MERISCE AND SURROUNDING AREA
Merisce is one of those rare places where a sense of peace and tranquillity prevails. The village is set on the end of a ridge and provides breathtaking views in all directions.

The town of Momjan, and the landmark ruined tower of its 13th century castle, provide a picturesque view to the east.

Momjan which boasts excellent restaurants, a shop and a post office is only a few minutes drive away.

Similar distance is the village of Kremenje and the highly regarded Restaurant Marino. These local restaurants offer many dishes based on truffles, the surrounding area being one of the principal truffle regions in Europe. 10 to 15 minutes drive takes you to other mediaeval hilltop towns.


Of particular interest are Groznjan, an ancient medieval settlement now restored as a centre for arts and music; Oprtalj, a fortified town with a 16th century church and spectacular views over the surrounding countryside; and Motovun, the most commercially developed of the hilltop towns which has a wider range of shops and cafes.

Excellent wines are produced in the area and well marked wine routes lead you through beautiful countryside to wineries where you can sample some of the best Croatian wines. Notable is the Kosolovic winery only 3 minutes drive from Merisce.

The principal town of the area, Buje, is no more than 6 kilometres from Merisce, and provides for all shopping and other sevices.

The Adriatic coast clearly visible from Merisce’s vantage point is some 10 kilometres distant at its closest point. The popular coastal resorts of Umag and Novigrad are approximately 20 km distant. The fortification and walls around the medieval old town of Novigrad are well preserved and a walk through the narrow streets is as rewarding as a swim in the clear waters outside the town walls. Umag also has a charming old town reflecting the architecture and culture of the Venetians who controlled this town during the middle ages. Venice itself is a feasible daytrip from Merisce - less than 3 hours drive. Other towns on the Istrian coast of particular interest are Porec, Vrsar and Rovinj.

CULTURE AND SPORT
Umag is also an important sports centre, particularly for tennis, hosting the Croatian ATP tennis championships every July. Motuvun hosts an annual international film festival and Groznjan is the focus of regular musicial events. The region’s Roman and Venetian heritage is well displayed in its rich architecture.

LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY
Merisce is located just south of Croatia’s border with Slovenia and some 40 kilometres from the Italian border at Trieste. The area is well served by airports being approximately 1½ hours drive time both from Trieste airport and from Pula airport. Ryanair flies daily to Trieste from London Stansted (2 hour flight time) and Croatia Airlines to Pula with connections from Zagreb. Slightly further away but still within reach are Ljubljana (Easyjet), Treviso (Ryanair) and Venice Marco Polo (British Airways).

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