Motovun is a picturesque town located on a hill in central Istria, above the middle part of the Mirna river valley. The area is a popular excursion point. Local people are engaged in winemaking, local varieties of Malvasia and Teran wines are well known.
Motovun is a typical example of a medieval town, which developed on the remains of a prehistoric fort. In the 10th and 11th centuries it was owned by the Bishop of Porec and the Patriarchs of Aquileia, and from 1278 it was owned by Venice. The central old town is surrounded by 13th and 14th century defensive walls. Today it is a unique promenade that offers beautiful views of central Istria. The lower part of Motovun developed on the southern slope, and in the eastern part the newest suburb was formed, which is characterized by Baroque and Classicist elements.
The outer square houses a 17th-century Renaissance town lodge, while the other buildings are architecturally designed between the 16th and 18th centuries. There is a hotel in the central part of the town, and the surroundings offer pleasant walks through the Motovun forest in the northern area.