Hreljin brings together medieval local history and named themed routes: the Gradina ruins are the destination of the 1.6-kilometre-long Put Gradine Promenade, and its Frankopan connection can be seen in a route to the old town and a cycling tour through it. If you are looking for accommodation, you can choose Hreljin according to your interests, whether they lie in cultural history, the routes themselves or both. The destinations and routes differ, so it is worth distinguishing between their names before planning.
Hreljin between the Middle Ages and the Baroque period
Hreljin was one of the nine Vinodol towns whose representatives signed the Vinodol Code in 1288. The code associated with Hreljin was written in the Glagolitic script. This connection therefore links a specific medieval event with the broader context of Vinodol.
Gradina is the ruin of a medieval town built in western Vinodol on a steep cliff above Bakarac, its former port. For anyone interested in medieval history, Gradina makes this past tangible at a specific site.
The Baroque parish church of St George in Hreljin represents a different period. Jurjeva is a traditional celebration held around the feast of St George. The reference to the same saint links the celebration thematically with the parish church, while their architectural style and local customs reveal different cultural aspects of Hreljin. If Jurjeva is a reason for your trip, check the event dates before planning.
Put Gradine and Frankopan routes
Themed promenade Put Gradine is 1.6 kilometres long and leads from Hreljin to the medieval Gradina of Hreljin. About 15 minutes along the route, you will come across three old water cisterns called Kalce or Lokve. Put Gradine also includes the gamified Frankopan Adventure. Along with Gradina as its destination, the named water cisterns and playful Frankopan theme also shape the description of this promenade.
The Frankopan Route connects Nova Kraljevica Castle with the old town of Hreljin. Its nearby section runs downhill from Hreljin Gradina through Mali Dol towards an old Roman road to Bakarac. By contrast, Put Gradine leads from Hreljin to Gradina: the two descriptions refer to different routes and destinations.
The “Tracing Frankopan Footsteps” cycling tour runs through the old town of Hreljin. The Bakarske prezidi are part of the nearby context of this cycling tour: sparkling wine was traditionally produced on the terraces. This adds another regional connection associated with traditional production to the history of the town and its routes.
The Karolina Road also provides historical context for Hreljin: the town lies along this road, which was built in 1732. It offers another specifically dated point of reference alongside the medieval code and the routes with a Frankopan theme.
Choosing Hreljin as your place to stay
If you are looking for a hotel in Hreljin, you can begin by choosing according to the purpose of your trip. For cultural history, the Vinodol Code, Gradina, the parish church and Jurjeva offer different points of interest; the themed promenade, the Frankopan Route and the cycling tour each have their own route connections. This lets you choose Hreljin based on what matters most for your trip, rather than combining the different routes into a single tour.
Discover more destinations: Zlobin, Kukuljanovo, Ponikve, Bakar, Praputnjak, Mrzla Vodica, Škrljevo, Krasica
For the broader travel overview: Općina Bakar.
