Municipality of Dugopolje: Caves, Trails and the Dalmatian Hinterland

Caves and Scenery on Mosor

In the village of Kotlenice, at the foot of the central part of the Mosor mountain range, lies Vranjača Cave. It was designated a protected geomorphological natural monument in 1963. You can reach the cave by car or by public transport on bus route 67, which runs between Split, Kotlenice, Donji Dolac and Gornji Dolac. This means you can combine your visit with either a drive or a journey on this bus route.

Another cave is Kraljeva Peć, which descends to a depth of about 110 m. From the hamlets of Balići-Džakići in Dugopolje, an approximately ten-minute walk leads there. A large part of the cave is accessible to hikers, who carefully descend over the edge of the chamber; however, the routes inside the cave are not yet marked.

Hiking Trails and Different Routes

The Roman Road is a themed hiking trail along the boundary between the municipalities of Dugopolje and Klis. The preserved section is about 2 km long. The themed trail “Mali put,” which is part of the “Hidden Dalmatia” project, also runs through the Dugopolje Field. If you are interested in historic routes, you can consider these two trails as different starting points for planning your trip, without combining them into a single route.

The hikes to two Mosor peaks also differ in their stated difficulty and starting points. A hiking trail from the Plitača locality in the Dugopolje Field leads to the 1,262 m-high summit of Ljubljan. The more demanding trail to the 1,325 m-high summit of Vickov stup begins in the hamlet of Punde in the village of Kotlenice. The elevations and differing difficulty levels can help you choose a hike based on your preferred destination.

Another option for sports enthusiasts is a trail race on the northern slopes of Mosor in Dugopolje. It takes place during the winter months each year as part of a mini trail league. The “Our Lady of Sinj Route” pilgrimage route also passes through Dugopolje: it runs from Solin via Klis and Dugopolje to the Shrine of Our Lady of Sinj.

Churches, Traditions and Activities

The religious buildings are located in different parts of the municipality, and each tells a distinct part of its story. In Dugopolje, the new parish church of St Michael the Archangel was built in 1983. The old parish church is located in the local cemetery and was completely restored in 1997. St Roch’s Church stands in the hamlet of Kute, on the eastern side of Dugopolje. It is a single-nave building with a square apse and was probably built in the early 19th century. The parish church of All Saints was built in Koprivno in 1901, and the parish church of Sts Peter and Paul in Kotlenice in 1873.

Recurring cultural events in Dugopolje include the International Folklore Festival “Ljepota u kamenu,” held there since 2004. Educational workshops for children and young people can be organised at the “Hidden Dalmatia” Visitor Center. Horse-riding tours through the vineyards and orchards of Dugopolje are offered for both experienced riders and beginners. The football stadium at the Hrvatski Vitezovi sports centre hosts friendly matches, competitions involving Croatian and foreign football clubs, and football tournaments; it is also home to a youth academy.

Dugopolje lies at the entrance to the Dalmatian hinterland and at the junction of the A1 Zagreb–Split–Dubrovnik motorway and the D1 Split–Sinj state road. If the location on these transport routes matters for your trip, take it into account when choosing a holiday apartment.

For a broader travel overview: Split-Dalmatia.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Municipality of Baška Voda, Municipality of Brela, Municipality of Vrlika, Municipality of Trilj, Municipality of Imotski, Municipality of Okrug.