Trstenik: Vineyards, Bays and History

Trstenik on the Pelješac Peninsula can be explored through three specific themes: the landscape between vineyards and the sea, a road through the Dingač vineyards, and a history dating back to the Stone Age. This gives you both the surroundings and winegrowing and culture to consider when planning your trip.

Landscape Between Hillside and Sea

Trstenik lies at the foot of a hill and is surrounded by pine forest, olive groves and vineyards. The townscape also includes beaches and bays with clear sea. Boats can also moor there. The surroundings thus combine wooded slopes and agricultural land with the coast. If you would like to consider both winegrowing landscapes and the sea when choosing your destination, you will find both reflected in Trstenik’s townscape.

Winegrowing and a Road Through the Dingač Vineyards

Grgić Vina is a winery in Trstenik on the Pelješac Peninsula. It produces the varietal wines Plavac Mali and Pošip; the range may change over time. These two names offer a specific glimpse of the winegrowing that also shapes the area around the town.

A road leads from Trstenik through the Dingač vineyards to Potomje. It is suitable for hiking and cycling and offers views of Mljet, Lastovo and Korčula. Two details are particularly useful for planning: Potomje is the route’s destination, while the views along the way take in three islands. Both hiking and cycling are mentioned as suitable ways to travel this road. This means you can include the route in your plans according to your preferred way of getting around.

Traces of Trstenik’s History

Archaeological finds on Ćućin Hill provide evidence of settlement in the Stone Age. This makes Trstenik one of the oldest places on the Pelješac Peninsula. Another historical landmark is the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, built in 1700. Together, the finds and the church’s year of construction provide two distinct points of reference for the town’s history.

Cultural Context in the Wider Destination of Orebić

Within the wider destination of Orebić, Nakovana offers a distinct archaeological point of interest. The Spila archaeological site in Nakovanj is a protected cultural property. Spila Nakovana cave is interpreted as an Illyrian sanctuary used during the Iron Age, in the 3rd to 4th century BC. Distinct from this is the protected cultural and historical complex “Povijesni prostor Nakovana”, which encompasses Gornja and Donja Nakovana. Viganj is also home to the protected cultural and historical complex “Povijesna ruralna cjelina Viganj”.

The maritime heritage is also part of the cultural context in the wider destination of Orebić. The Pomorski muzej Orebić preserves the memory of captains and sailors and holds archaeological, maritime and historical book collections. The Franciscan monastery was built in the 15th century on Mount Sv. Ilija at an elevation of 150 metres and houses a votive museum. It contains a painting of the Virgin Mary said to have washed ashore in Orebić in the 15th century. These sites and collections add to the picture of Trstenik’s own history without being equated with the finds on Ćućin Hill or the church built in 1700.

Discover more destinations: Kuna Pelješka, Potomje, Loviste, Orebic, Kuciste, Podobuce, Oskorušno, Donja Banda

Back to the wider travel overview: Orebić.