History Walk in Bakar

Located in the deep-cut Bakar Bay, Bakar is one of the oldest towns on the Croatian coast. Its narrow streets, medieval walls, the Castle and centuries-old stone houses bear witness to a rich maritime, commercial and cultural past. That is why it is no coincidence that the first day of summer in Bakar is not only celebrated as the arrival of warmer days, but also as the return of the city to the way it once was. On the official start of summer, on Sunday 21 June, this historic Kvarner town, only about an hour and a half drive from Zagreb and only ten kilometres from Rijeka, returned to its roots through one of the most attractive events on the Kvarner coast – “A Walk Through History”.

The “A Walk Through History” event is considered one of the most beautiful events of Margaret's Summer, and this year it delighted visitors with its rich programme. During the evening, people could explore the hidden corners of the old town centre, get to know old crafts, customs and traditions and, through authentic stories, discover how people used to live in Bakar.

Special emphasis was placed on gastronomic heritage. Since Kvarner is the holder of the title of European Region of Gastronomy, Bakar smelled of traditional fish specialties, polenta kumpirica served with Grobnik cheese, the award-winning Stara Bakarska vodica, the famous Bakar cake and Bakar baškoti, a twice-baked pastry that has been on sailors' ships for centuries and is today one of the most recognizable symbols of the city.

During the event, jewelry-making workshops "Bakarsko blago" were also held, Bakar was shown in a special way by guide Boro Štrbac, the exhibition "Keber in Bakru" dedicated to Lucian Keber - a Bakar captain, ship modeler and great lover of maritime heritage - was opened, and a series of performances by cultural and artistic societies and local associations. The evening was further enhanced by performances by the Bakar majorettes and children from the Fijolica Kindergarten, while the finale of the event was reserved for a concert by Marko Tolja in front of the Kaštel.

One of the biggest novelties of this year's event is the possibility of visiting the new Interpretation Center "O ribi", located in the famous Turkish House. Although its name suggests a connection with the Ottomans, the Turkish House was never actually a Turkish residence. According to legend, it was named after a Turkish woman with whom a Bakar sailor fell in love. Over the centuries, it has become one of the most recognizable buildings in Bakar and a symbol of its rich trading period.

Today, its interior has been transformed into a modern interpretation center that tells the story of fishing – an activity that has fed the city for centuries and shaped the lives of its inhabitants. Through interactive content, authentic objects and multimedia installations, visitors can learn about the tradition of tuna fishing, the daily life of fishermen and the importance of the sea for the development of Bakar and the entire Kvarner. With the opening of the center, the Turkish House has taken on a new role – it has become a place where history, culture and modern tourist interpretation meet.

One of the most intriguing stops on this year's "Walk through History" is certainly the catacombs under the Co-Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle. Hidden from public view for generations, these underground spaces preserve part of Bakar's most valuable sacral and cultural heritage. Over the centuries, they have been used to store relics and liturgical objects, and thanks to the stable conditions, numerous artifacts that testify to the city's rich past have been preserved. This year's exhibition "The Hidden Treasury of Bakar" reveals to the general public for the first time valuable reliquaries, old manuscripts and other valuables that have been hidden from visitors' eyes for decades. The stone corridors, vaults and mysterious atmosphere of the catacombs create a special experience and provide a unique view of the spiritual and cultural history of Bakar. The catacombs are not just an underground space under the church, but a kind of time capsule that preserves the memories of generations of residents, sailors and priests who shaped the identity of the city.

It is impossible to talk about Bakar without mentioning Saint Margaret, the patron saint of the city and the inspiration for the most important summer event - Margaret's Summer. Her feast day is celebrated on July 13, and for centuries it has been one of the most important days in the life of the city. According to Christian tradition, Saint Margaret of Antioch is a symbol of courage, perseverance and the victory of good over evil, which is why she has been invoked throughout history as a protector against illness, accidents and life's hardships. Her cult has been particularly strong in Bakar since the Middle Ages. Sailors prayed to her before setting off on long voyages, and the inhabitants believed that she protected the town from storms, illness and other dangers. During turbulent historical periods, Saint Margaret remained a symbol of hope and unity. Today, her legacy lives on through the preserved relic of her left hand and Margaret's Summer, an event that connects culture, music, gastronomy and tradition and reminds us how deeply the patron saint of the town is woven into the identity of Bakar and its inhabitants.

„"Walking through history" is just one of the programs as part of Margaret's Summer 2026, the largest summer event in the town of Bakar, which gathers thousands of visitors to its city streets during June and July. This year's program brings a series of attractive events - from the Melodies of Istria and Kvarner festival, through the popular Bakar Tango Festival and the Bura Film Festival, to the traditional Maritime Battle, which takes place on July 11 and attracts a large number of spectators every year. Special attention is also drawn to the concert of Mladen Grdović, the celebration of Margaret's Day with the performance of the Klapa Sveti Juraj of the Croatian Navy, and the final concert of Petar Graša as part of the "Bakar Meetings". In addition to the musical program, visitors can expect exhibitions, plays, classical music concerts, sports events, children's programs, gastronomic evenings and numerous local festivals that, for almost two months, transform Bakar into one of the liveliest summer destinations in Kvarner.

''Margaret's Summer is not just an event, but a story that the entire town creates together. "Throughout almost two months of the program, we combine culture, tradition, music, sports and heritage, and the Walk through History is one of the most beautiful examples of how Bakar can revive its past and turn it into a unique experience for visitors. The greatest wealth of all this is the people - associations, volunteers and our fellow citizens, without whom such projects would not be possible," says the director of the Bakar Tourist Board Sonja Jelušić Marić, inviting everyone to Bakar this summer.

foto: Nikola Zoko