The City of Labin covers the area of 71.85 km2 and according to the 2011 Census, its population is 11,642 people.
Labin is situated on the eastern coast of Istria and lies at a distance of 5 km from Rabac, the tourist pearl of Kvarner Bay. The Old Town is situated on a hill while the other part of the city is called “Podlabin” (it originally developed as a mining settlement in the 1930s). Intense mining activities were carried out in Labin and its surrounding areas for more than 400 years. For a long period of time, the miners represented the backbone of Labin’s economy. Also known as the birthplace of Matija Vlačić Ilirik who was a reformist and Martin Luther’s first associate, and known for the famous Labin Republic from 1921, today Labin represents a developed cultural and administrative center. The area of the City of Labin comprises of the following 17 communities: Bartići, Breg, Duga Luka, Gondolići, Gora Glušići, Kapelica, Kranjci, Labin, Marceljani, Presika, Rabac, Ripenda Kosi, Ripenda Kras, Ripenda Verbanci, Rogočana, Salakovci and Vinež.
With its aimed planning and direct investment in economic development and indirect investment in infrastructure, the City of Labin has created the prerequisites for a significant economic growth and development. By planning investments in infrastructure on a rational and long-term basis, and having in mind the needs of the citizens and economic subjects, the City of Labin aims to be a partner to entrepreneurs and individuals whose interest is to invest in the area of the City of Labin.
With its natural beauties, cultural sights and economic potential focused on small and medium-sized companies and trades, Labin has become a good place to live and to invest.
Municipality of Kršan
The Municipality of Kršan covers the area of 124 km2, and according to the 2011 Census, its population is 2,951 people.
The area that belongs to the Municipality of Kršan is situated in the central part of the eastern coastal part of the Istrian peninsula. It is situated between Kvarner Bay, the Bay of Plomin and the Plomin Cove, the River Raša valley, the hills of central Istria and the area of Učka and Brestova on the sea.
The Municipality of Kršan consists of 23 communities: Kršan, Blaškovići, Veljaki, Lazarići, Boljevići, Čambarelići, Kožljak, Jesenovik, Nova Vas, Šušnjevica, Letaj, Kostrčani, Lanišće, Zankovci, Polje Čepić, Zatka Čepić, Purgarija, Plomin, Plomin Luka, Stepčići, Vozilići, Zagorje and Potpićan.
Kršan has every right to be proud of its rich cultural and historical heritage that in some places dates back to the 11th century.
No matter where you start your visit, you can feel the beauty and diversity of this area, from the Citadel of Kršan, the place where the document called Istrian Demarcation (“Istarski Razvod”) was found, the Plomin Church of St. Juraj the Old that houses the oldest known Glagolitic inscription – the Plomin tablet, from the western massifs of Učka and Kožljak Castle, the Romanic Church of St. Quirinus with 15th century frescoes with the details of the deputation by the famous painter Albert, from the town of Čepić and the lake that bears the same name that was drained and turned into arable fields, or from the youngest community in Istria – Potpićan.
The area of Kršan Municipality blends the combination of the remains of the Glagolitic and sacral heritage and old crafts with modern tourist offer and a variety of gastronomic delights, and if you take a better look and sense the beauty of the nature of this area, you will surely see, and possibly hear the tender song of the endemic plant species – the Istrian Bluebell.
Municipality of Pićan
The Municipality of Pićan covers the area of 50,92 km2 and according to the 2011 census 1,827 people live there. Pićan is situated in Istria, 12 km southeast of Pazin, on the regional road Pazin-Kršan. The Municipality consists of 10 communities: Grobnik, Jakomići, Krbune, Kukurini, Montovani, Orič, Pićan, Sveta Katarina, Tupljak and Zajci.
Its favourable strategic position influenced the construction of a prehistoric hill fort and it is no wonder that during the Roman reign Pićan became a military stronghold. From 6th to 18th century it was also the seat of the sole diocese in the inland area of Istria with 12 parishes and due to such connection with the Roman church, it always had an important role and power in central Istria.
