Route: Krk – Lakmartin – Krk

You can walk around the northern hinterland of the city of Krk via an easy circular 8.5 km long trail. The hike begins in the city of Krk, outside the Upper City Gates and near a valuable site with two monastery complexes and the Church of Our Lady of Health, and continues through Vidikovac, lovely olive groves and a woodland path that leads almost to the village of Lakmartin. On the way back you will come across the scattered remnants of Lizer, a settlement that was abandoned in the 19th century.

– The best way to become familiar with the surroundings of the city of Krk is to use the vast network of hiking trails that meander through its eastern (Prniba), western (Plav – Črnika – Karkadol) and northern hinterland. The circular trail that girdles the latter aforementioned area is 8.5 km long and since it does not include any demanding sections, it is suitable for recreationists of all inclinations and ages. The hike begins in the city of Krk, outside the Upper City Gates that indicate the northern entrance to the historical centre. Before the hike you should visit the nearby Christian acropolis that surrounds the Krk Glagolitic Square, which comprises two valuable Franciscan and Benedictine monastery complexes, along with the Our Lady of Health, which is the first church built in the Romanesque style. Besides the aforementioned religious edifices, you can also gaze upon the exemplary segment of the city walls that completely circumscribe the historical centre. The trail leads the hikers from Stjepan Radić Street toward Vidikovac, where Mate Balota Street extends beyond the settlement. Vidikovac (“lookout point”) owes its name to the awe-inspiring view that unfurls towards the historical centre and religious complexes as well as the eastern side of the city walls and, finally, the open blue sea. After walking through the pedestrian underpass below the D102 state road, the hike resumes in the surrounding of gorgeous olive groves, followed by a forest trail leading towards the village of Lakmartin. This section is bound to evoke reflection on olives and olive cultivation, which have seen a Renaissance of sorts in the past few decades on the island of Krk. That the island’s olive growers know what they are doing is corroborated by the fact that the extra virgin Krk olive oil boasts a protected designation of origin. Although the trail does not pass through Lakmartin, its immediate vicinity allows all lovers of local cuisine to visit the Magriž family farm, where they can try olive oil as well as traditional Krk sheep’s milk cheese, including the variety enriched with the unique aromas of medicinal herbs that are emblematic of Krk Island. The hike continues further westward across verdant areas until you cross the D102 state road. If you briefly get off the trail and head north, from that point you can take the road that leads (from Krk) toward the village of Kras and reach the interesting site comprising the ruins of the abandoned settlement of Lizer, which is well obscured from curious eyes. Lizer was a scattered settlement (or a group of settlements) without a true centre, which was mentioned as early as the 16th century as Liza Maura (Lizer Major). The population was decimated by a malaria epidemic caused by the nearby Lake Ponikve in the second half of the 19th century. Its remnants can be found further south at a site behind the Krk go-kart track. In addition to the ruins of a house and “mošuna”, a dry wall cattle shelter, one can also discern a circular “guvno” (or “gumno”), which is a threshing floor. In the last section, the trail descends through the forest and along the occasional farmed land to St Peter and the city business district and then returns to the starting point via Vršanska and Stjepan Radić Streets.

Highlights:

– Upper City Gates, Krk

– Monastery of the Third Order Regular of St Francis of Penance and the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Krk

– Benedictine monastery and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Krk

– Church of Our Lady of Health, Krk

– city walls

– olive groves

– Magriž family farm

– remnants of the abandoned settlement of Lizer