Barban. Town Center

Barban, located on a plateau, is a small historical settlement. The dominant location above the terrain played a strategic role in the development of the settlement, which gradually evolved into a fortified fortress with round and square towers. The preserved part of the fortress gates, with arched passageway, is seen in the background.

The village is famous for the knights’ game, “Race for the Ring,” which was first held in 1696, during the reign of the Venetian merchant dynasty of Loredan. In 1976, the initiative group reconstructed the race, on the basis of historical facts, and it grew into a popular annual sport and entertainment event in Istria.