Hiking trail Strožanac – St Georg on Perunsko
This relatively short, but very scenic hiking trail encompasses a great deal of natural diversity – from the sea coast to mountain peaks, while also featuring unique historical and mythological heritage. It begins at the office of the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Podstrana, passes by the Church of Our Lady of Sita in Strožanac and the Polača region, continues through an oak forest and emerges below the cliffs of Perun hill, from where it continues towards Perunsko and the Church of St George with a steep ascent. It is approximately 2.5 kilometres in length, marked and equipped with signs and resting areas, and takes about one and a half hour on foot to cross. It intersects with the macadam path that leads from the quarry, and its short and steep final leg passes along the base of the cliffs of Veliki Perun (443 m). From Perunsko peak, the hiking trail continues to the east towards Gornja Podstrana, with branches that lead to the climbing area of Perun on the south and the Vilar canyon on the north. Some of the interesting cultural and historical features located along the way are: the archaeological and mythological locality of the Church of Our Lady of Sita in Strožanac, the remains of the Antique period villae rusticae Polača and the prehistoric and Old Slavic mythological locality on Perunsko peak and the Church of St George. The path’s natural assets are the olive groves and orchards of Strožanac, the oak forest at the foot of Perun, the limestone cliffs with specific rock vegetation and clefts and the peak of Veliki Perun (443 m).
Hiking trail Perun quarry – Gornja Podstrana
This trail connects the region of the defunct Perun quarry with the old village of Gornja Podstrana, from where you can continue your tour in several directions. The trail is 7 kilometres long. The first third of the path climbs up to an elevation of approximately 300 metres above sea level, while the rest of the trail more or less follows the isohypse to Gornja Podstrana. It features a macadam surface, which makes it well-suited for walking, running and cycling. It intersects with the hiking trail from Strožanac. It faces the south throughout its entire length, which offers a view of the sea and the impressive limestone of Perun hill. The Chapel of St Fabian and Sebastian (approximately 1 km to the west of Gornja Podstrana) is located on the way. Gornja Podstrana (eco-ethno village) is the settlement with the longest continuity of habitation in what is today the municipality of Podstrana. In addition to the remains of residential folk architecture, several valuable sacral and public buildings are also preserved in the village: the double Church of St Anthony and St Rocco – a protected cultural property located in the centre of the oldest part of the village, the stone parish church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the building of the Reading Room (Čitovnica) and the birth house of the famed Croatian painter Ante Kaštelančić.
Hiking trail Mutogras – Gornja Podstrana
This short and interesting hiking trail is about 2.5. km in length and starts at sea level, on the road near the village of Mutogras. The initial stretch is very steep and leads to the spring Mura, and takes about half an hour to cross. The part between the Mura spring and the macadam path with which it intersects can be crossed in about 10 minutes, after which there is a stretch of about 800 metres of macadam path that leads to Gornja Podstrana
Hiking trails and tours from Gornja Podstrana
Gornja Podstrana is the starting point and intersection of several hiking and walking trails. A short and steep serpentine that leads to the prehistoric rock pile of Pišćenica begins to the east of Gornja Podstrana. From there, you can return to Gornja Podstrana via a circular path that leads across the summit plateau and the Church of St George on Vršina, which is located about 1 km from Pišćenica. The macadam path leading towards Jesenice (eastward), 6 km in length, is te continuation of the path that leads from the quarry. It passes through a terrain of a similar configuration and elevation and possesses the sae features. From Jesenice, other paths lead towards the coast and localities on the hill and in the hinterland. The Stations of the Cross leading to the Church of St George on Vršina can be crossed in approximately 15 minutes. They are part of a 3-kilometre-long circular hiking trail that connects Gornja Podstrana and Pišćenica and feature a magnificent panoramic view. The remains of the prehistoric fort Vilanjski grad are located on an elevation situated about 400 m from the Church of St George on Vršina towards the southeast. Although no marked trails lead to this locality, access is possible. The hiking trail leading toward the Church of St George on Perunsko peak (441 m) is about 4 k in length and largely follows the summit ridge of the hill. It passes by the highest peak of Križ (533 m) and the northern foot of the large prehistoric fort Obloženica, located by Perunić peak (448 m). It intersects with a very pleasant hiking trail that leads to Vilar canyon on the northern side of the hill. The winding concrete road that descends to the coast of St Martin is about 2 kilometres in length.
Perun climbing spot
One access point can be reached from the Strožanac – Sv. Jure mountain trail on Perunski, in the oak forest in the hinterland of Strožanac, while the other can be accessed from the Sv. Jure mountain trail on Perunski – – Sv. Jure na Vršini, which leads to the uppermost mountain plateau.The climbing area comprises several sectors with over forty directions with difficulty levels ranging between 4c and 8a. It features a preserved natural environment and is located in the vicinity of other tourist and recreational amenities in Podstrana.
