Ciro Trail: Zavala - Dubrovnik

SHORT INFO DESCRIPTION OF THE TRAIL

The excursion begins with a visit Cave Vjetrenica, the largest and most important cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After visiting the cave, cycling from Zavala to Ivanica follows, with short breaks at various viewpoints and rest stops. We definitely recommend taking a lunch break (lunch package) in Ivanica, a small village located at the border crossing Gornji Brgat (Croatia). After you have regained your energy, cross the border with the Republic of Croatia, from where you will descend towards Dubrovnik.

From Hum, the cycling route stretches towards the Mediterranean pearl of Dubrovnik, whose Old Town, like the Old Town in Mostar, is on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. On the way to Dubrovnik, the route passes through Uskoplje, from which two railways that went east and south exited. From the exit junction, the Zelenika railway turned left below the village of Uskoplja and wound up the hill with a 17.5 per mile climb towards Glavska and further to Zelenika in Boka Kotorska. The second railway went out in the direction of Ivanica, and entered the Republic of Croatia through a tunnel, then with a gradient of 27.8 per thousand, it went down serpentines towards Dubrovnik.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAIL YOU ARE CYCLING

After Zelenikovac, it stretches along the edge of Popova polje towards Ravno and passes by the old railway stations in Turkovići and Velja Međa, as well as the stops Trnčina and Dvrsnica. After about 90 kilometers from Mostar, you come to Ravno - a tame, steeply placed Herzegovinian town built of stone with a medieval church of St. Mitra. It is the municipal center, administrative and cultural center of Popova polje. In front of the Municipal Council building, a magnificent monument to the greatest Croatian scholar and priest Josip Ruđer Bošković was erected in 2011 on the occasion of the three hundredth anniversary of his birth. Josip's father was born in Orahovo Dol in the municipality of Ravno. There was a station building in the place, and now it is a catering and tourist facility. The station had three station tracks and could receive trains with 90 axles. In addition to the reception building, the building of the cellular goods magazine also remained.

From Ravni, the cycling route descends towards Zavala, and immediately after leaving the town, the route forks for the third time into an asphalt and macadam section. The section of the macadam route descends through Mala Dubravica and the Ljuljevac hill down the longest subwall on the route (about 500 m), with a drop of 12 per thousand. On that part there is an iron bridge/viaduct that bridges the deep cut of the canyon. From the viaduct, the path enters the Gradina tunnel L= 340.75 m. In front of the entrance to the tunnel is a stone marker for the 224th km of the railway from Sarajevo.

The tunnel was broken in a year, and it is currently home to a large habitat of bats, which is why the macadam section of the route ends at the entrance. The same is true on the other side of the tunnel, from where the macadam route extends to Zavala. By the way, the entire section from Ravni to Zavala presents spectacular landscapes of Popovo polje, which stretches tens of kilometers towards Trebinje.

The town of Zavala is seven kilometers from Ravni and not far from the town is the famous Vjetrenica cave, which has been a protected natural monument since 1952. Also, in this place there is the monastery church of the Presentation of the Virgin and the Church of St. Peter (remains of the Catholic church). There was a railway station in Zavala. The reception building and track area was built on a high wall with a culvert.

When the sub-wall was being built, the emperor was told in Vienna that it could not be built. He answered with the question "Can a kilo of stone, a kilo of gold? It can. And it was built. All local, passenger and high-speed trains stopped in Zavala for the "scaffolding" from the train to the sea in Slano, Croatia. It is interesting to mention that until the railroad was abolished in 1975, there was one tourist train every day in the afternoon from Dubrovnik to Zavala in the summer season.

RECOMMENDATION

Although the trail takes us through populated areas, we recommend taking sufficient amounts of water with you on the ride, especially on summer days. The entire section is asphalted, but it is necessary to bring a mini tool and a tool for patching inner tires. Due to the length of the tour, it is recommended to inform family or friends about your cycling plans before going on the ride.
Helmet mandatory!

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