Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Discover
Places to see
Croatia
Zadar County

Mirila Burial Ground

Highlight • Historical Site

Mirila Burial Ground

Recommended by 88 hikers out of 90

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Park prirode Velebit

Save

Share

  • More

  • Save

    Share

  • More

  • Take Me There

    Routes here

    Best Hikes to Mirila Burial Ground

    5.0

    (6)

    17

    hikers

    1. Mirila Burial Ground – Starigrad-Paklenica Harbor loop from Starigrad

    13.0km

    05:11

    730m

    730m

    Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Navigate

    Send to Phone

    Expert

    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Intermediate

    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Intermediate

    Tips

    October 8, 2025

    Mirila were created between the 17th and 20th centuries, when the inhabitants (pastoral nomads) of the Velebit Mountains lived mainly from livestock farming and kept mostly sheep. The deceased had to be carried from the often very remote hamlets and farms along mountain paths to the village church and then to the village cemetery. It was customary that the bearers were only allowed to rest once along the way and set the dead down on the ground. At such specific places, "the deceased said goodbye to the sun for the last time." Thus, family rest stones were created, which preserved the memory of the deceased and were more important than the grave itself, because it was believed that the grave contained "merely" a body without a soul, which remained on the mirilo.[7] The bodies were wrapped in an ordinary linen cloth and transported on a wooden stretcher. The mirilo, i.e. The place of burial, the burial site, was marked with stones as follows: "Flat stones were placed beneath the corpse, exactly corresponding to its length and width. A stone was placed at the foot, which was naturally rounded or later shaped accordingly, and a similarly shaped but somewhat larger so-called headstone was placed at the head."[8] The ritual of building the Mirilo took place at sunrise, and the corpse lay with its head facing east, toward the sun.[9] The laying out in the open air could last up to three days.
    Source: Wikipedia

    Translated by Google •

      In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

      Sign up for free

      Details

      Informations

      Elevation 260 m

      Weather

      Powered by AerisWeather

      Today

      Saturday 25 October

      14°C

      13°C

      100 %

      If you start your activity now...

      Max wind speed: 3.0 km/h

      Most visited during

      January

      February

      March

      April

      May

      June

      July

      August

      September

      October

      November

      December

      Loading

      Location: Zadar County, Croatia

      Other Popular Places to Check Out

      Paklenica National Park Gorge and Waterfalls

      Explore
      RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepacking
      Download the app
      Follow Us on Socials

      © komoot GmbH

      Privacy Policy