Bale, a hidden gem with stone alleys and rich history

This historic stone town is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards and is only five kilometers away from the sea and untouched coast. Narrow, cobbled streets around the medieval castle of the Bembo family from the 15th century conceal many stories from the city's tumultuous past. The Soardo-Bembo Castle, a beautiful Gothic-Renaissance building from the 16th century, is considered one of the most significant monuments in Croatia. In the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bale, there is a lapidarium with stone sculptures and remains from antiquity to the late Middle Ages, including the sarcophagus of Blessed Julian, the patron saint of Bale.

Dinosaurs were an incredible discovery in 1992 when fossilized bones were found on the seabed, including remains of a brachiosaurus. These discoveries make Bale one of the rare places in the world with underwater paleontological sites, dating back as far as 200 million years. Bale is also known for its diversity of butterflies, with as many as 390 species living in the clean and untouched area, many of which are rare and protected. The coast, nine kilometers long, offers clean sea and pristine natural scenery with archaeological sites and a fortification complex from the Austro-Hungarian Empire era. Nearby is the Palud ornithological reserve, a habitat for rare species of marshland animals.

Bale, with its extraordinary paleontological sites, rich history, and diverse nature, remains an essential destination for explorers and nature enthusiasts.