Municipality of Civljane: Springs and Cultural Heritage

At the source of the Cetina, nature and culture come together directly in the Municipality of Civljane. In the village of Cetina, the Church of Sv. Spasa stands by the source of the Cetina River. The spring is located 385 metres above sea level and close to the village of Cetina in the Municipality of Civljane. You will therefore encounter the name Cetina in different contexts: as a village, a river and a name for the spring area. This helps you identify which sights belong to a particular place or natural area.

Springs and Landscape

The springs of the Cetina have been protected as a hydrological natural monument since 1972. Vukovića vrilo is the westernmost of the three major springs. Together, these details provide two different points of reference: the protection status designates the springs as a protected natural area, while the location of Vukovića vrilo describes its position among the three major springs. Civljane thus offers both a historical reference for the protection of the springs and a geographical perspective on their place within this group.

Churches and Structures

The Church of Sv. Spasa was built in the 9th century and is considered one of the best-preserved monuments of early medieval sacred architecture in Croatia. Cetina is also home to the Orthodox Church of Hram Vaznesenja Gospodnjeg, built in 1940. The construction dates place two distinctly different periods of sacred architecture in Cetina side by side.

The Pločasti Bridge crosses the Cetina in the Municipality of Civljane. It consists of 33 almost perfectly regular stone slabs and is considered a unique example of a river crossing. The number and regularity of the slabs make its construction a distinctive feature of the structure; the bridge can be described both by its location on the Cetina and by its construction.

On Foot and by Bike

The footpath to Veliko vrelo was built with steps and completed on 12 February 2021. Check its current condition before your visit. The Putevima vrela Cetine cycling route, as described in 2021, passes the Vrelo Cetine viewpoint and rest area. Check the current signage and route conditions before setting out.

The paths differ in both destination and mode of travel: the footpath leads to Veliko vrelo, while the cycling route passes the Vrelo Cetine viewpoint. This lets you plan according to your preferred destination and activity.

The Vrelo Cetine cycling viewpoint and rest area opened on 12 February 2021 and has five parking spaces as well as bicycle service stations. Before setting out, check current parking availability and the condition and facilities of the service stations.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

If you are considering the Municipality of Civljane as a travel destination, start by choosing a focus: the springs and their protection status, sacred architecture and bridge construction, or a cycling trip. These themes give your day a clear direction and also provide a point of reference when looking for a hotel.

Discover more destinations: Cetina, Municipality of Ružić, Municipality of Unešić, Municipality of Primošten, Municipality of Biskupija, Municipality of Vodice, Municipality of Kistanje, Municipality of Šibenik.

See the regional travel overview: Šibenik-Knin County.