Lubenice is a fortified urban settlement from prehistoric times which is confirmed by the surrounding tumuli from the Bronze and Iron ages that have been found. It has continuously been settled throughout the ancient times and middle Ages. Among the existing built structures, along with medieval sacral buildings, a dominant role is played by structures that have a high ambience quality and are mostly from the period of the baroque. However, in the substructures and details of the houses, as well as in their proportions a medieval layer is visible. Of special value are the remains of the medieval fortifications and two city gates, as well as the preserved historic core and the land composition of the settlement.

Historically, Lubenice is a prehistoric, well fortified and strategically very important city. In ancient times it was mentioned as Hibernitia (a winter, cold settlement) to which a branch road of the main Roman road from Osor to Beli led. At that time it was one of the four most important settlements on the island of Cres with a fully formed center that was urban in character. At the foot of the settlement there is an important villa rustica with a broader agricultural area and a port that belonged to the settlement and wider region. Numerous archaeological material finds (sarcophagus, Egyptian inscriptions, ....., amphora and other building materials, as well as coins, jewelry, etc.) undoubtedly date the origins of this settlement to ancient time. In the middle Ages the city was fortified once again and became the center of the parish.