Interactive map
This interactive map, according to most reports, represents the traditional geographic area where Vlaški and Žejanski (Vlashki and Zheyanski, also, Istro-Romanian) has been spoken since beginning of the 20th century. The map is divided into two main parts: the village of Žejân/Žejane and its surrounding area, located in the Ćićarija mountain chain in the northeast of the Croatian peninsula of Istria, and the larger Bârdo/Brdo-Šušnjevicę/Šušnjevica area, south of Žejân/Žejane, located under the western slopes of Učka Mountain. The villages of Grobnik and Gradinje, which have also been reported to be Vlaški-speaking in the past, are not represented here because most of their inhabitants spoke only the local dialect of Croatian, not Vlaški, in the last one hundred years or more. Click here for more information on the current status of the Vlaški and Žejanski language and here to read about its history.
Explore the map by choosing one of the two areas first. Then, click on the orange squares within a village or area to view photographs of the buildings and other localities, as they look today. The selection of points of interest follows recommendations by local residents, who pointed out places of importance. Since locals often refer to locations, and their neighbors, by means of household nicknames, we include here lists of last names and household nicknames for the Žejân/Žejane, Šušnjevicę/Šušnjevica and Bârdo/Brdo areas.
We plan to update this interactive map periodically with additional materials of interest: more new and old photographs, audio and video recordings of residents' descriptions of certain locations or memories of events tied to the locale. If you want to help us improve and expand our map by adding a photo or story of your own, click here to register and contact us and here to find out how you can contribute.
