Tourists who visit the Kvarner islands of Cres and Lošinj, almost as an unwritten rule, always take a trip to the stone town of Lubenice, which leaves no one indifferent: built on a vertical cliff that plunges from a height of 378 meters into the sea, it seems to float between the sky and the earth. Even the seagulls here do not circle above the settlement, but fly over the huge abyss above the cliffs and the sea surface.
In the small town on the island of Cres, with a history spanning 4000 years, there are two winding alleys – without names, only with 42 house numbers. However, most houses are abandoned and from the former two hundred inhabitants, only six now live in Lubenice, writes Wikidata.
The Roman settlement Hibernicia was located where today‘s Lubenice stands. It is believed that the name originates from the Latin adjective Hibernum - "winter", which may be related to the prominent position of the settlement on a steep cliff, at a height of 378 m, which is especially exposed to strong winds in winter. The settlement developed, as in Beli, on the foundations of a prehistoric hillfort and had a very important geographical and strategic position that allowed control over the entire western part of Kvarner and all the shipping routes of this part of the waters. It is possible that at the beginning of Roman rule there was only a fortification at this location, which later grew into an agrarian settlement with surrounding fields. Since the settlement has remained on the same, very limited site to this day, few traces of the Roman settlement have been preserved. The settlement was once completely surrounded by defensive walls, the remains of which, as well as the remains of city gates, can still be seen today.
The medieval stone architecture leaves a strong impression on visitors, as a walk through the small, narrow, and ancient streets takes you back to bygone times and gives you the feeling that you are walking through the corridors of history. As soon as you step into Lubenice, the view takes your breath away. The former strategic position is now a viewpoint that you will not want to leave. However, explore Lubenice. Located right on the viewpoint is the Gothic chapel of St. Anthony the Hermit from the 15th century. Besides its impressive position, which makes it seem as if the chapel itself is carved into the rock, enter and experience the incredible acoustics of the building itself. It is used during the Lubenice Music Evenings for solo concerts.
Next to the chapel of St. Anthony stands a bell tower built in 1791, which belongs to the main parish church, B.D. Mary. The bell tower, which was built right next to the church, was demolished the same year because both the church and the bell tower often suffered lightning strikes. The foundations of the church of B.D. Mary date from the time the settlement was founded, but they are no longer visible. The church as you see it today was restored in the 18th century and expanded in 1907.
In Lubenice there is a Sheep Farming Museum, founded at the beginning of the last decade. Sheep farming is widespread on the island of Cres, and the wool of the indigenous Cres sheep was once highly valued. If you visit, you will learn more about the history of wool on Cres.
Below Lubenice there is a view of the beautiful St. Ivan beach, which you can reach on foot from the village itself. The path to the beach is narrow and steep and takes about 45 minutes, but when you reach the beach, it is worth every step.
During the summer, the Town of Cres traditionally organizes music evenings in Lubenice, which are attended by a large number of guests. Concerts are held in the Church of St. Mary, and in the square in front of the church, the ceremonial opening and closing of the "Lubenice Evenings" is held, featuring numerous world and Croatian authors, writes visitcres.hr.
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