A8 Split - Potomje
From Diocletian
Split / Vela Luka /trajekt/ - Blato (8 km) - Brna (25 km) - Smokvica (29 km) - Čara (33 km) - Pupnat (44 km) - Korčula/Orebić /trajekt/ (62 km) - Potomje (80 km) |
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distance 80.00 km |
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start Split |
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end Potomje |
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total climb 1160.00 m |
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This alternative 47-km-long section will challenge you to go on a bicycle ride across the entire island of Korčula from west to east on local roads with many elevations and descents. The island of Korčula is known, among other things, as the birthplace of the researcher, traveller and travel writer Marco Polo, as well as for the “moreška” sword dance and its top-quality white wines made from the indigenous grape varieties pošip, grk and rukatac. The eye-catching Vela Spila, one of the most important prehistoric archaeological sites in Europe is located in the town of Vela Luka. You can also visit the ethnographic collection on olive growing and oil production at the exit from the town. At Blato field, you can visit the charming and authentic municipality of Blato, with a long linden tree avenue that was planted in 1911 and spans the entire municipality. From the interior of the island, over a winding road pass, the route will lead you down towards the picturesque coastal villages of Gršćica, Prižba and Brna. The route then leads towards the fertile interior of the island along an upward road in the direction of the picturesque Smokvica, with the church of St. Michael, which was built on a rock and offers a view of all the main roads to Smokvica. The vast Smokvica field dotted with vineyards of the indigenous pošip grape variety spans from Smokvica to Čara. The centre of Čara is known for the parish church of St. Peter, with a centuries-old cypress growing next to it. The route continues towards the beaches of Pupnatska Luka and Pupnat, the smallest village on the island, located at 360 meters above sea level. Passing by the church of Our Lady of the Snow, the route will lead you down to the village of Kneža, where it continues along a seaside road with views of the Pelješac peninsula and the Pelješac Channel. Along the way, you will pass through the villages of Žrnovska Banja and Medvinjak, and then through the impressive Korčula, the birthplace of Marco Polo, with its numerous towers and other sights. Make sure to breathe in the scents of the real Mediterranean while relaxing next to the Dominican monastery and the church of St. Nicholas, which offer a view of the walls and towers of the town of Korčula, the Pelješac Channel and St. Elijah Hill. The shortest and fastest way to reach the Pelješac peninsula is by ferry to Orebić from the nearby Dominče port. The channel between Korčula and Pelješac is especially popular among surfers because of its suitable winds. You can find out more about the rich history of seafaring and shipbuilding in Orebić and Pelješac at the Orebić Maritime Museum. It is also definitely worth stopping by the Monastery and Church of Our Lady of the Angels, which is located at 152 meters above sea level and offers a beautiful view of the Pelješac Channel, Korčula, Mljet and Lastovo. From Orebić, the route continues on an upward road (7 km), and then leads down along a branching road towards the Trpanj port and along Prizdrina to Potomje, where it connects to the section of the main EV 8 route (DG18).
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Km |
Description |
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Section length |
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80 km |
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Asphalt/macadam ratio |
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97/3% |
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Total elevation: |
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1160 |
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Higher elevations |
66 |
Climb from Orebić on Pelješac, 7 km, 6%, 400 m |
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Macadam road – highly ridable |
4 |
Between Vela Luka and Blato – 1 km |
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Macadam road – moderately ridable |
3 |
Between Vela Luka and Blato – 1.3 km |
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Occasional bicycle pushing |
58 |
Passage through the Korčula town centre |
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Steps |
58 59 |
Korčula – steps when crossing from one road to another Korčula – passing over a sidewalk by the bus station |
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Supply options |
0 9 25 29 33 44 50 58 62 80 |
Vela Luka – restaurants, coffee shops, stores Blato – restaurants, coffee shops, stores Brna – restaurant during high season, coffee shops, stores Smokvica – store, pizza parlour, post office, kiosk Čara – store, coffee shop Pupnat – store Kneže – small shop/kiosk (500 m off the route) Korčula – restaurants, coffee shops, stores Orebić - restaurants, coffee shops, stores Potomje - store |
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Rest options |
17-25 49-62 7
9 12 23 44 59 62 |
Nature along the way Beaches from Gršćica through Pridžba to Brna Beaches from Kneže to Korčula and in Orebić Benches in front of the water supply building in the field outside Blato Blato – park in the shade with benches Rest stop with a chapel on the pass Smokvica – benches in the shade Pupnat – benches in the shade Korčula – benches by the sea Orebić – benches by the sea |
