Župa: Hiking on Biokovo and Cultural Heritage

Župa brings together a Biokovo hiking route, a visitor centre and several cultural and historical sites. For planning purposes, you can consider these separately: the route is a several-hour outing, visits to the centre depend on seasonal opening hours or an appointment, and the churches and archaeological sites offer insight into the area’s history. This lets you treat a hiking day, a possible visit to the centre and cultural and historical interests as separate parts of your trip.

Hiking on Biokovo and Visiting Hours

A Biokovo hiking route from Župa/Roglići to Čulija, Sutvid and Sv. Rok takes about 3.5 hours and is rated moderate. The approximate duration helps you plan your hiking day in broad terms; the difficulty rating provides additional guidance for planning the hike. Since ratings and trail conditions can change, check them locally before setting out.

The Posjetiteljski centar “Akademik Josip Roglić” in Župa opened in October 2022 in a former public school building. Individual visits are possible during seasonal opening hours; outside the season, you can arrange a visit by appointment. Check the current opening hours in advance.

Church and Archaeology in Župa

The Church of St John the Baptist in Župa was built in 1600 and rebuilt in 1906 after being destroyed. It and the archaeological site in Župa are listed as a single protected cultural property under number Z-5534. Nine stained-glass windows by Josip Botteri Dini depict the central mysteries of the faith and patron saints. The dates mark two phases of construction, while the windows focus on religious themes.

At Takalo in Župa, a prehistoric hillfort is designated as an archaeological site. Gradska spila cave lies about 200 metres west of the village centre, in the direction of the Biokovo mountains. Takalo and Gradska spila thus represent different local traces: a prehistoric fortification and a cave site.

Župa is one of only three villages on the northern side of Biokovo associated with shepherds’ mountain settlements. This connection points to the mountain’s historic grazing landscape. The remains of such settlements may be private, in disrepair or not set up for visitors.

Općina Zagvozd in the Regional Context

The municipality of Općina Zagvozd lies on the northern side of Biokovo and comprises seven settlements; 43 per cent of its area lies within Biokovo Nature Park. The A1 motorway crosses the municipality; the Sveti Ilija Tunnel connects Zagvozd with the Makarska coast. According to the municipality’s description, the area is easily accessible by road from all parts of Croatia.

The wider destination of Općina Zagvozd also includes the Church of the Holy Cross and the medieval cemetery with stećci in Rastovac, as well as the Gradinica archaeological site in Krstatice, all designated as protected cultural properties.

Discover more destinations: Zagvozd, Rastovac.

Back to the main travel overview: Općina Zagvozd.