Bale (town)

Bale - Valle
—  Municipality  —
Bale Municipality
Općina Bale - Comune di Valle[1]

Coat of arms
Bale - Valle
Location of Bale in Croatia
Coordinates:
Country Croatia
County Istria
Government
 • Municipal mayor Edi Pastrovicchio
Area
 • Total 81.90 km2 (31.6 sq mi)
Elevation 142 m (466 ft)
Population (2005)
 • Total 1,225
 • Density 15/km2 (38.7/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 52111
Area code(s) 52
Website bale-valle.hr

Bale (Italian: Valle d'Istria, Latin: Castrum Vallis, Romanian: Vale) is a small town and municipality in Istria, Croatia.

The origins of the settlement lie in the Roman stronghold of Castrum Vallis, built by Caius Pulcrus to protect the salt-pan road from Pula to Poreč. Its rich local architecture and the Istrian language spoken by the older population make this place an attractive destination. After the most of the population had moved to Italy after the Second World War, some of the abandoned houses were turned into vacation homes. At the same time, a tourist board was established and the Kolone beach finished, which fostered the development of tourism. Today, Bale is known as a quiet place offering its visitors rest from big city crowd and rush. The closest public beach is 8 km away.

Bale is known for public feasts, with the most popular being Baljanska noć (Bale Night, first Saturday in August), Velika Gospa (The Assumption of Mary, 15 August), as well as Castrum Vallis - an art exhibition in July and August.

The municipality covers a total area of 81.90 km2 (31.62 sq mi) and has a total population of 1,225.[2]

Bale is connected to the Croatian highway network by an exit on the A9 motorway (E751), part of the Istrian Y.

See also

References

External links