Beneath the Učka mountain, right along the beautiful Adriatic Sea coast, lies the small town of Lovran. This town is known for many things, and one of the most famous is Lovran marron: a sweet type of chestnut, a delicacy you simply must try. And believe us, you'll come back for more.

Lovran: A Charming Town That Captivates Hearts

Lovran is a town named after the laurel tree, located near the lovely Opatija. If you haven't had the chance to visit this town, we highly recommend it. The stunning blue sea, long seaside promenades, villas, and charming old town will capture your heart instantly. Lovran has a rich and lengthy history, with a century-long tradition in tourism. We must also mention that Lovran boasts rich Mediterranean vegetation, which, combined with the sea air, is excellent for your health. Lovran also loves holding festivals, so you can enjoy masquerades, the cherry festival, fishing nights, and, of course, the renowned Lovranska marunada. Lovranska marunada is a special festival where, in addition to the famous sweet marun chestnuts, you can taste delicacies like cakes and pastries, accompanied by music and entertainment.

Lovran Sweet Marronn Chestnut

Lovran marron chestnut is a large variety of domestic chestnut found mainly in the vicinity of the town of Lovran, on the slopes of Učka mountain. Lovran marron chestnut is visually distinct, being larger and having lighter shells that are easy to peel. Its taste is sweet and somewhat creamy. Its high esteem is evident from its worldwide recognition, with various sweets, soups, sauces, and fillings made from it since ancient times. Marron sweet chestnut fillings are used in dishes such as veal cutlets and even seafood like calamari. Chestnut-based desserts are certainly the most famous treats, including pies, marunjače, pancakes, fritters, and doughnuts. One of the popular desserts is "grašnjaci," which are pastries filled with chestnut cream. If you'd like to make them, here's the recipe:

Grašnjaci delicious cookie

For the dough, you'll need: 20g fresh yeast, 150ml lukewarm milk, 2 egg yolks, 40g sugar, grated lemon zest, 50g melted butter, 2 tablespoons of brandy, and 350g all-purpose flour. For the filling, you'll need 200g cooked and mashed sweet marron chestnuts, 12g sugar, rum, and 5g chocolate. Knead the dough, let it rise, roll it out to 3-5mm thickness, place spoonfuls of the filling, brush with egg white, fold the dough, and cut into cookies with a round mold. Fry in deep oil until they turn golden brown. Serve with powdered sugar.

Marunada Festival

In the Middle Ages, Lovran was known as a town of sailors, fishermen, and fruit traders. Lovran residents traded their famous marron chestnuts harvested from the Učka slopes. Lovran marron chestnut is renowned as one of the highest-quality chestnut varieties in the world. These chestnut forests are located above Lovran in places like Dobreć, Liganj, Tuliševici, and Lovranska Draga. The export of marron chestnuts began in the 19th century, with high demand in Austria, Germany, and Italy. Lovran residents are extremely proud of their maruns, and they've organized the Marunada festival, which has been held in Lovran for over four decades. Besides marron-based delicacies, guests can enjoy homemade meads, brandies, and liqueurs. The British newspaper The Guardian has recognized Marunada as one of the top ten European autumn gastronomic festivals. Marunada typically takes place in mid-October, so mark it down on your calendar, come visit, and enjoy some of the world's finest chestnuts!