Municipality of Dugopolje: Caves, hiking trails and culture

• Vranjača Cave is located in Kotlenice at the foot of the central Mosor range and was protected as a geomorphological natural monument in 1963.
• A preserved section of the Roman road is about 2 km long; the themed trail runs along the border between Dugopolje and Klis.
• Hiking trails lead to the 1,262 m-high Ljubljan and the 1,325 m-high Vickov stup.
• Dugopolje lies at the junction of the A1 Zagreb–Split–Dubrovnik motorway and the D1 Split–Sinj state road.

Vranjača Cave is located in Kotlenice at the foot of the central Mosor range. It was designated a protected geomorphological natural monument in 1963. It can be reached by car or public transport on bus line 67, which runs between Split, Kotlenice, Donji Dolac and Gornji Dolac. This means the cave can also be included in plans for a journey by public transport.

Another cave, Kraljeva Peć, extends about 110 m underground. From the hamlets of Balići-Džakići in Dugopolje, an approximately ten-minute walk leads there. Much of the cave is accessible to hikers by carefully descending over the edge of the chamber. However, the routes inside the cave are not yet marked, so bear this limitation in mind when deciding whether to visit.

The Roman road is a themed hiking trail along the border between the municipalities of Dugopolje and Klis. The preserved section is about 2 km long. Another trail option is “Mali put” through the Dugopolje field, part of the “Hidden Dalmatia” project.

If you are looking for a summit trail, there are two routes with different starting points and destinations: a hiking trail leads from the Plitača site in the Dugopolje field to the 1,262 m-high Ljubljan. A more demanding trail starts in the hamlet of Punde in the village of Kotlenice and leads to the 1,325 m-high Vickov stup. A trail race is also held every year during the winter months on the northern slopes of Mosor as part of a mini trail league.

Horse-riding tours are another experience on offer: they pass through the vineyards and orchards of Dugopolje and are available to both experienced riders and beginners. Educational workshops for children and young people can be organised at the “Hidden Dalmatia” Visitor Center.

The International Folklore Gatherings “Ljepota u kamenu” have been held in Dugopolje since 2004. Several churches in the municipality offer further specific cultural destinations. The new parish church of St Michael the Archangel in Dugopolje was built in 1983; the old parish church dedicated to the same saint is located in the local cemetery and was fully restored in 1997.

The Church of St Roch is located in the hamlet of Kute, on the eastern side of Dugopolje. It has a single nave and a square apse, and was probably built in the early 19th century. In Koprivno, the parish church of All Saints was built in 1901; in Kotlenice, the parish church of St Peter and St Paul was built in 1873. The football stadium at the Hrvatski Vitezovi Sports Centre hosts training matches, competitions involving Croatian and foreign football clubs, and 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. This location describes the area’s transport connections. Bus line 67 is also relevant for reaching Vranjača Cave. A pilgrimage route called the “Our Lady of Sinj Route” runs from Solin via Klis and Dugopolje to the Shrine of Our Lady of Sinj.

If you would like to compare other destinations, you can also find information here about the Municipality of Muć, the Municipality of Solin, the Municipality of Vrgorac, the Municipality of Runovići, the Municipality of Kaštela and the Municipality of Vrlika.

How do you get to Vranjača Cave?

You can reach it by car or public transport on bus line 67, which runs between Split, Kotlenice, Donji Dolac and Gornji Dolac.

How long is the preserved section of the Roman road?

The preserved section is about 2 km long. The themed trail runs along the border between Dugopolje and Klis.

Which peaks can be reached by hiking trails?

One trail leads from Plitača to the 1,262 m-high Ljubljan. A more demanding trail starts in Punde and leads to the 1,325 m-high Vickov stup.

What should you bear in mind at Kraljeva Peć?

Access to much of the cave involves carefully descending over the edge of the chamber. The routes inside the cave are not yet marked.

For the wider travel overview: Split-Dalmatia.