Pazin

In the heart of Istria, Pazin's castle stands on the edge of the deep chasm into which the Pazinčica River disappears. The stronghold became the seat of the Counts of Gorizia and the center of a county that encompassed much of inland Istria. While Venice acquired towns along the coast, Pazin and its hinterland passed to the Habsburgs in 1374, leaving the peninsula divided between rival powers.

The Habsburgs entrusted Pazin to a succession of noble families and appointed captains to administer the estate. Its position made it vulnerable when Austria and Venice went to war: Venetian forces captured the town in 1508, and another conflict brought a destructive attack on Old Pazin in 1616. After that war the Habsburgs sold the estate, which continued to pass between noble owners through much of the 18th century.