In hidden depths of the canyon, on the slope of the mountain of Učka, lies the mythical village Trebišća, an abandoned settlement that is an integral part of the municipality of Mošćenička Draga. This area had a special meaning for the first Slavic settlers to Kvarner, which is indicated by the name of the settlement: “treba”, which in Old Slavic meant “sacrifice”, while the hill of Perun above Trebišća shares its name with the supreme god of the Slavic mythology. Trebišća today includes several traditional buildings and the remains of a former mill surrounded by the deep shade of forests and streams. In the very heart of the settlement there is a restored mill, a material expression of the presence of the god Perun.
The interpretive contents set in the restored mill represent to the visitor the rich mythical heritage of this area. The story takes us more than five hundred years into history when the mill in Trebišća was built, until the time of the arrival of the first Slavic settlers for whom Trebišće was the stage of their most sacred beliefs. The restored mill technique presents the traditional way of processing flour from grain, which according to old Slavic beliefs is brought to us by the god Veles, the protector of peasants, shepherds and cattle, the giver of prosperity and grain wealth.
Trebišća are the central point of the mythical-historical trail “Trebišća-Perun”, 13 km long, which leads to the top of the hill of Perun (880 m). Info-educational panels and artistic sculptures, made in stone by an academic sculptor Ljubo De Karina, are placed along the trail. They introduce the visitor to the main elements of Old Slavic mythology related to the change of seasons (the battle of Veles and Perun), the origin of the world and other beliefs the Slavic mythology, and connect ancient deities such as Perun (supreme god of sky and lightning, who controlled thunder and lightning) and Veles (god of chaos, underground and cattle), with toponyms in the landscape (the peak of Perun, Volovski kuk).
Halfway to the top to the hill Perun is situated high plateau Petrebišća with restored shepherd’s huts. Not far from Petrebišća there is a stone sculpture of the Slavic god Veles, depicted in the shape of a snake. Arriving at the very top of Perun hill (880 m) completes the mythical story of this area and the beliefs of the ancient Slavs through interesting quotes carved in stone, the final interpretation panel and a wooden totem that symbolically depicts Perun looking at all four corners of the world.
STARTING POINT: Tourist board of Mošćenička Draga, Aleja Slatina 7, Mošćenička Draga
TOTAL LENGTH OF THE MYTHICAL-HISTORICAL TRAIL TREBIŠĆA – PERUN: 13 km
LENGTH OF THE HISTORICAL – MYTHICAL TRAIL FROM M. DRAGA TO THE SETTLEMENT OF TREBIŠĆA: 5 km
Contact
Municipality of Mošćenička Draga
Trg Slobode 7
51417 Mošćenička Draga
HRVATSKA
T: +385 (51) 737 621
F: +385 (51) 737 210
E: info@moscenicka-draga.hr
W: http://www.moscenicka-draga.hr