Beram, Medieval hilltop settlement in Pazin, Croatia
Beram is a hilltop settlement in Istria County, Croatia, a short distance from Pazin. The old stone houses are arranged around the central Church of Saint Martin, and the layout of the streets has changed little over the centuries.
Beram was first mentioned in writing in 911, but the hill was already inhabited in the Bronze Age. Over time, the settlement was reinforced with double defensive walls, parts of which can still be seen today.
Just outside the village stands a small chapel dedicated to Saint Mary, which holds a set of Gothic frescoes painted around 1474. One of them shows a Dance of Death scene, where figures from all walks of life appear alongside Death, a theme common in late medieval art.
The village sits on a steep hill, so sturdy footwear and a reasonable level of fitness make the visit more comfortable. The original entrance gate is still in place and serves as a natural starting point for exploring on foot.
Excavations carried out in 1883 uncovered more than 170 burial sites containing urns, pointing to a prehistoric community that used this hill long before the medieval period. These findings place Beram among the more thoroughly documented prehistoric sites in Istria.
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