Limski kanal – the Croatian fjord

Limski kanal is often called the Croatian fjord. Along with Raša Bay it is one of the deepest inlets on the Croatian coast, running some 12 km inland.

Fjord is perhaps too strong a word, though, because it describes very deep and heavily branching sea inlets with markedly steep, high shores, characteristic of Scandinavia and Norway in particular. They were formed by glacial erosion.

Limski kanal is long by Croatian standards, but it is not in the fjord category. The shores are steep in places, but not especially high. The point where this viewpoint sits is at 80 m above sea level. Compared with some of the river canyons elsewhere in Croatia, that does not sound all that impressive.

Limski kanal and Limska draga, which continues on from it, were formed by the action of the former river Pazinčica, which changed its course long ago and now disappears underground into Pazinska jama.

You can get down to the water in many places, but mostly in the built-up parts of the channel a little further in. If you would rather reach the sea through unspoilt countryside, we recommend the Fratarska škola (“Friars’ School”) trail on the opposite shore, which drops 115 m over a length of some 530 m. The trail starts at the ruins of the old Benedictine monastery of St. Michael above Lim, and the last stretch down to the sea follows steps cut into the rock.

Limski kanal takes its name from the fact that in Roman times this was the boundary (limes) between the territories of Pula and Poreč. At its widest point the channel is some 600 m across.

This is the best viewpoint over the channel that we know of. The view from it is impressive. Photographs cannot do it justice. In a couple of places there are jutting ledges where you can sit and enjoy not only the view but also the quiet and the peace this place radiates.

Anyone coming here by car will cover the last 3 km on a dusty gravel road where in many places you cannot pass a car coming the other way. The road ends in a spacious turning circle where you can park, and from there a signpost will point you to the 100 m long path leading through a small wood to the viewpoint.