113 Mune and Žejane

 

Mark: 113

Distance: 37,5 km

Altitude change: 590 m

 

Route 113 marks the circular cycling trail "Mune and Žejane,” stretching 37.5 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 590 meters. The route is mainly on paved roads and begins in Jušići. Today, Mune consists of two separate settlements—Vele Mune and Male Mune—approximately 500 meters apart. They are situated along the Vodice–Žejane road, from which a turnoff leads toward Starod (Slovenia). The villages are surrounded by small fertile fields and pastures nestled in the valley between two mountain ridges of Ćićarija.During the Second World War, in the course of the German military operation Braunschweig, 119 houses and 100 farm buildings were burned in Vele Mune, and 99 houses along with 85 farm buildings in Male Mune and Žejane. Žejane (Istro-Romanian: Žejân; Italian: Seiane) is a settlement located on Ćićarija, 18 kilometers northwest of Matulji. To this day, the inhabitants of Žejane have preserved remnants of their traditional speech (Istro-Romanian, locally known as žejånska limba).In 1754, the residents of Žejane and Mune were granted an imperial privilege to sell wine vinegar (jesih), as well as charcoal, throughout the Austrian lands. As a result, they spent part of the year traveling and selling vinegar across Carniola (Kranjska), Styria (Štajerska), and neighboring regions.The road route from Jušići, following the main road toward Mune and Žejane, offers an escape from the bustle of city life and provides a chance to recharge, as it winds through forests rich in mushrooms. The history of Mune and Žejane has not been forgotten; houses are being restored and now offer accommodation to visitors.