Among the many ancient remains in the area the most prominent is Narona, an ancient Roman town found in today's village of Vid. Along with Salona and Jader (today's Zadar), Narona was a major city in the ancient Roman province of Dalmatia. Recent archaeological finds have lead experts to believe that the town continued to exist after the Roman empire, well into the Middle Ages. This is supported by the early Christian basilica at Erešove bare, which was built in the 7th century on the ruins of a 3rd-century Roman Villa rustica. The greatest feature of Narona is the original Augustean temple from 10BC, found in the middle of the ancient town forum. The first Croatian on site (in situ) museum was built right above it – the Archaeological Museum Narona in Vid.
The new settlers into the area – the Slavs, Bulgarians and Avars – came into what was then Byzantium, the Eastern part of the Roman Empire. In early Middle Ages the Neretva area was inhabited by Croatian tribes. The main activity of Medieval people in Neretva was piracy at sea, like in neighbouring Pagania, the land of pagan, non-Christian pirates, between the rivers Cetina and Neretva. The early Croatian state in the south was called Neretva Principality, to which Venetians used to pay a toll to gain free passage at sea. The Croatian duke Domagoj was believed to be from this principality; for Venetians he was „the worst Croatian duke“ („dux pessimus Croatorum“).
In the 14th century the valley was invaded by Bosnian kings Stjepan II. Kotromanić, Tvrtko and Herceg Stjepan Vukčić Kosača, as well as the counts Radivojević, Jurjević and Vlatković. The Turks built a tower at Kula Norinska in the 15th century for easier control of the traffic across the Neretva Valley; the remains of this mighty tower are well preserved and can be seen off the main road between Metković and Opuzen.
The role of Roman Narona was taken over by the port town of Drijeva, which was probably situated on the right bank of the river Neretva in today's Gabela. It is believed to have been a major trading post for a wide range of goods, such as cloth, wax, salt and spices, as well as slaves. It was mentioned frequently by public notaries in the Republic of Dubrovnik. These also mentioned the town of Metković in the 15th century, in a document from 1422 kept at the State Archive in Dubrovnik. Metković was first depicted on a map in 1570 by Venetian cartographer Jacopo Gastaldi. The 15th and 16th centuries were characterized by conflicts between the Turks and the Venetians. The Treaty of Požarevac in 1718 determined the border between the Turkish Empire and the Venetian Republic. After this the Venetians destroyed and abandoned Gabela and founded a new port on the River Neretva, in today's Metković.
Contact:
Archaeological Museum Narona
Naronski trg 6, 20352 Vid
Tel: +385 20 691596
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The best example of a rich and diverse bird population of the Neretva delta can be observed in the ornithological collection in Metković. Founded by famous Croatian ornithologist Dragutin Rucner. Unfortunately, the dalmatian pelican, griffon duck and marbled teal are gone, but even today we can see bitterns and ferruginous ducks nesting in the Neretva delta. The delta is an important resting place for millions of migratory birds but also a popular destination for many nature lovers. Today, the ornithological collection is part of the Natural History Museum in Metković.
The Natural History Museum is open weekdays from 9 to 16, and Saturdays from 9 to 14. During public holidays, the museum is closed.
Regular ticket prices are 30 kn for individual visitors, while students and pensioners pay 20 kunas. Family ticket is 50 kn and group price (for 10 or more pupils) is 15 kn per person. Children under 7 years, the disabled, members of ICOM, CMS and related associations have free entrance.
Contact:
Kralja Zvonimira 4, 20350 Metković
Tel: +385 20 690673
Mob: +385 91 566 1603
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Predolac cave is a home to a unique cave shellfish "Congeria", a living fossil, a tertiary relic and unique species to the Dinarid Alps. There are many other animal species living exclusively underground, but those who live in surface waters. All this in one locality that's unique in the world.
Visits to the Cave in Predolac and the Educational center Congeria are possibile troughout the year except holidays, with prior notice.
Instead of tickets, they accept donations for the maintenance of the Cave and Educational Center.
Contact:
Markica Vuica, 00385 98 1744 999
Restaurant „Adria“
Splitska 48, 20350 Metković
tel: +385 20 684 391
mob: +385 99 214 8806
+385 98 288 223
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www.adria-restaurant.hr/fotosafari
Restaurant-pansion „Đuđa i Mate“
Velika riva 2, 20352 Vid
tel: +385 20 687 500
mob: +385 91 187 6364
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Hotel-restaurant „Villa Neretva“
Splitska 14, Krvavac II, 20350 Metković
tel: +385 20 672 200
mob: +385 98 361 700
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Thematic tourist road "Neretva the valley of life" is a part of the rural tourism offer of Dubrovnik-Neretva Region. The river Neretva unites this particular area of a fertile valley, which yields numerous natural riches. The diversity of the fauna has been preserved in ornithological reserves and the Ornithological Collection of the Natural Museum in Metković. The photo-safari along the Neretva backwaters and lakes, in the traditional craft, will reveal, besides the wonderful nature, the tales about sunken cities, the remains of ancient Roman villas. The Archaeological Museum Narona in Vid, built above the Augusteum, a temple dedicated to the emperor Augustus, witnesses about the existence of life in the area ever since Antiquity. Until now, such complete, artistically perfect and archaeologically valuable group of statues has not been found anywhere, except in Rome.There is also a special gastronomical story here – specialties made of fish and frogs caught in the Neretva and autochthonous Neretva stew made of eel and frogs, as well as the very special and increasingly savoury wines of the area.
