Published via Ecency

If you like the soothing sea view and the wonderful scents of Mediterranean plants, today's walk will be ideal for you. The route is very interesting and offers beautiful views of Sistiana Bay, a popular summer destination for many sailors and swimmers. We are lucky to leave not far away of the coast and can enjoy also the sunny winter days on the sea shore.

The Rilke Trail is a footpath about 2 kilometres long, running along the edge of the high cliffs above Sistiana Bay. It starts in Sistiana and runs to Duino. It was named after the poet and writer Rainer Maria Rilke, who was a guest of Princess Marie von Thurn und Taxis at Devin Castle in 1910/1911.

The Rilke Trail starts at the Mare Pineta campsite itself, where stands also an information point and you can get further information and maps. The path is part of the Devin Cliffs Nature Reserve.

The trail passes the campsite and an abandoned quarry by the sea, and continues through the Mediterranean forest.

Somewhere in the middle of the path there is a World War I bunker, and a special viewpoint inside it. You can descend inside the bunker and follow a short underground passageway to a window where you can look out over the coastline. Here we get our first glimpse of Devin Castle, which will accompany us for the rest of the route.

During the First World War, observation posts and bunkers were erected in this area to monitor shipping traffic in the Gulf of Trieste. From these points, you can now enjoy a magnificent view of the whole bay and Devin Castle, while the children will love the preserved underground bunker just off the trail, which allows them to go inside and see for themselves how soldiers once guarded the bay.

Walking further, we have reached the highest point of the path, where at 90 meters above sea level there is a lookout point.

Continuing right on the cliff’s edges, overlooking the see and passing between rocks overgrown with scrub, we’ve reached the remains of another World War I bunker.

The last part of the path goes through a Mediterranean forest and lead you to Duino Castle, overlooking the town of Duino.

The castle, as it looks today, date back in 14th century and was built near the remains of the old castle. Damaged in WW1 and reconstructed in 1930s. You can visit 18 rooms of the Castle and discover the story of the princes Von Thurn und Taxis.