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Dalmatian Zagora is becoming increasingly recognized as a fantasy land for cyclists – both by two-wheeled vacation enthusiasts and by renters -almost all of them offer rent a bike or bike tours.
25 roads on 550 km, arranged, mapped and marked by Tourist Board of Split –Dalmatia County and Cycling Association; they go through the most beautiful regions of Dalmatian Zagora. TB of Split-Dalmatia County is especially sensitive about Dalmatian Zagora, so it has paid special attention to this region while working on a project of cycling roads that started three years ago.
These roads pass by rivers and lakes, waterfalls and springs, over beautiful hills and mountains, wind around historical sights and old taverns and rural households where traditional delicacies can be tried and tasted.
BIKE-FRIENDLY PROJECTS AND INTIATIVES. 4 roads located in Dugopolje, 10 in Trilj, 5 in Sinj and 3 in Vrlika can be found on a map Dalmatian Zagora – west; first of all 5 maps which are at disposal of Split-Dalmatia County. 3 roads located in Vrgorac, together with those in Imotski that are going to be arranged at the beginning of 2017, will be in a new map Dalmatian Zagora – east. Together with arranging roads, leading men of County’s tourism also started with certifying Bike and Bed facilities, while in Trilj 2 educations for Bike guides were held, so County has successfully certified 45 new bike guides. Cycling races are also being intensely organized, so this year on Dalmatian Zagora area two races were held in category of Croatian Cup: VN Dugopolje and XCM Atrium spring in Klis, and several recreational bike tours and races. All this has opened new possibilities for successful tourism development in Dalmatian Zagora!
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE ROADS! Among 25 beautiful roads, each of them characterised by their own uniqueness, it is almost impossible to single out the favourites, but we are sure that, whichever you take, you will have an exceptional experience.
Vranjača Cave, which is among the most intriguing in Dalmatia due to the richness of its speleothems, can be visited as a part of the road in Dugopolje (401 Vranjača). This completey asphalted road that leads to Vranjača Cave and Kotlenice place and ascends up the county road in a small village Kute. If you manage to conquer this ascent and several consecutive serpentines, you will face a new challenge – almost 10 km of road that leads to this protected geomorphological natural site!
No less attractive is 404 Pometeno Brdo road in Klis – apart from being surrounded by Pometeno brdo, it goes through 7 villages located in untouched nature. Also, there are 7 historical churches and numerous cultural-historical sights, among which is baroque fort Tartaglia from 17th/18th century, ancient localities north of St Michael’s Church and numerous old wells!
Truly idyllic is 451- Cetina Sinj road. It partly follows the Cetina river flow and goes through fertile Sinj field and variety of colourful cultivated land, all the way to Trilj and equestrian club St Michael. It also has attractive resting resorts where those in love of tame natural landscape can rest and regain their strength for the upcoming adventures.
To cyclotourists who are also culture enthusiasts, road 452-Aequum will be breath-taking! Together with valuable archaeological site from 1st century, ancient colony COLONIA CLAVDIA AEQVVM (today’s Čitluk) there are also unavoidable points – neoromanic parish church of St Nicholas in Bajagić place, as well as impressive bridges over Cetina, in Panj and Han. Miloševo lake in Hrvace place is also worth visiting. It was here where, according to a legend, St George killed the dragon!
Road Pet izvora (454) will by all means provide you with an unforgettable experience – there you can find clear and cold springs of Cetina tributaries – Ruda, Rumin and Grab, which are protected significant landscapes. Another extraordinary thing is that old mills in Grab grind wheat using the force of water flow in a traditional way! Road 455-Oko Visoke will lead, all of a sudden, to steep hilly ascent, surrounded by greenery of numerous boskets and groves.
VAST QUANTITY OF CONTENTS. Aforementioned roads aren’t even the third part of the entire content that awaits you if you set off to two-wheeled adventure along Dalmatian Zagora. Among other roads there are those which are tied to interesting tales. For example, 507-Gaj Liberije road (Trilj-Gardun-Tilurium-Trilj); 3 km long road named after a boy whose relief is shown in stele that was found there. He is holding a ball resembling the football ball, and points to the possibility that this famous sports game was played near Cetina even 2000 years ago and that Romans took it from Illyrian tribe Delmati!). Also, there is one named after world globetrotters (it is highly demanding paved mountain road, 51 km long, named 575 – Mate Svjetski, after a man from Vrgorac who spent 19 years travelling alone and discovering the world by going through 360 000 km, on 5 continents.
We won’t tell you everything, discover the rest by yourselves – and we leave the choice of roads to you. Create your own travelling memories filled with unexplored iconic beauty by going through fascinating landscapes and refreshing with homemade dishes of the regions you pass through!
Photo: Archive Split – Dalmatia County board!
www.dalmatia.hr
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