The bike tour Parenzana

The bike tour Parenzana (also known as TPC – Trieste-Parenzo-Canfanaro) is actually a narrow-gauge railway through three countries, Italy, Slovenia and Istria in Croatia that is no longer in use. It connects Trieste, Italy via a series of stations with Porec, Istria. Porec was also a terminal station and hence the name, Parenzana or locally Porecanka. The operation started in 1902 and was in use till 1935. The biggest part was through Croatia (78km) then Slovenia (32) and the smallest part in Italy with only 13 km. Most of the route today has been transformed into bicycle and pedestrian paths.

History and facts

After only 32 years of operation, the last train passed on the 31st of August, 1935. The main reason for stopping of operation was profitability to the route due to cheaper and more economic means of transportation. Interesting is the fact that during the time when Istria was under Italy, Mussolini has disassembled the railway. Idea was to bring it to the new Italian colony Abyssinia (Ethiopia) via ship, but the ship never reached its destination. It sunk somewhere in Meditteranean.

Although not in use, most of the infrastructure has been preserved even today. On the route, you can still find many bridges, tunnels, and viaducts. The total length of the route is 123 km with 35 stations. There are in total 9 tunnels, 11 bridges, and 6 viaducts. Can you imagine now that the average speed of a train was 25 km/h? Well true to be told, I think in Croatia we managed only to slightly improve these statistics. One remarkable fact is also that a journey from Triest to Porec took around 7 hours. Just for a comparison, the same distance would be possible in less than an hour and a half by car.

The path of health and friendship

On the 100th anniversary in 2002., Istria county and township Koper decided to start with a project of the revivification of Parenzana. Of course, such projects need big fonds, and luckily EU agreed to co-finance it. The goal of the project is to protect Parenznana and make it interesting for tourists, offering them more content. In 2007. museum Parenzane in Livade was opened, where tourists can find out more interesting facts.

After 1 year in 2008., a bike tour from Livade till Buje opened for public. The project continued in 2009. and in 2014. New routes were renovated, Vizinada – Porec, and Lama – Dekani. Bridge in Livade was built, and in Vizinada model of a locomotive from that time was installed. To make it more interesting for cyclists, even one old school was turned into a hotel. There are also many places to refresh yourself and enjoy magnificent views. Trust me, you will enjoy with every new km you take. I hope that project will continue also in the future. It would be amazing to have most of the routes available for cyclists one day.

From Buje to Livade tour

Definitely the most beautiful part of the bike tour Parenzana. This part is 30 kilometers long, but once you start, you will wish that in never finishes. There are many old Istrian cities on this route, and it is a privilege to be able to ride through them. The feeling is just too good to be true. This area is also famous for good wines. Make sure to visit some wine taverns in Oprtalj and Zavrsje, they are really worth it. While you there, try not to have too many glasses of wine, as you still have to pedal till Livade.

A mandatory stop should also be in Groznjan. This city is just wow. Now when I think about it, it for sure deserves one article. This small place is full of art galleries and restaurants decorated in the same way. Last time when I was there a Jazz festival took place with many foreign performers. Yes, remember to visit Groznjan, one of the most beautiful cities in Istria. After the picturesque Groznjan, the trail winds and descends towards Motovun and Livade.