KOMARNA Sightseeing
View from mountains
Short
Sightseeing Excursions in the Neighbourhood
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The Napoleon Road from Neum
to Metkovic
The Napoleon road (or French Road) crossed Neretva at Kula Norinska and continued through Metkovic over the mountains to Neum and further on almost down to Dubrovnik. The part from Neum to Metkovic is an interesting trip that any car can make as long as you drive carefully and give way to those coming towards you.
We recommend that you travel this part of the road starting from Neum towards Metkovic.
There is a new road under construction where you can join the Napoleon Road without going into Neum. The new road turns off the coastal road just before the Neum Border, but in June 2007 it was still not finished.
- Go left in the big T-junction in Neum
- Continue until you reach a border station and turn left towards Metkovic. It may be a little confusing because the customs and their sheds are placed so that you may think you re-enter Croatia going straight ahead - but don't. Take a sharp left turn.
- Now it is really just going straight ahead until you reach Metkovic You will pass high over a nature reserve and go all the way down again to drive along the delta and through small villages where life seems to be lived pretty much like it used to be when grandmother was young.
- On the way down you should stop by the Chapel for St Nicolas and leave a few Kuna at the statue. Inside the small Chapel there is a very beautiful Maria with child. Maybe you can see her through the window.
- Continue to go straight ahead all the time in Metkovic and you will follow the old road all the way to the point where the original bridge over Neretva was. Not Neretva as it is to day, but the old riverbed that you have been following on your right.
- You now join the main road where the tower of Kula Norinska is. There is a road sign opposite that point to Krvavac II. This village was divided when the riverbed was changed and the other part of it, Krvavac I is now on the other bank, separated, just as the village of Kula Norinska has been separated from its famous tower.
On the page
Dubrovnik
Trip you can find information about the Napoleon Road (or
French road) between
Neum and Dubrovnik.
Norinska Tower
When you have joined the main road between Opuzen and Metkovic you will see a tower ruin by the bank of the river.
Norinska Kula (tower) was build by the Turks in the beginning of 1400’s and together with the rest of the fort that does not exist any more, it was a defence against Venice. Today the tower and the village are separated because the Neretva river bed was changed.
The purpose of Norinska Tower and fortification was to keep the Venetians away from the valley and to have a stronghold where the Turkish possessions in Bosnia and Hercegovina could be defended from. The Turks didn't quite succeed. Already in 1685 the Turks had to give in to a Venetian siege and leave the area.
But with the towers strategic importance the Turks wanted it back. And they got it. Several times in fact. During the next centuries the Venetians and the Turks succeeded one another in being masters of the tower. This rivalry came to an end when both of them were kicked out by Austrian troops.
Under Austrian rule the Norin River altered its course and the tower lost its strategic importance and it was abandoned. The tower is very well preserved and it is definitely worth to park the car and have a look while the chance is still there. There are persistent rumours that the county mayor plans to open a restaurant in the tower!!!
North of the Neretva Delta
The Bacina Lakes
Bacina is a village 7 km
west of Ploce.The lakes are a very beautiful sight.
The six interconnected lakes lie about half an hours drive North of
Komarna
and are visible from the coastal road. They more or less have the same
colour as the brochures advertising diving trips to The Maldives.
The lakes are a favoured spot for the locals so it's possible to buy food and drink. Remember to bring your diving glasses. It's not The Maldives but there is an abundance of fish in the water anyway.
To get down to the lakes, look out for a small road in Bacina going down to the right. There are no road signs. Just after you enter the small road you can go straight ahead or you can turn left. Both roads will take you to quiet places where you can swim and walk.
In Sladinac there are remains of an antique wall and Roman mosaics. Remains of an early Christian basilica from the 6th century have also been found here. Next to the ruins of the church of St. Andrew there is an old burial ground.
Beaches close by
Komarna: There
is a pebble beach just south of the village 300 m from the centre
and it is safe for small children. You may also swim directly from the
rock beach that runs all the way along the coast. Small children must
be
supervised at the rock beach.
If you have a lot to carry you may drive a car to the beach. It is possible to park there - unless you come late on Sundays where the place can be rather crowded. The road to the beach continues and used to connect with the coastal road close to Duboka, but the construction work for the bridge has interfered some and it is probably not passable any more.
Klek: If you want to try a different beach than Komarna, the obvious choice is Klek. It has a beach with fine pebbles and it is quite safe for children. During the high season there is a fee for using the parking area (30 Kuna). Along the beach there are small bars and restaurants and the place is very crowded during the weekends.
Neum: Has a couple of pebble beaches with many bars and restaurants close by and at the beach. There is a parking fee during the season. Since it is the only piece of coast that belongs to Hercegovina, it is very crowded by people from several big hotels.
There are other small hidden
pebble beaches that are a bit more difficult
to find - except if you have a boat. When you go from Komarna towards
Opuzen
turn left on a small road towards Raba and Duba.
After about one km turn left towards Kremena 400 m after you turned
left
(direction Duba is a bad road that should be avoided). You must then
turn
left again and continue on the gravel road down to an unnamed little
beach
where the locals have build all sorts of strange cabins. The road is
passable
for any car, but it isn't possible for two cars to pass each other, so
look well ahead to see if somebody is coming towards you.
Instead of turning left you
can also continue and go to Kremena where
there is an artificial gravel beach. 300m further on to the right,
along the beach, is Duba Beach where you
can get a close look at one of the many caves that were build
by the former Yugoslavian Navy as shelter for their naval ships. There
is also a coffee shop in Duba.
There are beaches around Blace.
Have a look under "Blace" for driving directions, or take the
fast road through the delta. Go to Opuzen. After you have gone past
River
Mala Neretva look out for a road sign saying "Blace". This is
a flat direct road through the delta
Instead of
driving into Blace (pebble beaches) you may go straight ahead
before the pumping station and go 500 m to Camp Rio camping,
restaurant and shopping. The beach here on your left is the closest
you will get to a sand beach around here. It is coarse brown gravel
that
some like better than the rock - and some don't. Have a look and decide
for yourself. There are also similar beaches further out by the mouth
of Neretva.
Page
with coordinates for GPS and maps
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