You can plan a visit to Baderna around three distinct interests: the parish church in the village, Cycling Route 41, which lists Baderna as a stop, and the Joakim Rakovac Memorial House in Rakovci near Baderna. Plan for each place and its requirements separately. The church is in Baderna; a visit to the memorial house requires prior arrangement, while the older cycling map should be checked for current information before setting out.
Road connections and cycling route
Baderna lies at the junction of state roads on the Poreč–Pazin–Rijeka route, including D-48 and D-302, and on the Pula–Koper–Trieste route, D-21. These routes give the village’s location a specific transport-geography context. Cycling Route 41 is also relevant to cyclists: an older official tourism map lists Baderna as a stop on the Novigrad–Lagana cycling route. As the map is older, check the current route before cycling.
Parish church and building history
The parish church is dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was built in the 16th century. It underwent major restoration and expansion in 1843 and 1878. The freestanding bell tower had already been built in 1827. These dates therefore represent distinct phases of construction: the tower predates the later work on the church building. For travellers interested in culture, the focus is on the specific sequence of the church’s construction, the separate building of the tower and the extensive alterations to the church.
Miroslav Bulešić and the relief
Miroslav Bulešić was parish priest in Baderna from 1943 to 1945. A relief of Blessed Bulešić is located on the outer side wall of the parish church, facing Baderna’s central square. His term of service and the relief’s location connect his personal history with a commemorative feature at a specific place. This adds a dated biographical connection to the church’s building history.
Memorial house in Rakovci
The Joakim Rakovac Memorial House is in Rakovci, near Baderna, not in the village itself. It is a historically significant site and an example of Istrian rural architecture. In July 2024, it reopened with a new exhibition dedicated to antifascism and the National Liberation Movement in the Poreč area. The memorial house thus presents rural architecture and the history of the liberation movement as distinct ways of exploring the region’s past. Visits are possible in 2026 by prior arrangement. Arrange your visit in advance, as this option may change.
Patron saint’s feast and travel year
Baderna’s patron saint’s feast celebrates the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, also known as Santa Maria Minor. In 2025, the feast was held as a local patronal celebration. If you are travelling in another year, check that year’s event date before planning your stay around it.
Plan your stay
If you are considering Baderna as a place to stay overnight, base your search on the specific places you plan to visit. The parish church is in the village, while the memorial house is in Rakovci; check the current route for cycling. First decide which focus will shape your trip, then take the relevant requirements into account when planning.
Discover more destinations: Mugeba, Kadumi, Perci, Vabriga, Porec, Rakovci, Kukci, Antonci.
For the broader travel overview: Općina Poreč.
