Museum of The Race on the Ring

The modern Visitor Centre is located in the very centre of Barban, in the building of the old town lodge on the square, and provides visitors with an educational and innovative way of presenting, and even the feeling of participating in The Race on the Ring, a knightly game that is the symbol of the town of Barban, but also one of the main tourist attractions in Istria. It is designed as a multimedia space where the history of the town, its monuments, culture, customs, folk costumes will be told, with an emphasis on the description of The Race on the Ring, and a number of details related to its development and history. The space itself is divided into several attractive parts, the most notable of which is a long corridor that reminds visitors of a race track articulated by rings, and which is accompanied by light and sound effects. In this way, additional tension and the experience of the horseman when shooting the ring are created. The following halls present the Race through history, its winners, exhibits, the lance and spear, traditional folk costumes, and show various short educational films shot using special techniques, such as 360 video and 3D mapping. In addition to the educational films, visitors can immerse themselves in virtual reality, put on 3D glasses, take a spear in their hands, and try their hand at shooting a ring, and at least for a moment feel like a proud horseman. Everything happens in real time, just like in a real race. The race lasts a maximum of 12 seconds, after which the rider stops, turns and brings the spear with the ring before the Honourable Court to confirm his hit. A hit in the middle (sridu) of the ring suspended on a rope above the track brings three points (punto), above the middle two, below one, and in the holes located on the left and right brings half a point each.