Barban (,

Čakavian Chakavian or Čakavian (, , , proper name: or own name: ''čokovski, čakavski, čekavski'') is a South Slavic languages, South Slavic supradialect or language spoken by Croats along the Adriatic coast, in the historical regions of Dalmati ...

''Barbon'', or ''Brban'') is a small town and municipality in the southern part of eastern

Istria Istria ( ; Croatian language, Croatian and Slovene language, Slovene: ; Italian language, Italian and Venetian language, Venetian: ; ; Istro-Romanian language, Istro-Romanian: ; ; ) is the largest peninsula within the Adriatic Sea. Located at th ...

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

. The municipality of Barban covers an area of around 100 km² and contains 23 settlements with a total of 2,491 people.

History

The site of a

Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...

prehistoric

hill fort A hillfort is a type of fortification, fortified refuge or defended settlement located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typical of the late Bronze Age Europe, European Bronze Age and Iron Age Europe, Iron Age. So ...

, human remains have been found on the site that dates back approximately 3,400-4,000 years back. The name Barban appears for the first time in an ecclesiastic document dated 740 A.D. In the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, the town was fortified while under control of feudal lords from Pazin, and parts of those

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

fortifications can still be seen. In the second half of the 13th century, having been depopulated by the plague in 1312, a small colony of Dalmatians from Finodol settled in the area, brought by the counts of

Gorizia Gorizia (; ; , ; ; ) is a town and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, Region ...

. In 1374, upon the death of Albert IV, Count of Pazin, it became a full

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout Europe d ...

possession, before being taken over by the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

in the 16th century. The Loredan

noble family Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the rea ...

bought Barban from the

counts Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

in Pazin in 1535. In the main square, which is reached by passing through ''Velika Vrata'' (the Great Gate, 1718), stands the St. Nicholas

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

with

baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

altars and paintings by Venetian masters from the 16th-18th centuries, a Late Gothic stone tabernacle, and wooden baroque sculptures.

Demographics

In 2021, the municipality had 2,491 residents in the following 23 settlements: *Barban, population 218 * Bičići, population 69 * Borinići, population 5 * Draguzeti, population 75 * Glavani, population 77 * Grandići, population 122 * Hrboki, population 159 * Jurićev Kal, population 44 * Koromani, population 50 * Kožljani, population 49 * Manjadvorci, population 165 * Melnica, population 175 * Orihi, population 101 * Petehi, population 90 * Prhati, population 135 * Puntera, population 67 * Rajki, population 6 * Rebići, population 118 * Rojnići, population 47 * Sutivanac, population 333 * Šajini, population 175 * Vadreš, population 56 * Želiski, population 155 In 2011, out of 2,721 people, 75% were

Croats The Croats (; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighboring countries in Central Europe, Central and Southeastern Europe who share a common Croatian Cultural heritage, ancest ...

. The town of Barban itself had a population of 221.

Prstenac tournament

An equestrian tournament, known as ''Trka na prstenac'' and very similar to

Sinjska alka The Sinjska alka () is an equestrian competition held in the Croatian town of Sinj. It commemorates a Croatian–Venetian Republic, Venetian Ottoman–Venetian War (1714–18)#Austrian intervention and conclusion of the war, victory in the Ottom ...

, is held in Barban on the third Sunday in August. It is a medieval jousting game that goes back to 1696 in Barban, but it is much older in origins and is otherwise celebrated in various forms in several medieval towns in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

today. This tradition draws tourists and spectators in great numbers in a lively and popular celebration.

References

Sources

Trka na prstenac

External links

*

at Istrianet.org {{Authority control Municipalities of Croatia Populated places in Istria County