The paths of the Šavrinke

THE TRAILS OF THE ŠAVRINKE

“I walked up to 150 km a week to ensure my family’s survival. How far would you go?”

From Krkavče, we descended on foot towards the Dragonja River and continued from there towards Istrian villages and towns. Our routes led us to Buje, Grožnjan, Koper, and Trieste, and sometimes even further—towards Buzet, Motovun, Pazin, and even Mount Učka.

I set off on foot, often with goods in a plenjer balanced on my head or with saddlebags (bisage) on a donkey. A single trading journey took two to three days, while a longer loop from home into Istria, back to Krkavče, and then onward to Trieste could mean a journey of 125 to 150 kilometers. Later on, trains, boats, and buses made parts of the journey easier.

Take a look at the map and choose one of my routes. Do you think you could walk it too?

“To ensure my family’s survival, I walked up to 150 kilometers in a single week. How far would you go?”

From Krkavče, we descended on foot or with a little donkey towards the Dragonja River, continuing through Istria and towards the coastal towns. We walked on foot, often carrying goods on our heads or with a donkey. The journey lasted several days; we slept wherever we could and pushed on in the morning.

Take a look at the map and choose my destination. How far could you go with me?