mtb viganj

Žuljana – sv. Ivan

Country: Croatia
Region: Pelješac/ st. Ivan peak
Length: 19,6 km
Elevation gain: 589 m
Maximum elevation:  450 m
Technical difficulty: 5/5
Download GPS Track: Žuljana_sv.Ivan_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 22.08.2020
Suitable for E-bike: Yes (if e-bike has push assistance)

Few days before this ride I was looking from beach on surrounding hills above Žuljana and wondered how many  mtb trails they hide. Later I found out that there is interesting peak st. Ivan with nice view, but used mostly by hikers. I asked local mountainbikers about possibility to go with mountain bike, but nobody didn’t have useful informations so I decided to check it on my own. I went on a hiking with my girlfriend and did some trail inspection and immediately realised that this trail is hidden gem, even though it was overgrown on few sections it was possible to pass through with the bike.

After hiking, the next day,  I went on a ride very early to avoid heat during ascent. Start was from my apartment in Žuljana, and from there I followed asphalt road that connects to Dubrava, but just before Dubrava turn right on gravel road which is old Napoleon path that goes along main road.

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MTB Korčula – Hum – Vela Luka

Country: Croatia
Island: Korčula
Length: 25 km
Elevation gain: 590 m
Maximum elevation:  376 m
Technical difficulty: 3/5
Download GPS Track: Vela Luka_Hum_Korcula_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 18.08.2020.
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

Korčula is Croatian island in Adriatic sea. It is almost 50 km long, and in average 8 km wide and it is the most populous Croatian island not connected to the mainland by brige. Main settlements on the island are towns Korčula, Vela Luka and Blato. This summer I spent part of my vaccation in Vela Luka, so I decided to visit hill above this town.  At the highest point there are the ruins of a fortress, which was built during the reign of Austria-Hungary in the 19th century and is now only preserved in fragments. As we were camping in campsite Mindel , which is aproximately 5 km from Vela Luka, I started from there. From there I immediately connected on gravel road that goes along the coast on eastern part of Korčula and leads to Vela Luka town. From there i followed path that leads to peak Hum.
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MTB Pelješac – St. Ilija

Country: Croatia
Region: Pelješac/ st. Ilija peak
Length: 26,5 km
Elevation gain: 1080 m
Maximum elevation:  961 m
Technical difficulty: 5/5
Download GPS Track: MTB Pelješac_st.Ilija_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 17.06.2018
Suitable for E-bike: No

St. Ilija is the highest peak of peninsula Pelješac. Because of its distinguished position st. Ilija offers one of the best views in Croatia and is situated on hill known as Zmijino Brdo (Mons vipera) or Perun’s hill. I mentioned Perun when I was writing about my visit to Mostar and ascend to Velež ( in Slavic mythology Perun is the highest god of pantheon and the god of sky, thunder, lightning, storm, war, law, fertility and oak threes) Peak was named by chapel of st. Ilija.

For a long period of time, visit to Zmijino brdo by bike, was on my bucket list. And I was sure that this visit would be once in a time, because remoteness and distance of peninsula Pelješac from rest of Croatia, but as it shows, I was mistaken. During 2018. I visited st. Ilija three times, two times by bike, and one time while hiking with my friends, and every time I visited this isolated area I discovered another beautiful part, which was hidden from me before. If I wanted to live in a peaceful part of Croatia, far away from city noise, light pollution and smog I would definitely chose  Pelješac. As I’m writing this text, construction of bridge that connects Pelješac and mainland is in progress, and even though this move will ease access to Pelješac, it will also destroy islandish nature of Pelješac, I hope I’m wrong. On Pelješac for the first time I saw moufflons, jackals and the most venomous European snake vipera ammodytes. And when I saw them there, they seem so natural there, as if they were created for only purpose just to live on that harsh rock.

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