July 29, 2020 – If you ever find yourself thinking how you've already seen all of Croatian's beautiful nature, you're probably wrong. One of the unexplored beauties of Istria is Zarečki krov, a cave reminiscent of a roof, which is why it got a name “krov”, meaning roof in Croatian.

It is located near Pazin in Istria, where the river Pazinčica, in its flow, creates a ten-meter high waterfall above the cave. The waterfall falls into a ten-meter deep lake, which is the main attraction for swimmers. Even the heartland of Istria also has a place to freshen up.

Even if you're not willing to swim in a lake or jump from “the roof”, you can enjoy breathtaking views, clean, emerald water and the reflection of the blue sky in it.

Beautiful in every season

Depending on the seasons and the amount of water in the river, the waterfall changes its size, so you can either see a nice, small waterfall, or a big gorgeous one.

Local people know the beauty of Zarečki krov very well, so they also visit it during the winter when the water is frozen and when it creates beautiful ice flowstones.

During the summer, tourists come to Zarečki krov to find refreshments, have a picnic, and enjoy beautiful central Istrian nature. Swimming and jumping from the “roof” of the cave in a lake are the main activities, as well as walking around and even hiking.

Even competitions in jumping and amateur water polo are also held here!

How to get there

This lovely attraction sits along with the flow of the river Pazinčica near the city of Pazin in Istria. It’s less than three kilometers away from Pazin towards a smaller town called Cerovlje.

If you're driving through the Istrian Y from the coast, you can either exit in Pazin or Cerovlje, although the closest exit to Zarečki krov is Ivoli, though it is currently closed.

If you’re driving from the direction of the Učka tunnel, you must exit the Y at Cerovlje and drive three more kilometers towards the village of Zarečje.

Google Maps will lead you to Zarečki krov through the village of Zarečje, but you can also get there from the other side of the river through the macadam road.

It takes only an hour car ride from Rijeka, Pula, or Umag to Zarečki krov, and even less than an hour from the Istrian cities of Poreč and Rovinj. 

A place of Tranquility

Istria is full of hidden gems like Zarečki krov that are still waiting to be discovered, but sometimes, the fact that they're not well-known is what makes them even more special. Therefore, whoever wants to stop and relax for a bit, Zarečki krov is the right place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

If you find yourself driving towards the Istrian coast, or if you're in a rush to come back home to central Croatia, make sure to stop for an hour or two and inhale a freshness of the untouched nature.

WWF Adria has launched a website to highlight the importance of Croatia's natural values.