Duće: Churches, Karst and Cycling Routes

Duće offers a range of options for a trip that takes in church and village history, karst landscapes and cycling. When choosing your destination, you can consider which of these aspects interests you most: historic buildings, the landscape above the old village or a cycling route.

Churches and local history

The Church of Our Lady of the Snows at Stomorica, above Duće, was first mentioned in 1080 and was the first parish church for Duće. Monolithic stone slabs cover natural rock fissures in its cemetery. This is a distinctive feature of the site, setting it apart from the usual image of a cemetery with individual graves.

The Church of St Mark in Duće features Romanesque elements, while its bell gable has Gothic features. The bell bears the year 1468. St Mark’s served as the parish church until the new church was built; since 1864, it has been a cemetery church. The parish church of St Anthony has a different history: it was built in 1864, probably on the site of an older chapel mentioned in 1748. The Vojnović complex also dates from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Stare Duće is an old village at the foot of Mount Mošnjica, with well-preserved stone houses. The churches and houses offer different insights into local history: the churches are notable, among other things, for their architectural features and dates, while Stare Duće is distinguished by its character as an old village and its preserved stone buildings.

Karst landscapes and cycling routes

The rocky coastal ridge of Primorska rises above the old part of Duće. It consists of Cretaceous limestone and is marked by pronounced karst features; steep limestone cliffs and a barren, rugged character define the landscape. At 594 metres, the peak of Zahod is the highest point on the ridge.

For cycling travellers, the routes described differ in length and other specific features. The official MTB route Ponor, Route 161, runs from Dugi Rat via Jesenice and Stare Duće and back to Dugi Rat. It is 9.2 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 300 metres. The “Mitsko biciklističko putovanje” route, Route 175, runs via Dugi Rat, Jesence, Zeljovići, Stare Duće and Duće and back to Dugi Rat. It is 16 kilometres long, entirely paved and estimated to take two hours.

On Route 175, a 400-metre section with an average gradient of seven per cent runs at the entrance to Stare Duće. A trekking bike is considered ideal for this route, though it can also be ridden on a gravel or MTB bike. You can compare the two routes by length, surface and the elevation details provided for each, without reducing their differences to a single figure.

Enduro routes also run through the area: Ponor goes via Dugi Rat, Jesenice and Stare Duće and back to Dugi Rat. Poskok follows the Put Stare Duće road and passes through Stare Duće. Check the route conditions before setting off, as they may change.

Beaches and regional connections

Duće Luka Beach has parking, mooring buoys, cafés, a beach shower, a bench and sports facilities. As beach amenities may change, check before your trip which of the facilities you need are available. Along the wider stretch of coast between Dugi Rat and Omiš, there is also a sandy beach about three kilometres long. Its shallow-water zone is 300 to 400 metres wide and slopes down to a depth of two to three metres. The sand was formed from deposits carried by the Cetina and washed ashore by sea currents west of its mouth.

Local cuisine is also part of planning your trip: in the wider destination of Općina Dugi Rat, you can try Soparnik in taverns in Dugi Rat. This speciality originates from Poljica and is on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Discover more destinations: Jesenice, Dugi Rat.

Return to the main travel overview: Općina Dugi Rat.