Route: Glavotok – Church of St Chrysogonus – Milohnići – Brzac – Glavotok

The starting point of this 7.2 km long intermediate trail, which circles around the westernmost point of the island, is marked by a location near Glavotok. In addition to stunning and valuable forest landscapes and the villages of Milohnići and Brzac, the trail reveals numerous religious buildings, with the Church of St Chrysogonus bound to attract the most attention as an emblematic example of Romanesque architecture on the island.

– The enmeshed hiking trails that mostly snake through the woodlands also give credence to the claim that Šotovento, which spans the western part of Krk Island, possesses the perfect conditions for engaging in various recreational activities. This area provides a particularly pleasant green oasis in the summer as a stark contrast to the rocky eastern and southeastern parts of the island. This circular 7.2 km long trail within the westernmost point of the island, which is considered moderately difficult due to certain sections, leads through captivating and valuable natural environments, while showcasing segments of the island’s rich cultural heritage. The starting point is marked in the vicinity of Glavotok at the intersection of a road and a forest path. Since the starting and end point overlap, recreational explorers can treat themselves to a visit to this picturesque place, which was first mentioned in the late 13th century as a summer house of the Frankopan Dukes of Krk with a chapel, before or after finishing the hike. In the final decades of the 15th century, the chapel was given to the Franciscans, after which a monastery was founded, and soon after a church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built. The Franciscan monastery in Glavotok is considered an oasis of culture and literacy, as well as a place of activity of Glagolitic monks, with numerous Glagolitic inscriptions and manuscripts preserved to this day. In the first section you will pass through an inspiring woodland, beginning with an evergreen oasis of holly oak, which has been declared a protected forest vegetation reserve and is joined by a forest of ancient downy oaks. After passing through the forest underneath canopies by climbing moderately and descending sharply, you will reach the Church of St Chrysogonus, an emblematic example of the island’s Romanesque architecture that overlooks Čavlena Bay. This striking stone building was constructed in the 12th century with a layout that is distinguished by an irregular trefoil with a rectangular entryway, a domed centre and groined window frames. The rest of the trail is nestled amid a forest and leads to Milohnići and Brzac, two typical Šotovento villages with a recognisable layout. They also provide an opportunity to become familiar with the cultural and historical heritage, since the centre of Milohnići boasts the Church of Our Lady of Health, which was erected in the early 20th century, while Brzac is home to another religious building – the Chapel of St Peter, which dates back to the late 17th century. Apart from the heritage, you can also explore the first-rate local cuisine during your well-deserved break there. After walking through the olive groves and cultivated agricultural areas, you will return to the place where it all started.

Highlights:

– Monastery of the Third Order Regular of St Francis of Penance and the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Glavotok

– holly oak forest, Glavotok: special forest vegetation reserve

– Church of St Chrysogonus, Milohnići

– Church of Our Lady of Health, Milohnići

– Chapel of St Peter, Brzac