Krmed combines well-preserved rural stone architecture in the village centre with prehistoric traces and two cycling routes. These features offer different starting points for planning your trip: the village’s appearance reflects its building traditions, the archaeological sites tell of its early settlement, and the routes differ in length, difficulty rating and surface.

Village Layout and History

Well-preserved rural stone houses shape the appearance of Krmed’s centre. Their features include cisterns and baladuri. The village is divided into two settlement groups. The planning entry in the cultural heritage inventory of the Municipality of Bale classifies Krmed as a rural ensemble; later plans may update its administrative status.

The village’s history dates back at least to the 13th century, when Krmed already existed as a settlement. After the village was abandoned following plague epidemics, Krmed was resettled in the 16th century by settlers from Dalmatia. The village’s history can therefore be divided into two distinct periods: the early settlement and the later new beginning.

Prehistoric Traces and Church Reliefs

Stari grad is a 232.7-metre-high hill with remains of a prehistoric settlement. The remains are visible; Stari grad is considered the best-known and largest fortified hilltop settlement in the area around Krmed. Prehistoric burial mounds are located on Novi grad. They measure approximately 12 to 18 metres in diameter and 0.50 to 2 metres in height. The two sites thus represent different archaeological features: settlement remains on one hill and burial mounds on the other.

The Church of St Elisha also points to an older building history. It was rebuilt in 1967 on the site of an older church. Two older reliefs on its façade depict stars and circles. Together with the traces on Stari grad and Novi grad, they offer a glimpse of different historical layers, without requiring these building and archaeological sites to be grouped into a single period.

Comparing Two Cycling Routes

The 682 Venetian Signature route passes through Krmed between Svetvinčenat and the Lim Channel; its route listing is currently shown on the official Istria-Bike website, although conditions may change. It is 92.4 kilometres long, rated moderate and runs entirely on asphalt roads. The 251 Flavours of the Mediterranean route also passes through Krmed and highlights the village’s historical sights; its route listing is currently shown on the official Istria-Bike website, although conditions may change. It is rated easy and combines gravel and asphalt.

The route listings for both trails are currently shown on the official Istria-Bike website; conditions may change. The routes therefore differ both in difficulty rating and surface: the 682 is moderate and entirely paved, while the 251 is rated easy and combines two surfaces. The 92.4-kilometre distance applies to the 682; for the 251, its difficulty rating and surface are the specific points of comparison here. Check the current route and the information on difficulty and surface before setting out.

Hills, Farming and Getting There

Hills rise around Krmed above flat, cultivated land. Agricultural crops include grapes, olives and cereals. These landscape features complement the village’s stone architecture with a glimpse of its cultivated surroundings.

For getting there, the location of the D3 state road is a separate point of reference: it runs close to Krmed, but there is no direct connection to the settlement. Take this distinction into account when planning, rather than assuming that the road’s proximity means there is a direct access route into the village. Those considering Krmed as a destination can thus view the village architecture, prehistoric traces, landscape and cycling routes as separate areas of interest.

Discover more destinations: Datule Barbariga, Bale, Golaš.

Go to the main travel overview: Općina Bale.