In Paz, two historic churches and a circular walk offer different focal points for a stay. The Parish Church of the Assumption contains furnishings with clearly specified dates; the cemetery church was built earlier and has two apses and wall paintings. A 13 km loop connects nearby Borut with Paz via the St. Kocijan Trail. This lets you weigh art and architectural history against a walk lasting several hours when planning your visit.
Church Art in Paz
The Parish Church of the Assumption in Paz dates from 1579. It houses a Gothic custodia from 1496; its furnishings also include two heraldic tombstones dated 1636 and 1700. These dates form a clear sequence: the custodia is older than the church building, while the two tombstones bear later dates. Thus, the parish church brings together not only a construction date but also several specific dates associated with its furnishings. Those interested in art-historical details can use this example to distinguish the history of the building from its dated furnishings.
The cemetery church in Paz was built in 1461 and has two apses. Its wall paintings are by Albert of Constance; the depicted motifs include a Madonna and Child and a Throne of Mercy. The apses describe the building’s form, while the wall paintings offer another perspective through their subject matter and attributed authorship. In this way, the cemetery church complements the dates and furnishing details of the parish church with its own art-historical focus.
A Circular Walk via the St. Kocijan Trail
The 13 km circular walk connects nearby Borut with Paz via the St. Kocijan Trail. A description from 2019 characterizes it as easy and gives the duration as approximately four to five hours. The timing is an estimate, but it also makes clear that this is a planning consideration for a walk lasting several hours, not a short stroll. Check the route details locally before setting out. If you are considering Paz when looking for accommodation, you can include the walk as a separate activity in your stay plans.
The Wider Area: Općina Cerovlje
Within the wider destination of Općina Cerovlje, the remains of Paz Castle are also visible on the hill above the settlement. Draguć, also within the wider destination of Općina Cerovlje, offers a different perspective on architectural history. After the earlier settlement was destroyed by a fire during the Uskok War of 1615–1618, Draguć was rebuilt according to a precise plan. It is also home to the Romanesque Church of St. Elijah, which dates from the late 12th century and was built from two-coloured stone blocks.
An annual event in the wider destination of Općina Cerovlje is the gathering of bajs players, “Z bajson u Draguć.” It takes place on the third Sunday in June. Check the date for the relevant year before including it in your travel plans.
Gradinje is also part of the wider destination of Općina Cerovlje: the Church of All Saints there was built in 1604. Frescoes and Glagolitic graffiti lie beneath layers of plaster. These details complement the examples from Paz and Draguć with further evidence of sacred art and architectural history in the municipality.
Discover more destinations: Gologorica, Grimalda, Draguc, Previž, Cerovlje, Korelići, Borut, Novaki Pazinski.
Go to the wider travel overview: Općina Cerovlje.
