Murter: Island Culture and Maritime Tradition

Murter and its regional context

Murter and the Kornati Islands are located in the western part of Šibenik-Knin County. The island of Murter has four main settlements: Murter, Betina, Jezera and Tisno. The same county is also home to the Krka and Kornati National Parks. To get your bearings, it is useful to distinguish between the island and the wider region: Murter is both the name of the island and one of its main settlements, while the two national parks belong to the county level. This allows you to plan your trip around places on the island or broader regional interests.

Shipbuilding and maritime tradition

In Betina on the island of Murter, the Betina Museum of Wooden Shipbuilding introduces visitors to the local shipbuilding tradition. A documentary about the shipbuilders of Betina is shown continuously there. It offers insights into the highlights of this tradition and focuses on the people associated with boatbuilding. The skill and art of building the Betina gajeta have been recognised by the Croatian Ministry of Culture and are protected as part of the intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia. The film and heritage status offer two perspectives on the same subject: one on the shipbuilders of Betina, the other on the recognised skill and art of boatbuilding.

The Latinsko idro regatta is another expression of Murter’s maritime tradition. It takes place every year at the end of September.

Archaeology and historic townscapes

Ancient Colentum is located near the present-day settlement of Murter; its remains lie at the foot of Gradina Hill. Today, Colentum is an archaeological park with viewpoints, walking paths and an archaeological beach. A visit combines an exploration of ancient remains with a modern park featuring these varied attractions.

Old Srimač, now Staro selo, is an architectural and urban ensemble distinguished by its location, street network and building typology. Describing it as an ensemble draws attention not only to individual buildings: its location, street network and building forms are also among the features that set it apart. Another historic landmark is the church in the cemetery of Murter and Betina, which stands on the ruins of Colentum. It is a cultural monument and the oldest church in this cemetery. While Staro selo is viewed as an ensemble through its town layout, the focus here is on a single building.

Cycling routes on Murter and in the mainland part of Tisno

There are ten cycling routes of varying lengths and easy to moderate difficulty on the island of Murter and in the mainland part of the Municipality of Tisno; six of them are on the island. Length and difficulty provide two concrete points of comparison when choosing a route: you can consider which level of challenge and distance suits your planned ride. The routes are spread across the island and the mainland part of the municipality. Check current route conditions locally before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Murter, Dalmatia, Korcula, Brac, Vukovar-Srijem, Virovitica-Podravina, Varaždin County, Peljesac.

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