Pelješac

Geographical location

The Peljesac [ pɛʎɛʃats ] ( Čakavisch Pelišac, Italian Sabbioncello ) is a peninsula on the Dalmatian Adriatic coast in the south of Croatia. The surface of the peninsula is 358 km ².

Geography

The peninsula consists of a narrow, elongated in east-west direction ridge, which, like the Dalmatian islands is geologically part of the Dinaric Alps, the Talzonen have sunk below the sea level. In contrast to the islands Peljesac peninsula is associated Neretvamündung south of the east by a narrow land bridge in the towns of Ston and Mali Ston to the mainland. The highest peak is Sveti Ilija (961 m ).

In the north of the peninsula is separated by the estuary Neretvanski channel from the mainland, in the southwest it is beyond the relatively narrow Strait of Korčulanski channel towards the northeastern coast of the island of Korcula. Further east, extends to a greater distance parallel to the southern coast of the peninsula, the island of Mljet.

The climate is Mediterranean in the coastal areas.

History

The earliest known inhabitants on the Peljesac peninsula were the Illyrians who had contact with Greek sailors. This is demonstrated artifacts from the Nakovana cave above the modern Orebic. Since 228 BC, however, the Illyrian tribes of the central and southern Croatian coast country and also the Peljesac peninsula came increasingly under Roman influence.

Since 168 BC, Peljesac part of the Roman province of Illyria and Rhatanae Chersoneus was called. After the downfall of the Western Roman Empire, the Peljesac Peninsula was incorporated into the Byzantine Empire. Since the 9th century Slavic tribes settled in the area of the Neretva River estuary and also penetrated before on the peninsula. Peljesac was part of Zahumlje under Knez Mihajlo Višević in the 10th century. After 1183 it became affiliated with the Zeta Nemanjic Empire. To 1323, the local feudal nobility became self-employed under the Branojević. The Branojević plundered the border areas of Dubrovnik, the first implored the intervention of the Nemanjic, and when they do not respond, turned to Bosnia. The Bosnian Prince Stjepan II Kotromanić conquered Zahumlje 1326. Efforts Stefan Dusan, to annex his state again Zahumlje, had no lasting success, and Zahumlje remained with Bosnien.1333 was the southern part of Zahumlje with the center of Ston and the island of Peljesac against tribute Ragusanern the left. From 1333 to 1808 was part of the Peljesac Dubrovnik Republic (Dubrovnik).

The city of Dubrovnik Republic had the place Ston expanded with a more than 5 km long defensive structure as reinforced outposts. In Mali Ston a naval port was built in 1490 for ships from Dubrovnik. The town Orebic on the Peljesac peninsula, situated opposite the island of Korčula, gained only after the construction of situated above the village of Franciscan monastery with the church of " Our Lady of Angels ," a strategic importance. The name was the place Orebic in the 16th century by a Captain family of Bakar. Its heyday was Orebic in the 18th and 19th century because in this period many goods between the Ottoman Empire and ports throughout Western Europe were handled there. It was here in the 19th century one of the largest shipping companies domiciled, the Associazione di Marittima Sabioncello. Then Orebic was back to a small fishing village, from which the most important ship captains Croatia originated.

Today, Orebic is still a small fishing village but lives - also because of the rare sandy beach in Croatia - mainly from tourism. The place has Kućište even today as a sign of the rich past magnificent stone palaces, such as the Baroque palace Lazarevic and old churches such as the hl. Trinity Church, the Church of St.. Ana, the hl. Laurentius Church and St. Luke's cemetery from the 14th century on the slopes of the hill Sveti Ilija one has the opportunity to hunt wild sheep, pheasants and wild boar.

Towns and villages

Politically, the Peljesac peninsula belongs to the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and is divided into four municipalities, which are named after their administrative headquarters, but in addition also other smaller towns include ( number of inhabitants according to the 2001 census ):

• Orebic in the western and southwestern part of the peninsula with 4,165 inhabitants
• Trpanj in the northwest with a population of 871
• Janjina in the center with 593 inhabitants
• Ston in the East with 2,605 inhabitants

In addition to community centers are located on the Peljesac still includes the towns of Kućište, Lovište Prapratno, Viganj, Kuna, Potomje, Dingac, Trstenik, Sreser, Drace, Dubrava, Žuljana, Brijesta, Putniković, Ponikve, Zamaslina, Pijavičino and Mali Ston.

Overall, the Peljesac is sparsely populated. Orebic and Ston are the only slightly larger places.

Economy and infrastructure

The coastal towns of the Peljesac peninsula, like the islands and the rest of the Dalmatian coast popular holiday destinations today. Besides tourism, the wine is an important economic activity. Among its leading products include the same red wine internationally known and cultivated in Dingac.

The main road is the Ston in the east to the west Orebič the entire peninsula by pulling the main road which is connected to the coastal highway to the east. From Orebic out there are ferry connections to the directly opposite town of Korcula on the island of the same name. The main road is also used by bus services, the Dubrovnik or Split on the Peljesac peninsula and the ferry to the island of Korčula connect, where they end in Vela Luka on the western end of the island.

By building a bridge was begun, which will connect the northern coast of the Peljesac peninsula southeast of Ploce with the coast, making the peninsula a second connection get to the mainland. The aim is firstly the road link from the north on the western part of the peninsula and to Korcula be shortened, on the other hand should arise from a fully running on Croatian territory road connection to Dubrovnik, through which the Peljesac peninsula in the north opposite to Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs seaside town of Neum deal could. This bypass is on the west side so far only with the ferry Ploce - Trpanj possible (see: International conflicts of the successor states of Yugoslavia ).

Gallery

Fortification of Mali Ston on the Peljesac Peninsula