Bale - Valle
The charm and beauty of Bale, its adorable alleys, the scent of the sea intermingled with that of the traditional Mediterranean flora, magical sunsets or just a positive vibe that reigns over this whole place, all these things are there to be experienced. By the same token, the story of Bale can be told, at least to an extent, through the story of butterflies that live on the flowery meadows. One important part of the Bale story is the cooperativeness of all citizens of Bale, which already enables the town to function as a hotel town. On the other hand, if you decide to venture outside the city walls after you have visited the parish church, explored the Soardo-Bembo palace, peaked into the Town Hall or seen the artefacts in the crypt, then you definitely have to follow the paths to stancije. These are homesteads surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Another feature of Bale is its pristine shoreline, nine kilometres long where the visitors can admire the fortifications - casemates built between 1898 and 1914 are today one of the best preserved examples of defensive architecture of the 19th and 20th centuries. The fortresses of Monforno, San Benedetto, Caluzzi, Paravia-east, Paravia-west and Paravia barracks are a unique fortification complex whose buildings are still well preserved.
It would leave breathless many of seasoned traveller. Many tourists have taken indigenous products of this area to their homes – olive oil, cheese, wine and aromatic herbs. Not only tourists but people from Istria are lately coming to Bale to see the Sports Hall. No mystery there because the hall is one of the most beautiful sports halls in the world!
Many people come to Bale to visit the ornithological and paleontological exhibits in the MMC “Ulika”. In the showcases of MMC "Ulika" in the Museum of Dinosaurs, there are bones of sauropods, or more popularly, dinosaurs that lived on Earth about 200 million years ago. They were found, that is, surfaced from the sea in Kolone Bay in 1992, they were cleaned and prepared in the Paleontological Museum in Monfalcone. The place was abandoned for a long time, but it is now famous for its many exhibitions - especially the traditional exhibition, Castrum Vallis.
History: The town of Bale, entirely made of stone, embodies Istria's tradition and has been in existence, according to archaeological research, since the Roman period. Fort Bale protected the trade route between Pula and the interior of the peninsula. The Roman Castrum became a walled little town in medieval times. It was first mentioned as Castrum Vallis, that is Valle in 965. Today the Roman Castrum Vallis is a small town whose historical core is located 145 meters above the sea level, surrounded by hills. The Italian name Bala – Valle means valley, and Bale is the valley positioned between hills Monleme, Skvacota, Pizanovac and Veli Majan; Pastrovicev vrh, Sv Nedjelja, Brigonera, Mongrizeja and Sokol. Built structures existed on those hills in pre-historic times.
However, Bale is not just a town. The district of Bale forms a whole with arable land, pastures, forests in which one can easily come across the remains of old buildings, Roman roads, water tanks, wells, Roman villas, oil presses, churches…
You can enjoy peace and tranquillity in Bale, go on a sightseeing expedition to the Gothic-Renaissance Castle Soardo-Bembo, visit the 19th Century tower in the heart of the town and the parish church, take a peak into Town Hall with its 14th Century loggia.
- Population: 1.168 (in 2001 it was 1047)
- The italian autochtonous minority presents the 25% of the entire population.
- Local settlement: Krmed, Golaš, Stancija Črni bjek, Čubani
- Area: 81,90 m2
- Tipical products: wine Malvazija, extra virgin olive oil, sheep cheese and ricotta, cosmetic product made with olives and lavanda.
- Traditional cultural events: Exhibition „Castrum Vallis“, Last minute open Jazz festival, „Bale-Valle armonica“ guitar festival, „Bembo Fest“ theatre, Old crafts festival.
- Traditional gastronomic events: „Čeripnja fest“ traditional food preparation under the lid, „Terranino festival“ dedicated to the sweet tipical wine liqueur.
Contacts
Comune di Valle – Bale Municipality
Martina Poropat Suljić, Referente per la gestione amministrativa e gli affari generali - Officer for office operations, general affairs and social activities
T: +385 52 824 303
E: opcina@bale-valle.hr
Ente turistico di Valle – Tourism Office Bale
Sandi Drandić, Direttore - Director
T: +385 52 824 270
E: info@bale-valle.hr