Above Novigrad rises the Fortica fortress – Castrum Novum. Its history reaches back to a clearly dated event: in 1386, the Hungarian-Croatian Queen Mary and her mother Elizabeth were held captive there. The fortress is also listed in the Croatian Register of Cultural Goods. In the Municipality of Novigrad, alongside this historic site, you will find churches from different periods, beaches on two connected bodies of water, and traditions reflected in food and song.
Fortica and Churches from Different Centuries
The Church of St Catherine is considered the oldest church in Novigrad. Croatian Ban Butko Kuriaković, a magnate from Lika-Krbava, commissioned it in 1393. At the entrance to the Port of Novigrad stands the Church of St Nicholas, dating from 1800. Together, the two sites add different chapters of local religious architecture to the history of the fortress.
On the road from Novigrad to Pridraga, the early Christian Church of St Martin stands in an open field. It was built in the 5th or 6th century as a single-nave church with three apses. The pre-Romanesque, six-lobed Church of St Michael dates from the 9th century and was discovered in 1940 in the immediate vicinity of St Martin’s. In Pridraga, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary stands near the parish house. It was built on the site of an earlier Chapel of St Mark, erected in 1882. Their different building periods and forms make these churches distinct stops for anyone interested in the region’s history.
Pebble Beaches and Waters Between Two Seas
Pridraga has natural pebble beaches on the Karin Sea. A narrow channel connects this body of water to the Novigrad Sea. Vrulja Beach in Pridraga is a natural pebble beach with clear water and is considered a place for swimming and family relaxation. The coast offers a different way to experience the destination than its churches and fortress: here, the beaches and the two connected seas take centre stage.
Novigrad Beach also offers various ways to enjoy the water. Visitors can explore marine fauna along an underwater trail. Kayaking, pedal boating, rowing and windsurfing are also available at the beach. A simple distinction can help you choose between these activities: the underwater trail focuses on marine fauna, while the other activities offer ways to get active on the water.
Local Culture and Cuisine
In Paljuv, the klapa group “Težaci” is associated with the village; klapa singing is considered an expression of local culture there. The Novigrad dialect also has official cultural status: it has been included in the Register of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Croatia. At the beginning of the 19th century, people from Novigrad settled in Paljuv. The first residents were exclusively livestock breeders – another part of the village’s history that shows how the local way of life has changed.
Mussel farming in the Novigrad Sea is part of the local cuisine. The inflow of the Zrmanja River creates favourable conditions for it, and mussels are considered a local delicacy. Novigrad mussels and traditional hunter’s stew are served at the communal dinner during the folklore festival “Dalmacijo, Pridragu ti ljubim”. The dishes are prepared using recipes from the oldest members of KUD Luzarica. The folklore festival presents traditional dances, music, language and customs. The culinary and cultural programmes take place side by side, with neither replacing the other.
The Brudetijada in Pridraga also brings people together to cook local dishes. At its second edition in August 2026, seven culinary teams prepared brudet, while two teams cooked black risotto. The Novigradska ribarska noć is a traditional fishing festival celebrating Novigrad’s fishing heritage. The 2026 edition continued a theme that is also reflected in the importance of mussels to local cuisine.
Cycling Routes and Events
A marked cycling route is 30 kilometres long and runs along gravel and asphalt roads. Along the way, there are views of Novigrad and the surrounding area. A different, specific cycling tour in 2026 covered 12 kilometres from the waterfront promenade in Posedarje to the square in front of the municipal building in Novigrad. A total of 128 cyclists of all ages took part in this traditional ride. The marked cycling route is the longer route along gravel and asphalt roads; the 12-kilometre ride from Posedarje to Novigrad took place in 2026.
On 7 and 8 August 2026, the Nature i Kulture Festival took place in Novigrad for the eighth time. It presented protected areas and Natura 2000 sites, particularly the Novigrad and Karin seas and the surrounding areas, using cultural and traditional heritage. As a look back at the 2026 edition, the festival adds another perspective on the landscape and its cultural connections to the local celebrations and culinary events.
The seasonal opening hours of the Zavičajna zbirka Novigrad are listed as 09:00 to 13:00 from May to September. Check the current hours before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Pridraga, Novigrad, Antenal, Bužinija, Municipality of Poličnik, Municipality of Stankovci, Municipality of Gračac, Municipality of Privlaka.
Return to the main travel overview: Zadar County.