Those who value long walks, town offers a variety of trails through significant landscape Predolac-Šibanica, or if you prefer cycling, you can explore landscapes from Prud-Dragovija-Vid MTB bike route.
By its geographical position Metković is an ideal starting point for shorter and longer excursions. Kitesurfing and windsurfing enthusiasts can enjoy at the mouth of the Neretva only 20 km from the town center. Estuary is ideal place for photographers as it is rich in various light phenomena, the effect of meeting the sky, sea, sand, clouds, and sudden changes in wind direction.Absolutely gorgeous are Baćina and Kuti lakes, coastal towns such as Blace, Komarna and Klek.
From Metković to Medjugorje and Mostar you have half an hour drive and hour or more to Ston, Dubrovnik and Split.
More info: www.rural-dubrovnik-neretva.hr
Metković, Ploče, Kula Norinska, Slivno i Zažablje udružili su se kako bi ogromne cikloturističke potencijale doline Neretve pretvorili u stvarnost te ozbiljno zakoračili na veliko i izdašno tržište tog važnog segmenta sportsko-pustolovnog turizma.
U protekle tri godine provedbe projekta razvoja cikloturističke destinacije detaljno su analizirani postojeći resursi, trasirane su nove, tržišno osmišljene rute, kreiran je suvremeni vizualni identitet i slogan, snimljeni su foto materijali, produciran je promo video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_MgTTPbl60 ), kreiran je plan digitalnog marketinga i promocije destinacije, te način izlaska i predstavljanja cikloturističkom tržištu.
Osmišljen je i dizajniran cijeli novi brand destinacije koja će se promovirati kao #1valley odnosno sloganom „One Valley, one sport, many different experiences“.
U Metkoviću je 2019. godine održana prva tematska konferencija posvećena cikloturizmu - obliku turizma s velikim potencijalom u poslovnom, ali i razvojnom smislu. Ovu konferenciju – Dane cikloturizma organizirali su Trail - Full Cycling Experience, uz potporu Ministarstvo turizma i Ministarstvo pomorstva, prometa i infrastrukture, te Grada Metkovića, općina Kula Norinska, Slivno, Zažablje i Turističke zajednice grada Metkovića. Na konferenciji su se okupili predstavnici svih važnih subjekata zainteresiranih za razvoj cikloturizma - ministarstva, HTZ, lokalne samouprave, turističke agencije, ponuđači usluga i proizvoda.
Kao svojevrsna kruna dosadašnjih aktivnosti i temelj promocije cikloturističke ponude doline Neretve izrađena je web stranica Cycling Neretva (www.cycling-neretva.com), te cikloturistička brošura. U njima je na suvremeni i tržišno orijentirani način ispričana priča o jedinstvenoj destinaciji koja ima veliki potencijal privlačenja trekking i cestovnih biciklista zainteresiranih za zanimljiv ili izazovan aktivni odmor, bez obzira radi li se o agencijskim cikloturističkim proputovanjima, kakvih je u Hrvatskoj sve više, ili obiteljskom boravku koji kombinira užitak u kretanju s uživanjem u prirodnim, povijesnim i gastronomskim ljepotama regije.
Dolina Neretve je sa svojim raznolikim i kontrastnim krajolikom zaista idealna za razvoj cikloturizma s posebnim naglaskom na tržište trekking i cestovnih biciklista, koji zauzimaju značajan udio u golemom europskom tržištu s više od 70 milijuna aktivnih cikloturista, koje donosi značajnu dodanu vrijednost.
Cikloturizam je jedna od najbrže rastućih grana turističke industrije, njegovi korisnici su u stalnoj potrazi za novim, zanimljivim i, što je posebno važno, očuvanim i autentičnim destinacijama. Uz mnoge druge prednosti razvoja cikloturizma, posebno treba istaknuti da on značajno produžuje sezone, stvara prijeko potrebnu diversifikaciju ponude, nadopunjuje „klasične“ oblike turizma i posebno je važan za gospodarski razvoj ruralnih predjela čija je pejzažna i kulturna očuvanost iznimno cijenjena kao značajna komparativna prednost.
Projekt razvoja cikloturističke destinacije provodi brand Trail – Full Cycling Experience, specijaliziran za razvoj outdoor destinacija i inovativnih proizvoda sportsko-pustolovnog turizma.
