Janjina: Vineyards, Coast and Cultural Heritage

Vineyards of Plavac mali, stone buildings and traces of different eras shape the Municipality of Janjina on the Pelješac Peninsula. Karst landscapes and stretches of coastline add their own distinctive features. Visitors interested in the area will find both nature and outdoor activities as well as a rich local history.

Vineyards and landscapes around Janjina

The Municipality of Janjina is known for its vineyards of Plavac mali and other well-known grape varieties. Around Janjina, Popova Luka and Zabrežje, vineyards alternate with maquis and karst on the northern slopes of Mataružnica. In the western part of the municipality, the hilly peaks and northern slopes of Rota stretch towards Osobjava and the Neretva Channel. Cultivated slopes, scrubland and rocky karst all contribute to the landscape.

The natural environment also encompasses a range of habitats. Just over 15 orchid species have been recorded around Janjina, particularly in olive groves and on dry karst; a smaller number of species are found in pine forests. Bottlenose dolphins can be seen in the waters of the Pelješac Channel in the Janjina area. The Malostonski zaljev i Malo more Special Reserve covers 921.8 hectares of marine area within the municipality.

Cultural history from antiquity to seafaring

The history of settlement on the Pelješac Peninsula can be traced in the Janjina area from prehistoric times through the Illyrians and Romans to the present day. The walls of a Roman villa rustica and stelae dating from the 1st century were found by the Church of St Stephen in the cemetery in Janjina. Above the village, on the hill of Gradina, stands an Illyrian hillfort surrounded by numerous tumuli.

The remains of the pre-Romanesque Church of St George include a late medieval cemetery and fragments of the altar screen. Its interlaced ornaments and inscription name the donor, Petar. Another notable building is the Rector’s Palace, known as the “Knežev dvor,” built by the Republic of Dubrovnik in 1465. Its façade features the Republic’s coat of arms and a statue of its patron saint, St Blaise. Construction of the parish Church of St Blaise began in 1876; the new church building was consecrated on 1 May 1878.

Janjina has stone, single-storey houses with elements of late Baroque vernacular architecture. In Janjina and Popova Luka, the architecture also reflects the former presence of sea captains and shipowners. The Bjelovučić family shaped Janjina’s maritime heritage; around 30 sea captains came from the family. The people of Popova Luka traditionally worked as seafarers, as well as in agriculture and winegrowing. In Osobjava, a stone pillar beside the road recalls the local quarry: it was made for the Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik and remains as a historical record.

Coast, nature and activities

Janjina is about 2 km from Drače Bay, where visitors can swim and enjoy water sports. Drače lies in a small bay and is distinguished by an unusual archipelago of 13 islets. The sea there is unusually warm and offers favourable conditions for fish and shellfish farming. Pebble beaches are found in Sreser and Drače; the small group of islands off Sreser can be explored by kayak and small boat.

The area off Sreser is considered suitable for surfing and kitesurfing; kitesurfing is developing rapidly on the other side of the Neretva Channel. The municipal spatial plan also designates the coastal stretch from Cape Rat, via Stiniva Bay, to Osobjava Bay, including the islets off Sreser, as a valuable cultural and natural area.

Hiking trails are part of the public tourist infrastructure of the Municipality of Janjina; marked cycling routes are part of its primary tourist infrastructure. The Janjina Tourist Board also participated in the “Napoleonov put kroz Pelješac” (“Napoleon's Road through Pelješac”) project in its area. As part of the project, a route was researched and traced.

Getting to Janjina

An alternative route is to take the car ferry from Ploče to Trpanj, then drive for about 20 minutes from Trpanj to Janjina. If you plan to use this connection, check the ferry timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Drace, Janjina, Sreser, Popova Luka, Osobjava, Orebić, Općina Ston, Trpanj.

For the overview of the wider region: Peljesac.