Discover more about Compact
Gourmet cuisine today is unthinkable without the truffle. This sought after fungi grows somewhat secretly in selected parts of Europe, notably in south western France, in Umbria and Tuscany in Italy where specific soil and tree roots provide ideal conditions.
Istria (or Istra) had a colourful past with ownership over the centuries by many empires and countries but essentially it’s an unspoilt part of northern Croatia, right next to Slovenia, the home of Adria Mobil. So next time you’re rushing down to the Croatian coast, give inland Istria a try and you might really strike gold.
Istria is well known for the highest quality white truffle, which rivals those of Italian regions of Alba and Piedmont. But can you hunt them in a motorhome? We tried.
Our vehicle by choice, the new Adria Compact – great for getting us to the hard to reach hill villages and down farm tracks without stress, effortlessly easy to drive and very comfortable too.
photography from neil morley and from neal rylatt
That’s the claim for the new Compact. Well not absolutely anywhere but you get the point, it’s a motorhome with compact dimensions. At 2,12m wide it will navigate more old towns and country lanes than most motorhomes and with lengths of 5,99m 6,89m and 6,99m there’s no compromise on interior space.
We took a Compact Supreme model into the Istrian hills in search of gastronomy, visiting Motovun and a less discovered gem of a village, nearby Oprtalj. The area is known for many of the finer things in life, not least truffles and so called ‘black’ wine. Motovun also holds a famous international film festival (usually at the end of July or early August). Oprtalj is noticeably quieter but you are rewarded with great views and we also found a charming restaurant called Konoba Oprtalj with famously good pasta, home-made schnapps and a roaring fire. Perfect.
And as for those elusive Istrian truffles, visit Livade, below the better known village of Motovun. The autumn is the best time to go, with the truffle hunting season being from September to December. Livade even offers organized Truffle Days to celebrate this ultimate gastronomic experience.
The Compact’s interior is also a relaxing place to be. Our model, the Supreme, also featured a ‘silver’ body and the acclaimed Fiat Ducato with the latest Euro6 engine. It’s a much improved driving experience and parking the Compact is easy, even in the narrow streets. The hero feature is the panoramic sun roof, as it lets the light flood in and makes everything feel spacious. Our layout, the DL Open Salon model, gives so much interior flexibility and comfort. Combined with the new kitchen and innovative bathroom, with ingenious swivel wall separate shower, it’s a great package.
If you go in spring or summer you’ll find truffle dishes on most menus in the area and there’s also wine festivals and events on during many weekends in April and May. Finally, after a day doing touristy things, back to camp and time to test out the new bedroom design and Adria’s new Luxe mattresses. A fine end to a great day out. So if you are in this part of the world, don’t rush by the Istrian hinterlands heading straight to the beach (although we would also recommend Rovinj as the quintessential stop off by the sea), instead head for the hills for at least a nice (truffle) lunch.
in France is for many the #1 place to be for black truffle hunting. Join the celebrity chefs at the markets in January for the best finds.
The Italian city of Alba in Piedmont is hailed as the Mecca of the white truffle and it is the centre of Europe’s premier truffle festival each autumn.
The Exhibition Market Festival of White Truffles in San Miniato, Tuscany is also a hot spot for truffle enthusiasts, in November.
Discover more about
