Previž combines a scattered settlement pattern with a layered church and cultural history. Its hamlets lie on hills between the Lipa and Borut streams; the settlement is also situated between Cerovlje and Borut. Two distinct features particularly define the place: the building history of the Church of St. Martin and a Glagolitic inscription on a late Gothic chalice.

Hilltop hamlets between the Lipa and Borut streams

The landscape description places Previž among settlements made up of hamlets in hilly terrain. Lipa and Borut are the geographical reference points given, and the description of the area also extends from Cerovlje to Borut. This means the settlement pattern itself is in focus alongside individual buildings. If you consider a destination’s spatial character when choosing where to travel, this combination of hamlets, hills, and streams offers a specific point of reference.

Church of St. Martin: several building phases

The Church of St. Martin in Previž was built in the 16th century on the site of an older church that included a Romanesque chapel dating from the 13th–14th century. The church was enlarged in 1690 and restored in 1990. This sequence distinguishes the medieval chapel from the 16th-century church building and later interventions. The dates thus provide a clear guide to the different historical periods without treating them as a single building phase.

A Glagolitic trace

Another facet of the cultural history is Previž’s documented Glagolitic tradition. In 1588, an inscription by the priest Ivan Bubić was engraved on a late Gothic, silver-gilt chalice. Unlike the building chronology of the Church of St. Martin, this reference points to an inscribed liturgical object. Together, the two subjects offer different historical perspectives: the development of a church building on the one hand, and an inscription with a named author and precise date on the other.

More cultural topics in the wider destination of Općina Cerovlje

There is also a rich cultural history beyond Previž in the wider destination of Općina Cerovlje. In Draguć, the former settlement was rebuilt according to a precise plan after being destroyed by a fire during the Uskok War of 1615 to 1618. The Romanesque Church of St. Elijah stands there, a building from the late 12th century made of two-colored stone blocks. The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Draguć was built in 1641. In Gradinje, the Church of All Saints, built in 1604, connects the settlements; beneath layers of plaster are frescoes and Glagolitic graffiti. Bricks were made in Borut for centuries: locals shaped clay by hand at the Borut stream and fired it in field kilns known as “frnaže.”

The topics in the wider destination of Općina Cerovlje go beyond buildings. The ponds of Cerovlje offer a green setting for walks or picnics. The Trail of Waterfalls cycle route (614) climbs from Pagubice to Cerovlje and then continues towards Pazin. The 13-kilometre Path of St. Kocijan starts at Borut railway station. As trail conditions can change, it is advisable to check them before setting out.

Events to help plan your trip

There are also events in the wider destination of Općina Cerovlje to consider when choosing when to travel. The annual gathering of bajs players, “Z bajson u Draguć,” takes place on the third Sunday in June. In Pagubice, the gathering of traditional musicians “Nadalinu u pohode” is held on 13 June. Check the dates for the current year. At the beginning of the year, Cerovlje hosts a traditional carnival with colorful processions of masked groups from central Istria; its dates also vary from year to year.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first decide whether you want to focus on Previž itself, with its hamlets and church and Glagolitic history, or include other cultural and nature-related attractions in the wider destination of Općina Cerovlje. This keeps your choice aligned with your actual interests without presenting the different places as a single walking route.

Discover more destinations: Draguc, Grimalda, Korelići, Paz, Borut, Gologorica, Cerovlje, Novaki Pazinski.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Općina Cerovlje.