Bale rests gently on a 142-metre hill, gazing toward the Istrian coast — a quiet medieval gem, wrapped in a calm that feels timeless.
Bale today exude the harmony of narrow streets, surrounded by Gothic buildings, houses and squares, built throughout history. Authentic stone architecture is the main motif in the streets. Walking through these streets one can still feel the influence of Venetian rule. This is because Bale was handed over to Venice in 1332, while in 1414 Bale was conquered by the Hungarian army.
Located between the famous tourist centers of Rovinj and Pula, Bale may not be the first thought when writing stories about Istria. Nevertheless, the picturesque place located on a 142 meters high hill with a beautiful view of the coastal archipelago is interesting to see. Bale with 2400 hours of sunshine a year are located almost on the 45th parallel between the North Pole and the equator. Apart from providing us with an unforgettable walk, what makes Bale stand out is its specific local dialect. It has been passed down to generations of locals who often use the words of the Italian language and Istrian Chakavian.
Things to do in Bale
There are plenty of them. The only thing you need is to stroll the town. Time in Bale doesn’t pass — it lingers. Venetian influence is still etched in every alley and facade. Locals speak in a melodic dialect that mixes Italian and Istrian Chakavian, and the rhythm of the place invites you to sync your steps to centuries past. Here, you’ll hear your footsteps echo down cobbled paths once walked by Romans and medieval merchants, feel the wind from the sea brushing through olive groves, and find that sometimes the best way to explore is to slow down until you stop.
A walk through the old town
A medieval centre is fantastic because it was created to be historic. The architecture of the squares and colourful facades often reminds us of Northern Italy. As part of the defensive wall, Bale was dominated by defensive towers in the 19thcentury. Today, their remains can be seen, as well as the city gates, the Praetorian Castle and the town lodge. All these elements allow us to step into the Middle Ages.
It is pretty cool to walk alongside the old town. And every step will remind us to the ancient times. One of the most significant was Roman rule. Then, when a settlement was established, they used to call it “Castrum Vallis”. Surrounded by defensive walls, its purpose was to protect the trade route in Istria, which passed between Trieste and Pula. Since then, life in Bale has lasted for centuries.
Soardo-Bembo Castle
In addition to several souvenir shops and coffee bars, the main feature is the Soardo-Bembo castle whose construction dates back to the early 15th century, a time when the two towers were connected by a bridge. The residential Gothic-Renaissance part first belonged to the Soardo family, and in 1618 it became the property of the Bembo family by marrying Veronica Sorado to Alvise Bembo. Today, Bembo Castle is listed among the 30 most prominent monuments in Croatia.
Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary Elizabeth
The white stone building is considered to be the fifth built on the site of several older sacral buildings. It dates from 1638 and was rebuilt in 1883, during the time of Thomas Bemb. And the above-mentioned castle at that time was from the same owner. Next to the church is a 36 meter high bell tower that dominates the place. One of the most valuable sights is the ” Twelve Capitals ” from the Carolingian period of the 8th century. They are attributed to the master of capitals from Bale. Another feature is the wooden statue of Our Lady of Mon Perin from the 15th century. It is associated with the legend of saving the place from drought. That is why the hill of Mon Perin on which Bale was built got its name.
Rural estates –“stanzia”
Like the other medieval places in Istria, the legacy of Bale is characterized by rural estates. The locals us to call them “stanzia”. The vicinity of Bale is specific for numerous rural estates (stancias).Those were once used from shepherds to overnnight, but also for staying during longer winter periods. Today, most of them are villageswith thehouses for guests seeking harmony in a rural setting. Some of the examples in the area are “Stancija Bembo”, StancijaGolaš, ” Meneghetti” ,” Pižanovac” or “Cernibieco “. All of them are located in a coherence intertwined with cycle or trekking routes.
Field churches
Walking through the place we notice the late Gothic Church of St. Spirit from the 15thcentury. Apart from being specific for its regular stone blocks, the culmination of its masterful stonemasonry is its façade. It is covered with stone tiles – “slates”. The frescoes as “Escape to Egypt” or “The Last Supper” create a main interior characteristic. They are attributed to Master Albert of Constance on Lake Constance. Church of St. Anthony with a Latin cross dating from the 14thcentury is located outside the place. Right next to the road to the Lim Bay is the pre-Romanesque church of St. Elijah (Concetta). It was restored in the 14thcentury, when it received an imposing 12-meter bell tower.
Things to learnin Bale: dinosaur tracks and butterfly species
Butterflies and dinosaurs seem like a fairy tale. According to research, dinosaurs used to walk through the area in ancient times. At least that’s what the tracks found on the surrounding trails look like. To find out if this is true, you need to follow the paths of the dinosaurs. It’s not a joke. Bale will show us the bones of Sauropods, i.e. dinosaurs found on the sea shore of “Colone Bay” in 1992. They are kept in the Paleontological Museum of the Italian town of Monfalcone. We can truly touch on the footprints of these amazing animals, which lived on our planet some 130 million years ago.