During the Byzantine rule, Pićan became the administrative seat of the central part of Istria. In the 10th century, Pazin and Pićan were ruled by the patriarch of Aquileia who gave Pićan as feud to the founder of the Pazin County in the 12th century. Being a part of the Pazin County, Pićan came under the rule of Habsburgs in the 14th century where it remained for a long period of time.
The sights include the partially preserved medieval walls and the town gate from the 14th century, next to which lies the former Bishop’s Palace. We should also mention the small church of St. Roko from the 17th century and the church of St Mihovil on the cemetery grounds with frescoes from the 15th century and the Parish Church erected on the foundations of the 14th century cathedral.
The 48-meter high church tower was built at the end of the 19th century and it is among the tallest in Istria. Next to it there is a stone measure which was once used for collecting the tithe. Some other preserved remains include a valuable organ, many relics, inscriptions and memories that tell stories about the rich period of the seat of the diocese.
Municipality of Raša
The Municipality of Raša covers the area of 80,15 km2 and according to the 2011 Census, its population is 3,183 people.
The Municipality comprises of 23 communities: Brgod, Brovinje, Diminići (Sveti Lovreč Labinski), Crni, Drenje, Koromačno, Krapan, Kunj, Letajac, Most Raša, Polje, Raša, Ravni, Skitača, Stanišovi, Sveta Marina, Sveti Bartul, Škvaranska, Topid, Trget, Trgetari, Viškovići.
Raša, the youngest town in Istria, was built in only 547 days for the needs of the local coal mine and it was one of many newly built towns (città di fondazione) in the period of Italian administration, i.e. during the Fascist era. The construction of the town began in late April 1936 and a year later most buildings were already finished, so the citizens started to move in and the inauguration ceremony took place on 4 November 1937.
The Gustavo Pulitzer Square houses the Church of St. Barbara. G. Pulitzer designed a very elegant church with minimalist lines, built in the form of the overturned mining cars, with a bell tower that resembles a miner’s lamp.
After the Second World War, the destiny of Raša can be considered a paradox. On the one hand, due to its unintentional Fascist history it was systematically neglected and left to downfall and at the same time it was praised and respected as the producer of the valuable black gold, but all with the aim of its maximum exploitation. In the period of Yugoslav administration, the Municipality of Raša was integrated into the Municipality of Labin and in the new Croatian state it regained the status as an individual municipality. Since then, many efforts have been made in order to re-evaluate this town that was once an extremely significant mining center.
The most significant company today is the cement factory in Koromačno. The River Raša valley continues to provide extremely good conditions for agriculture and the Municipality has a wide access to the sea, enabling the development of the fishing trade. Tourism sector includes two campsites with the capacity to host several hundreds of tourists and over two hundred private rooms and apartments for rent as well as a significant number of other smaller catering facilities.
Municipality of Sveta Nedelja
The Municipality of Sveta Nedelja covers the area of 64,00 km2 and according to the 2011 census, its population is 2,987 people.
The Municipality of Sveta Nedelja is located on the eastern part of central Istria. The specific significance of its economic development was Dubrova industrial zone, built during the replacement of “Coalmines Raša”, right next to D66 state road. The characteristic of the area of Sveta Nedelja Municipality is also its geographical position in the hinterland of the City of Labin, meaning that it can offer great benefits for rural tourism of central Istria as well as the vicinity of coastal tourism of the eastern part of Istria.
The particularity on the area of the Municipality of Sveta Nedelja, within its cultural activity, is the Mediterranean Sculpture Symposium on the area of Dubrova, which has been functioning for more than thirty years as an outdoor museum.
The richness of cultural heritage is registered on the area of the Municipality of Sveta Nedelja, from medieval forts on the verge of the River Raša canyon to country houses on the estates of Labin’s noblemen, some of which are categorized as objects of great significance for the state. Along with conservation research and building repair and development, this is one of the possibilities of developing the day-trip tourism and the future development of the Municipality.
The particularly valuable area of natural landscape that stretches above the River Raša valley along its eastern coast represents a unique characteristic of the area and as such it can also be included in the offer of day-trip tourism and contribute to the economic development of the Municipality.