Discover Zadvarje: Fortress, Pazar and Cycling Routes

Zadvarje offers several points of interest for trip planning: a fortress on a route that dates back to prehistoric times, the Tuesday Pazar, and cycling routes that pass through the town or lead to Zadvarje. The Velika Gubavica waterfall and the history of the HE Kraljevac hydroelectric power plant are also among the topics. If you are looking for hotels in Zadvarje, these differences can help you organise your interests for your stay.

Fortress and local history

The Zadvarje Fortress stands on a route from the coast at the foot of Biokovo into the interior, which was already in use in prehistoric times. The fortress site thus links an early transport route with the history of the town. The old church in Zadvarje was consecrated in 1774.

The still-operating HE Kraljevac hydroelectric power plant is located near Zadvarje, above Omiš, on the left bank of the Cetina. It began generating electricity in 1912 with two generating units. At the time, HE Kraljevac was among Europe’s largest hydroelectric power plants in terms of size and output. The fortress, church and power plant represent different historical themes: an old route, religious heritage and early electricity generation.

Velika Gubavica and the Tuesday Pazar

The Velika Gubavica waterfall is less than a mile from the Zadvarje Fortress. In the wider destination of Općina Zadvarje, it is located in the section of the Cetina Canyon near Zadvarje; the waterfall is 49 metres high. The canyon near Zadvarje is considered a geomorphological natural monument. This makes it possible to consider the fortress’s historical significance and the canyon’s natural environment as distinct points of interest.

The Pazar tradition in Zadvarje is more than three centuries old; the market takes place on Tuesdays. There is a covered market area for food. Here, a long-standing tradition and a specific day of the week come together. If the market is important to your trip planning, schedule your visit for Tuesday.

Cycling routes and activities at the canyon

The Cetina-blues-rock cycling route passes through Zadvarje. It is 68.3 kilometres long and has a cumulative ascent of 983 metres. The 89.1-kilometre-long “For sky fliers” cycling route leads to Zadvarje; at kilometre 38, a 3.4-kilometre climb to the town begins. The details answer different planning questions: for Cetina-blues-rock, the total length and cumulative ascent are given, while for “For sky fliers”, the length of the climb to the town is also provided.

In the wider destination of Općina Zadvarje, a guided canyoning tour begins in Zadvarje at the edge of the Cetina Canyon. Route and road conditions on the Cetina-blues-rock cycling route may change; check the latest details before choosing this route. This gives you a choice of a guided tour at the canyon’s edge and cycling routes with different distances and elevation details for your trip planning.

Landscape in the wider destination of Općina Zadvarje

In the wider destination of Općina Zadvarje, Biokovo Nature Park extends across seven municipalities, including the Municipality of Zadvarje, as well as two towns. Part of the municipality lies at the historically significant Dubci Pass within the nature park. The approximately four-kilometre-long coastline of the Municipality of Zadvarje lies in Vruja Bay, which is protected as a hydrological natural monument.

Steep coastal cliffs rise above the bay. Freshwater springs emerge in the marine area, forming habitats for underwater cliff communities. In the wider destination of Općina Zadvarje, the Cetina Canyon near Zadvarje is designated a geomorphological natural monument.

The Zadvarje Promenade

The Krški poligon children’s playground was completed as part of the Zadvarje Promenade. This describes a clearly identified feature of the promenade in Zadvarje alongside the historical and landscape-related points of interest.

For the wider travel overview: Općina Zadvarje.