Municipality of Polača: Cycling Route, Cultural Heritage and Local Specialties
Accommodation in Municipality of Polača
A 20 km circular cycling route, buildings from different chapters of local history, and wine and olive oil culture give the Municipality of Polača a varied character. If you are travelling with children, you can use your family’s interests as a starting point: should cycling take centre stage, are you more drawn to history, or would you like to learn about the local wine and olive oil culture? These themes offer practical guidance when choosing a holiday apartment.
Cycling through the villages
The “Vrata Ravnih kotara” cycling route starts in Kakma and passes through Donja Jagodnja, Gornja Jagodnja and Polača. It is a 20 km circular route. Take its full length into account when planning your day if you choose the loop as the focus of your outing. There are ten rest stops along the route. Jezero Novak is its fourth point and also a rest stop; Štrkovača is the fifth point. From Štrkovača, you can look out over the Polača field and the surrounding villages. As well as the total distance, these named points give you specific reference points for exploring the route.
Churches and history in Polača
The Old Church of Saints Kuzma and Damjan was built in 1836 southeast of the centre of Polača, next to the local cemetery. Its restoration began after 1995 at the original site. It is distinct from the parish church of Saints Kuzma and Damjan, which was consecrated on 26 February 2006. The local artist Ratko Peraić created its main altar, tabernacle, Višeslav baptismal font and crucifix. Those interested in the town’s religious art and architectural history will find two distinct chapters here, each of which can be understood through its own history.
The old Gradina in Polača also tells of an earlier time: the Krbava princes had the 14th-century fortification built for defence. In the village, the “Sv. Kuzma i Damjan” monument, with the church ruins, commemorates the suffering of Polača. The Chapel of St Martin is in the hamlet of Prtenjača, within the settlement of Polača. It was used for catechism classes and Mass on the feast day of St Martin.
KUD “Gradina” from Polača is also part of the local cultural history. The folklore group took part in numerous programmes in Croatia and abroad; fourteen performances by original folklore groups from Zadar County were held in Polača. The Municipality of Polača’s Municipal Day is set for 26 September, the same day as the feast of Saints Kuzma and Damjan.
Understanding local history and nature
Glavica Bićina is not open to visitors. The remains of the walls of a prehistoric settlement are preserved there. This distinction is useful for planning your trip: the surviving remains tell part of the area’s history, but Glavica itself is not open to visitors. By contrast, Štrkovača offers the aforementioned view of the Polača field and surrounding villages, and is also the fifth point on the cycling route.
Wine, olive oil and guided activities
Kotari, a winery, olive mill and wine bar run by the Maslina i vino agricultural cooperative, is located at Kakma 189. Wine and olive oil tastings, as well as guided cellar tours, are offered there. This adds an insight into wine and olive oil to the municipality’s cultural and active pursuits. If this is important to your trip, you can take it into account when choosing where to stay.
Agro turizam Prtenjača is in the hamlet of Prtenjača, in the northern part of the municipality. Prior arrangements are required for information about its offer, opening hours and reservations. Quad Adventure Ravni kotari organises guided quad tours departing from Polača. Ražnjevića Dvori A.D. 1307 is a restored stone estate in the old part of Polača and is now a heritage hotel with a tavern; excursions and cycling tours are also organised there.
When choosing a holiday apartment, you can weigh up different interests: the 20 km cycling loop, cultural history in Polača, or wine and olive oil experiences in Kakma. For further orientation, visit Polača and Kakma.
For the broader travel overview: Zadar County.
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