BASIC INFORMATION AND LOCATION

Lubenice is a village in the central part of the island of Cres near the west coast. The village is located on a 378-meter-high cliff and has just over 20 inhabitants. Travel by car takes place after crossing the Krk Bridge to the Valbiska pier on the island of Krk, after which you take a ferry to the Cres pier Merag, 33 kilometers from Lubenice. Another way to get there is from the Brestova pier on the east coast of Istria, after which you take a ferry to the Cres pier Porozina, which is 44 kilometers from Lubenice. Arrivals by plane take place at Rijeka Airport near Omišalj on the island of Krk. You can take a train to the nearest train station in Rijeka, which is 93 kilometers from Lubenice. In Rijeka, you can then take a bus to the town of Cres, where you must take a local bus line to Lubenice. From Rijeka, you can also get to Cres by catamaran, which stops in the Cres harbor. Lubenice is a very small town and does not have its own seaport.

CULTURE, HISTORY AND ATTRACTIONS

In the area of present-day Lubenice, there was a prehistoric hillfort from which the ancient town of Hibernitia developed. At the foot of the settlement, there was probably a villa rustica at that time, the archaeological remains of which were found together with numerous jewelry, coins, parts of amphorae and other objects. In the Middle Ages, the settlement was named Zubjenice (Ljubljenice). The remains of these old walls and the city gate have been preserved to this day. Next to the southern city gate, you can see the Romanesque church of Sveta Nedjelja, the renovated Gothic church of St. Anthony the Hermit. The church of St. Nicholas, which is outside the walls, was built in the Gothic style and dates from the 15th century. Another church from the same century is the church of St. James, and in the local cemetery there is the church of St. Stephen from the 17th or 18th century. The center of religious buildings in the settlement is the parish church of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a bell tower from the 18th century.

BEACHES

Below the cliff on which Lubenice lies there are several smaller beaches and coves, but the central beach where most visitors spend their time is St. Ivan. The beach can be reached on foot or by organized boat. The beach is unique because of its untouched nature and is ideal for peace because there are not many swimmers. The German magazine Bild ranked the beach 15th in the competition of the 40 most beautiful beaches in the world.

OTHER CONTENT

The restaurants that make this small town stand out are the Hibernicia tavern, MaMaLu and Na moru. In them you can enjoy island delicacies and relax with a refreshing drink. During the summer season, the central event in the town is the Lubenice Evenings. During the event, many concerts by numerous international and Croatian authors take place, and a suitable cultural and gastronomic offer is organized in the town center. Concerts in Lubenice can also take place in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the season.

SPORT

Lubenice is very famous for its sport climbing due to its specific location and climate. It is not uncommon for climbing enthusiasts to come to Lubenice for an active holiday. The surroundings of the village can also be interesting for cyclists, as the demanding trails on uneven terrain present a great challenge. In addition to the beaches in the village, you can find some water sports equipment rental companies.

WHAT TO DO – EXCURSION OPPORTUNITIES

The first idea for a day trip could certainly be to go to the beach of St. Ivan. It is reached by a path down a cliff that is demanding, but offers enjoyment of the beautiful surroundings of Lubenice and movement through untouched nature. For longer trips, it is convenient to take a local bus from Lubenice and visit other larger places on the island of Cres. A destination for enjoying nature is the Tramuntana forest. Animal lovers can always visit one of the ornithological reserves where the griffon vulture, an endangered bird species on the island, can be found. From other centers of the island, a boat trip can be organized to the neighboring islands of Krk, Lošinj, Rab or Pag.

ACCOMMODATION

Lubenice does not have a hotel or boarding house, so the organization of accommodation takes place in private apartments, of which there are plenty on offer. The closest camp compared to Lubenice is certainly the Zdovice camp in Valun, which is only 7 kilometers away. Other Cres camps are within a radius of 20 to 30 kilometers. The nearest marinas are located next to the town of Cres, which is 20 kilometers away.