Serving as the seat of Istria County, Pazin is a historic settlement that was established around a 10th-century castle. It’s famed for its 100-metre-deep abyss, the Pazin Chasm, which provided a setting for Jules Verne’s 1885 adventure book “Mathias Sandorf”.
Occupying a rocky outcrop high above Pazin is the Kaštel, which is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in Istria. First mentioned in the 10th century, it is now home to the historical exhibits of the Pazin Town Museum. Also within the castle is the Ethnographic Museum of Istria, which showcases traditional costumes and textiles.
Join a guided tour to explore the spectacular Pazin Chasm, which lies hidden within a canyon of the Pazinčica River. Hear about the local legends and stories associated with this underground wonderland and fly along the zipline that leads to its 80-metre-long lake. A short drive east of Pazin is the photogenic Sopot Waterfall.
Getting there
Pazin is around an hour’s drive from Rijeka and Rijeka International Airport, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe. Trains connect to the Pazin railway station while the town centre is small enough to explore on foot.