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Accommodation options |
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All villages and towns offer private accommodation Hotels in Vela Luka, Brno, Korčula and Orebić Campsites in Vela Luka (3 km off the route), Pridžba, Korčula and Orebić Marina in the town of Korčula. |
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Auto mechanic/Tyre shop |
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Blato, Korčula; in the town of Korčula |
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Boat |
59 |
Korčula, Jadrolinija |
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Ferry ride included |
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62 |
Ferry Split – Vela Luka (island of Korčula), twice a day, a 2:45 h or 3:30 h ride (Jadrolinija) Ferry Korčula (Dominče) – Orebić, 14-18 times a day, approximately a 15 min ride (Jadrolinija) |
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Turning off the route |
41 |
Branching road for the Pupnatska Luka beach/bay: 2,5 km 140 m (macadam road) or 250 m (asphalt) |
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Alternatives |
44 |
Directly from Pupnat down to Korčula on D118 (5 km shorter and much faster) |
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Differences in following the EV8 route in the direction south -> north |
58 9 |
Passage through Korčula – one-way streets Passage through Blato – one-way streets |
Section A8 is an alternative to the sections of the main EuroVelo 8 route from Split to the Pelješac peninsula: DG16, DG17 and part of the section DG18. The main route includes more traffic areas, whereas the alternative A8 section through the island of Korčula has significantly less traffic, is shorter and includes longer ferry rides and the exploration of the Adriatic islands. Due to its length and the two ferries, it would be a good idea to consider spending two days on this section. Both the main and alternative routes in this area have their unique natural sights, and it thus may be best to consider a round trip that would include both routes. A8 splits from the daily section DG16 in Split and reconnects with the main route at the 16th kilometre of section DG18 in Potomje on the Pelješac peninsula.
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Km |
Technical description of the section |
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0 |
From the Split ferry port Split to Vela Luka on the island of Korčula by ferry |
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0 |
By avoiding traffic on the main road, the route from Vela Luka exits on 63 Street (uphill from the port), turns left to 47 Street, then right to 48 Street and right again to 43 Street. The route passes through the main 68 Street and after 1 km splits left off to a macadam road. 700 m farther, it continues to the left at the Y intersection. |
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8 |
After passing through the Blato field, the route enters Blato on 2 Street, then passes through Blato on the main 1 Street (one-way, 200 m long) and bypasses it from the right. At the roundabout at the exit from Blato, the route turns right to ŽC 6223 and continues uphill over the pass, then down to the coast where it passes through the villages of Gršćica, Prižba and Brna and goes uphill to Smokvica. |
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29 |
In the centre of Smokvica, the route turns right and connects to ŽC 6268 and then continues to Čara. |
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33 |
After leaving Čara, 400 m from the centre, the route splits right off to LC 69022, continues (11 km) straight ahead and then goes uphill towards Pupnat. |
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38 41 |
Turn right off the route to a macadam road at a height of 140 m to get to Pupnatska Luka Beach. Turn right off the route to an asphalt road at a height of 240 m to get to Pupnatska Luka Beach. |
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44 |
The route crosses road D118 and enters Pupnat, then turns right by the church, and leads down to the coast to the village of Kneža. For a shorter and more direct alternative, you can take the slightly busier road D118 and turn right to get to the town of Korčula. |
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50 |
From Kneža, the route turns right on ŽC 6224 along the coast to Korčula. |
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57 |
The route enters Korčula on Cvjetno Naselje Street and follows the street to its end. Finally, you will need to push your bicycle for another 200 m through the pedestrian zone in the centre of Korčula. |
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58 |
From the centre of Korčula, continue along the coast (pass behind the Korčula Bus Station) and ride along Dubrovačka cesta for another 2.5 km to the Dominče ferry port in Korčula. |
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62 |
Take the ferry to Orebić on the Pelješac peninsula. In Orebić, the route will lead you right along the Knez Domagoj coastal walkway. After 1.5 km, the route leads to road D414 and follows it uphill for 7 km, then goes down along Prizdrina to Potomje. |
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80 |
The route connects to the main route in a wine-growing fertile valley in Potomje on the 16th km of section DG18 from Trpanj to Ston. |
