The ruined castle of Pietrapelosa, also called Kostel, on its crag above the Bračana valley

Castle & fortressIstria

Pietrapelosa: the moss-covered castle above the Bračana valley

Pietrapelosa (locally Kostel) is a castle ruin on a high crag a few kilometres west of Buzet, in the Croatian part of Istria. It stands at the head of the Bračana valley and still has its three-storey walls and the outline of its watchtower. Few visitors come this way, and the view over northern Istria rewards the effort of finding it.

Pietrapelosa means “hairy stone”, a name it earned from the moss that has always grown on its walls. Perched on a crag in northern Istria, it is one of the best-preserved castles of the peninsula.

WhereOn a crag above the Bračana river, a few kilometres west of Buzet, northern Istria, Croatia

TypeMedieval castle, now ruined and partly restored, with a Romanesque chapel

Best forHidden gems in Istria, hilltop views and quiet exploring

Getting thereReached from a local road, then a small asphalt road and finally a gravel track; Pazin Castle is about 19 km away

The history of Pietrapelosa

The crag was lived on long before the castle existed. Fragments of Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery have been found here, along with a hoard of iron weapons dated to around 600 BC, and the terraces of a prehistoric hillfort can still be recognised on the north side. A Roman fortified post is also believed to have stood on the rock, although archaeological research has not fully confirmed every theory about the earliest fort.

Little is known about the site between the 8th and 11th centuries. The Franks took over Istria at the end of the 8th century and brought the feudal system with them, and German families became the lords of the fortified castles they built. One account suggests that the medieval fortress was raised on the remains of the prehistoric hillfort.

The castle first appears in writing in a document of 965, in which Rodaold, patriarch of Aquileia, gave it to the bishopric of Poreč. According to the Croatian sources, the deed names a stronghold called Ruvin, from the Latin word for ruins, and this name later gave the German Rauenstein, which was then translated literally as Petra Pilosa. In the 13th century the castle passed to a family of German knights who took its name and became the “de Pietrapelosa”. In 1208 the patriarchs granted it to their vassal Vulginius de Petrapilosa, whose descendants held it until the death of the last of the family, Nicolò, in 1352. It was also the seat of the lieutenant governor of Istria for the patriarchs of Aquileia.

In 1421 the Venetian commander Taddeo d'Este conquered the castle and ended the secular rule of the patriarchs of Aquileia, and Istria was divided between the Republic of Venice and the Habsburg County of Pazin. In 1440 the Venetian Council of Ten granted Pietrapelosa to the nobleman Nicolò Gravisi, with the title of Marquis of Pietrapelosa. He renovated the castle and used it as a summer residence.

A fire in 1635 destroyed the interior, but the castle was restored and stayed inhabited, mostly by soldiers and occasionally by nobles, until the 18th century. The chapel of St Mary Magdalene held its last service in 1793. The Gravisi family kept it until the final abolition of the feudal system in 1869 and were the only aristocratic family of Koper to own such an estate. After the castle was abandoned it fell into ruin; it has only recently been restored.

Curiosities about Pietrapelosa

The Italian name Pietrapelosa means “hairy stone”, after the moss that has always covered the walls.
Locals simply call it Kostel; other names for the castle include Kosmati grad and Kosmati Kostel, a direct translation of “hairy”.
The castle came through the many wars that ravaged Istria without being destroyed.
It is the second-largest castle on the Istrian peninsula, with only Pazin Castle larger, and it is said to hold the oldest stone toilet in Istria.
A residential area without walls grew up on the crag beside the castle.
The Gravisi family held the title of Marquis of Pietrapelosa from 1440 and kept the estate until the abolition of the feudal system in 1869.

Tours near Pietrapelosa

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Kayaking at the Mreznica Canyon

★ 4.9 (184 reviews) · 3 h

See details ›

Kayaking on Upper Mreznica River - Slunj, Croatia

★ 4.9 (184 reviews) · 3 h

See details ›

Kayaking Mrežnica river

★ 4.9 (171 reviews) · 4 h

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Mreznica Waterfalls Kayaking Adventure Near Plitvice Lakes

★ 5 (147 reviews) · 4 h

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Visiting Pietrapelosa

Look for the three-storey outer walls, which are still intact, and the polygonal watchtower, the best-preserved building of the complex, which rises about 20 m on a small rocky crag at the western end.
The palace chapel of St Mary Magdalene dates from the 12th century and follows the classic Istrian style, with one nave and a bell tower.
From the castle there is a dramatic view of northern Istria.
The last stretch is by gravel track, so allow time and take care on foot or by car. Check locally what is open and accessible before you go.
Pazin Castle lies about 19 km away and combines well with Pietrapelosa in a day exploring inland Istria.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Pietrapelosa is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Photos of Pietrapelosa

Questions

Where is Pietrapelosa and how do you get there?

It stands on a crag above the Bračana river, a few kilometres west of Buzet. The approach is from a local road, then a small asphalt road and finally a gravel track.

What does Pietrapelosa mean?

The Italian name means “hairy stone”, from the moss that has always grown on the castle walls. Locals call it Kostel.

How old is Pietrapelosa?

It is first mentioned in a document of 965, but the crag was inhabited long before, since at least the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Who owned Pietrapelosa?

After the patriarchs of Aquileia and a family of German knights, it passed to the Gravisi family in 1440, who held the title of Marquis of Pietrapelosa and owned it until 1869.

What can you see at Pietrapelosa?

You can see the intact three-storey walls, the remains of the watchtower, the Romanesque chapel of St Mary Magdalene and views over northern Istria.

Is Pietrapelosa a ruin?

Yes, the castle fell into ruin after it was abandoned, although it is one of the best-preserved castles in Istria and has only recently been restored.