Bolara 60 is a traditional Istrian stone house nestled between forested hills and meadows, near the medieval hilltop town of Grožnjan. The house is about 250 years old and now beautifully restored using natural materials. Next door our neighbours make olive oil and wine, but otherwise there are no houses around. It's very green and peaceful here, with views across the Mirna valley. The cottage (“kućica” in Croatian) is a two-bedroom house attached to our main house. It is self-contained, fully furnished and self-catering, with its own kitchen and terrace. There are two bedrooms, one with a double bed and free-standing bath, and one which can have either two single beds or one superking - let us know which you'd like. Well-behaved pets are allowed in the Kućica by prior request. We can provide you with breakfast baskets (including homemade sourdough bread, granola, yoghurt and jam, and eggs from our chickens), and when the main guesthouse is open (mid May to early November) we also offer snack boards, a drinks list, full breafasts (daily) and convivial three-course dinners (Weds and Sat). Our food is based on our home-grown and local seasonal produce. Meals and breakfast baskets must be booked at least 2 days in advance. We take our environmental impact seriously: with thick old stone walls and traditional shutters, the house doesn't need air-conditioning, and the heating and hot water come from solar panels and wood from the local forest. We use eco-friendly cleaning products, dry our laundry in the sun, save rainwater for the vegetable garden and avoid both single-use plastic and food waste.

We live in the small guesthouse next door; the two houses are attached to each other but with separate entrances and terraces, so your space is private. We're usually around, so do ask us about the best local restaurants, wineries, walks, bike rides, sights and beaches. Matt is a computer scientist and linguist, speaking English, German, Croatian, French and some Italian. Anna is a trained chef and food anthropologist specialised in the region, so food features heavily here. We offer a generous breakfast with a changing daily special, and sociable three-course dinners twice a week.

This area is famous for its picturesque medieval hilltop villages, excellent olive oil, wine and truffles. Bolara is a short drive or a scenic walk from Grožnjan (with its famous summer jazz festival), close to Motovun, Oprtalj and Vižinada, and only 20 minutes drive to the coast. There are many walking and cycling routes nearby, including the wonderful Parenzana route, and we have a couple of bikes guests can borrow. We're also ideally situated for day trips to the region's most famous and beautiful towns - Pula, Rovinj, Poreč, Piran and Trieste are all within an hour's drive.