit Bakar, we believe your gaze will linger on the town walls. The beginnings of the town's fortifications reach back to the early Middle Ages, to the time of the migration of peoples. In that period dwellings were built on the nearby hills, at a height of 50 m above the sea, mainly for reasons of insecurity and easier defence. The town thus took the shape of a three-sided truncated pyramid, and its cut-off top was an ideal place for the fortress, the Kaštel. From this place the walls run to the Turan fortress in the southwest and to the square Fortica tower in the southeast. In the middle are the main town gates.
During the rule of the Krk counts, the fortress was closed off even more. The fortress is decorated with raised defensive walls, which are up to one metre wide and reinforced on both sides by towers.
Today this place is interesting to guests who visit Bakar, especially to lovers of the history and architecture of bygone times.
Church of St. Margaret in Bakar
The church was built in 1658, next to the port of Bakar. The main altar is decorated with a painting by the Slovenian painter Valentin Metzinger from 1757.
Until the First World War the church had two bells, one of which alerted citizens to the outbreak of a fire, while the other called people to rest. After the end of the war, only one bell was returned. The church once also housed a statue of St. John of Nepomuk, which in 1804 was moved to the square in front of the Magistrate building. The church is a historical detail of the town and every year attracts a large number of both believers and guests who enjoy its historical moments.
Church of Our Lady of Porat
Another church from past times is the Church of Our Lady of Porat. It was renovated and consecrated in 1641, and from that time dates the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary with the dead Jesus in her lap, which stands on the main altar.
Town of Bakar and the Frankopan Castle
If we mention Bakar, we certainly need to write a few words about the most famous medieval building in this town.
The Frankopan Castle is the best-known and certainly the most attractive building in Bakar. This monumental and imposing building, in the form in which we see it today, dates from the 18th century, after various rebuildings. Yet the original origin of this structure goes even further back in time.
The architectural foundation of the castle as we know it today has its beginnings in the 16th century, when this Frankopan fortress was further strengthened and fortified because of the threat of the Turkish danger. A Glagolitic inscription from 1530, carved into the upper part of the stone gateway of the entrance, bears witness to this.
The castle is a building that stirs sighs, gives an overview of the past, adventures and wartime conflicts. It is certainly proof of glorious times, culture, literacy and creative work. It carries material and cultural layers within it, and that is why it is a true, original, authentic witness to the past centuries of the history of Bakar and of Croatia.
If you are in Bakar, visit the Roman House
The Roman House is special, and it is one of the oldest buildings in Bakar. We can describe it as a characteristic building of Renaissance architecture, with a lavish loggia and vaults. It is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Castle and the parish Church of St. Andrew. If you are in the upper part of the town you will easily spot it, because it dominates the area.
Ponikve Lake near Bakar
Among the natural beauties near Bakar we will mention Lake Ponikve. Ponikve is actually a place in the hinterland of Bakar, but with a very interesting phenomenon of the karst region.
Namely, next to this place there is a lake, which either is there or is not – depending on the weather conditions. The karst phenomenon has the fitting name “now you see it, now you don't lake”, which is quite rare not only in Croatia but also more widely. It works like this: during exceptionally rainy periods, the surface and underground waters from the karst valley create a lake, and so Ponikve becomes a place by a lake within just a few hours. This phenomenon is short-lived, because the water from the lake will disappear already with the first appearance of the bora. The bora drives the water from the lake into the underground channels of the Bakar springs.
Melnić Beach for those who came to swim
If you have booked in Bakar and feel like a swim, we recommend Melnić Beach. This beautiful pebble beach lies in the Bakar Bay, below the Bakar fortifications in the area of Praputnjak. The beach is suitable for families with children and couples. It is adorned by easy access to the sea and by the greenery in the background. Thanks to its calm, this beach is also preferred by older people, and it is equipped with a shower.
In brief – the Town of Bakar
A rich history is accompanied by a significant cultural heritage. The Town of Bakar is enriched with various historical buildings, created across different times, which is why the town itself is indescribably rich in this respect.
The Bakar Castle is only one of the buildings that bear witness to the significant history of the town. We can mention the remains of the Liburnian hill forts, the Church of St. Andrew in Bakar, and the Roman and Turkish houses. The Bakar fortifications still serve us well today, so we can enjoy the well-known sparkling wine from this town. For more information about events in Bakar and its tourist offer, visit the link Tourist Board of the Town of Bakar.
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