It is surrounded by a renaissance town palace, the town lodge and the parish church of St. Stjepan with a bell tower. In front of Hotel Kaštel is a terrace with centuries-old chestnut trees which also mark the begining of the promenade through the walls of the city. Palace Pollesini, where Hotel Kaštel is located, was carefully furnished and adjusted to the needs of our guests. In the warm and domestic atmosphere of this family hotel, tradition, a pleasant ambient and comfort intertwine. In the magical surrounding landscape – the Motovun forests and the Mirna River along with famous vineyards, the wellness Hotel Kaštel can guest up to 70 people in its 33 accommodation units.

The guests can find true pleasure in having their morning coffee or dining specialties from the kitchen of our restaurant in the shade of centuries old chestnut trees and closed areas of the restaurant. Almost every window of the magical construction offers an exceptional view of the town square, the town streets, the landscape of central Istria, the valley of the Mirna River and famous Motovun vineyards hich give a feeling of complete relaxation from the moment you wake up and till you go to sleep.

Welcome to
magical Motovun

Motovun is a city-monument, an ancient Istrian acropolis city situated on the top of a 277 meter-high hill whose current appearance originates from the Middle Ages, the 12th and 13th century. The longest Istrian stairway with 1052 stairs leads to the top of the Motovun hill and its Venetian city square. From the rich construction heritage of Motovun, we give special attention to the city door with a tower, the renaissance palace, the city lodge, the parish church of St. Stjepan, the smaller churches of Madonna dei Servi and Madonna delle porte, the medieval arrangement of the streets, the city tank and many emblems on the front of buildings. The position and landscape of Motovun make it one of the most beautiful older cities on the Mediterranean. Hotel Kaštel is located on the main town square, in a 17th century palace.

Vineyards are spread all around Motovun where the grapes for the famous Istrian wines Teran and Malvasia grow, while the Motovun forest, which spreads kilometres through the Mirna valley is the habitat for the famous underground mushroom called the truffle which is dug out in this area with the help of specially trained dogs. Summer and early autumn is the time the black truffles grow (Tuber Aestivium) and during late autumn and winter the tastiest and expensive white truffles are taken out (Tuber magnatum-Pico). In October the Days of Truffles are marked in several places in the Mirna valley, and meals with truffles are the pride and offer of Hotel Kaštel in Motovun.

Across from Motovun is the picturesque town of Oprtalj and the place called Livade, known for the Days of Truffles which are held there from September to November. In Livade, which is also called the international centre for truffles, a special festival is organized each year with a contest for the largest truffle.

This sort of energy affects people by making them feel relaxed and calm, their concentration and spirituality is increased, it rests and rejuvenates, benefits meditation and develops creativity and tolerance. Maybe this is the reason for the numerous Motovun gatherings and the creative companionship of people from all over the world. An old legend says that a long time ago giants lived in the valley of the Mirna River. They were so large that, by looking at the cities on the hills over Mirna, they handed tools and large stones to each other. One of the cities which were built in that legendary time was Motovun. Many years later, when Istria was inhabited by ordinary people as well, the giants started disappearing, but through the legends and stories of Vladimir Nazor, the Motovun Giant “Veli Jože” was remembered. He was so large and strong that he was able to shake the bell tower of the Motovun church with his bare hands.