The Stone Boundary Markers of Motovun Forest
Motovun forest, with certainty the most well-known Istrian forest that nowadays extends itself on an area covering 1,100 hectares, had its boundaries marked by stone boundary markers already in the period of the Venetian Republic. Motovun forest was of paramount importance for the state (in those days it was called the Forest of St. Mark), because it was a source of oak wood used in ship-building, and it was hence necessary to mark its boundaries.
The boundary markers standing in front of you are from precisely this period. The first features a hewn lion with extended wings (destroyed), the name of the territory MOQV[ELLE], the letters C.F. (Catastro forestale, or, Confine forestale), ordinal number 263, the year 1779, and the mark CX (The Council of the Ten - Consiglio dei dieci), the other has the letters C.F., ordinal number 115, the year 1779, and the mark CX. From the erstwhile approximately four hundred boundary markers, only a hundred or so remain preserved to the present. These two markers, in different locations due to unknown reasons, were dug out and discarded outside of the boundaries of the forest. In order to preserve and present the cultural and historical heritage, they are now placed here at Livade, in the heart of the Motovun forest.
Another boundary marker that is similar to these was placed alongside the road leading from Livade towards Istarske toplice.
KEY:
- The forest-management plan of St. Mark’s – Kornarija forest for the period from 1933 to 1942, with marked boundary markers.
It is currently kept in the Centro di Ricerche Storiche Rovigno / Historical Research Center Rovinj. - Aerial view of Livade and Motovun forest.
- Boundary markers from Motovun forest.