Today, there are no dinosaurs, but the clean and untouched nature of the area has enabled the area around Bale to be home to more than 360 species of butterflies. Many of them are protected. Let’s look around to find a butterfly and capture a moment with a camera. You may find out later that this is a rare species.
Step to nature around Bale
The immediate vicinity of Bale is made for nature and outdoor lovers. Full of olive groves and vineyards provide beautiful scenic views to green landscapes of Istria.But probably the most scenic thing are the beaches. There are few points for a visit.There are few points for a visit.
Palud swamp – the story of lake photography.
Nature and bird watching lovers will enjoy this swamp. This enchanted swamp of nature located on the south part of Istria between the Rovinj and Pula is with rippling water waves. Surrounded by green forest is home of thousands of birds. The vicinity of the sea makes the nature lake very unique and magnificent. The lake’s trip will be valued for outdoor photographers and offers an excellent opportunity to make outstanding outdoor photography.
The swamp is designated on ornithological reserve due to large numbers of birds that used to be nested here. The swamp is developed by the natural inflow of water from the surrounded hills and springs into a natural depression. The swamp was once wholly separated from the sea. This is proofed by a 200-metre channel that connects the swamp with seawater. The track was excavated dating back to the beginning of 20thcentury to abolish malaria and destroy mosquito while mixing the lake with seawater. The channel is also used for regulation of water when the water level is too high. Aside from nature, full of water, bird sounds, and the sea, there are also historical remnants of the church that could be seen while visiting the lake’s southwest part. Aside from bird species, the area is inhabited by turtles, eels, mullets and lizards.
Getting to the Palud. The easiest is a 10-minute walk by which the wetland is reached when leaving the car at the park entrance. This should be done due to the nature reserve rules. The most valuable way is to take the bicycle and ride from Rovinj or Bale using the road and macadam later.
San Polo and Colone beach
Directions to the sea around 4 km from Bale, there are situated few of the most magnificent beaches in Istria. There is asphalted land road that leads to the entrance of the camping site. You can also use the touristic train that drives by regular schedule during the summer. Keep in mind you’ll need to pay some entrance fee at the reception when self-driving by car.
The pebble beach of beautiful Adriatic crystal sea will be ideal for rest for both the families and solo travellers. Nature was created beautiful, still intact coast, which will allow you to enjoy the Istrian sunsets in peace far away from the city crowds. A lush of the Mediterranean vegetation trees as pine trees and oaks are planted wide over the coast. There are some parts with the cliffs. Aside from overlooking nature and getting rest, there are plenty of beach facilities such as restaurant, coffee bar, shop, toilet, shower, and children playground. In contrast, the beach is connected by a free tourist train.
Barbariga Beach
This quite an unusual beach located under Bale is in fact, one of the top pristine beaches rest in Istria. Nature and non-paved elements are prevalent throughout this beach. Not only is the actual beach outstanding, but nature all along the coastline is as well.
You can find several bars along Barbariga Beach, some of which you can lounge around and wait for your drinks in hammocks. This laid-back beach atmosphere is what many long for when looking for a beach retreat.
Events in Bale
Bale has its festivals and summer events. Though there have been many concerts and events on the main square or into the galleries throughout the year, the most known is “BaljanskaNoć” – Bale’ Night.
Bale’s Night
Suppose you’re in Istria on the first Saturday in August. In that case, you should visit this real public party organized by the tourist community. By that time, the tradition overheld the place and the song, dance, and homemade cuisine that had already taken over Bale’s town anyway. Since divestment does not cease until the wee hours of the morning, we believe you’ll have a lot of fun.
St Julian’s feast
Every May on 1st which is also the official Day of the County of Bale and the Labour Day there is Held St. Julian’s feast. A feast is honored to St Julian, the patron of the saint, who lived the longest time in a monastery of St Michael just outside of the place. There he passed away. The legend has it somewhere between 1328 and 1367.
Getting to Bale
🚗 By Car. Bale is very easy to reach by car. It is located just 10 km from Rovinj and about 20 km from Pula. The “Istrian Y” motorway connects the region with major towns in Istria as well as Slovenia and Italy. Parking is available in designated lots near the town entrance, as the old town is a pedestrian zone. During summer months, traffic can be heavy, so allow extra time.
✈️ By Air. The nearest airport is Pula (PUY), around 40 km away, serving domestic and international flights, including low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet. Other airports:
- Rijeka (RJK) – approx. 130 km
- Trieste (TRS) – approx. 110 km
- Venice (VCE) – approx. 230 km
- Zagreb (ZAG) – approx. 260 km
- Ljubljana (LJU) – approx. 170 km
🚌 By Bus. Bale is connected to nearby towns by local buses, mainly from Rovinj or Pula. Check schedules in advance, as connections can be infrequent. For intercity travel, Rovinj and Pula bus stations serve routes to major Croatian cities and some international destinations.
🚆 By Train. There is no train station in Bale. The nearest stations are in Rovinj, Pula, or Pazin. From there, a taxi or local bus is needed to reach Bale.
⛴️ By Ferry, There are no regular ferry lines to Bale. The nearest ferry connections are from Pula, Rijeka and Rovinj mainly operating seasonally to Italy.
