Labin

LABIN

A town in the south-eastern part of Istria, 5 km north-west of the harbour of Rabac, Labin comprises two separate parts, the old town on top of the hill and the more recent settlement, Podlabin. Situated on a limestone hill which abrupts sharply to the valley of the Rabac brook and towards the sea coast; elevation 320 m; population 9,036.
Mining used to be the major occupation which has nowadays given way to metal industry, wood processing, trade and tourism; cultural and educational centre.
Labin is located on the main road (M2, E751) Rijeka - Pula. From the beginning of the 19th century Labin was the centre of the mining industry in Istria. The closing of the coal pit inspired the local authorities to redesign the former pits as a tourist attraction. From the top of the old part of Labin a view is offered on Mt. Ucka, the town of Rabac, the Kvarner region, Gorski Kotar and Mt. Velebit. The Prklog cove was classified as a protected landscape. The surroundings of Labin provide a good hunting ground. The event known as the Cultural Summer - Labin is a festival of classical music (end of July - August).
The nearby village of Dubrova has been the seat of the Mediterranean Sculptor's Symposium since 1970, where a park has been arranged with sculptures by home and foreign sculptors. Every year (1st of August - 15th of September) sculptors from the whole world gather here.