Brest - Muzari (čez Žbevnico)

Access to starting point:
a) Leave the Primorska motorway at the Kastelec exit and follow the signs for Podgorje. Through the Podgorje border crossing we arrive in Croatia. Drive through Jelovice to Vodic, where we turn right. Then drive through Dane to the next intersection, where we turn right towards Brest. The road makes a serpentine and we drive along the slope of Žbevnica. When we arrive in Brest, park on the right side next to the road at the bocce court.
b) Leave the Primorska motorway at the Črni Kal exit and continue on the old road towards the sea, but drive on it only to the next somewhat larger intersection, where we turn left towards the Sočerga border crossing. On the said road drive past Kubed to the village of Gračišče, where at the intersection turn left towards Rakitovec, Movraž and Smokvica. Drive through Smokvica and Movraž to the next intersection, where turn right towards the Rakitovec border crossing. We can also get here via Zazid. Upon arriving in Croatia we reach a wider road coming from Buzet, continue left towards Brest. The winding road takes us to the village, where at the end park left next to the road at the bocce court.

Route description:
At the starting point, signs direct us onto a wide and initially gentle path into the forest. The path leads past a water catchment and soon after a concrete structure, becoming steep. Traverse to the right and after a few minutes reach a technically undemanding short steep rocky section. The path is well routed over it, just take care not to slip. After the rocky section we arrive at the Planinska koča Žbevnica hut. From the hut continue to the forest road, where signs direct us straight into the forest. To the left along the forest road is a gentle path to Žbevnica. The gentle path leads through dense pine forest past a concrete structure with blue doors. The path turns right and the forest gradually thins. A steep serpentine path with ever better views of Istria brings us to a scenic grassy wide summit ridge. The top of Žbevnica is another 5 minutes walk on grassy terrain. From the top a beautiful view opens in all directions.
From the top continue north. The wide path descends steeply to a small saddle, where a gentle path joins from the left, but we continue straight along the ridge over an unnamed peak, after which the path descends again. The marked path follows strictly the ridge, where the path is barely traceable, while the forest road goes slightly off the ridge and is well traceable. The path begins to ascend and soon we arrive at Muzare, from where a beautiful view opens in all directions.
Description and photos refer to the condition in November 2024.

Along the route: Planinarska kuća Žbevnica (851m), Žbevnica (1014m)

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