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Railroad of Ciro - 560 km of cycling routes

Railroad of Ciro - Cycling route from Mostar to Dubrovnik

About old railroad

European trend of converting abandoned railroad tracks into cycling routes has arrived in our region.
The Historic Railroad Trail with steam locomotives passes from Mostar alongside Neretva river all the way across the border with Croatia, ending in Dubrovnik.
The construction of this trail started in 1898 and ended in 1901.
Today this trail is reconstructed into 200 kilometers long cycling track, with more than 350 km of additional tracks directly connected with main route.
 

New cycling experience in Dubrovnik and Mostar area

It's our pleasure to present a converted railroad track of that kind divided in few parts, which is a unique tourist project in the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia named The Railroad of Ciro or Ciro's railroad track.
Railroad of Ciro track connects two states and enables nature lovers to explore landscapes, natural and historical attractions while cycling in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
Our excursions incorporate the beauties of the South Dalmatian hinterland and coastal area as well as the South of Herzegovina, alongside with the excursions that we organise on a larger Dubrovnik area and cycling on the Ciro's railroad trail, excursions that will satisfy all sorts of nature and gastronomy lovers.

For those who want to enjoy the experience with less effort, we offer rental of high quality MTB e-bikes.
You can start your excursion from Mostar or Dubrovnik, two unique cities with lots of historic monuments.
 

Počitelj // History

The first recorded reference to Počitelj dates from 1444, in Charters by Kings Alfonso V and Friedrich III. In the period between 1463-1471 the town housed a Hungarian garrison. In 1471, following a brief siege, the town was conquered by the Ottomans, and remained within the Ottoman Empire until 1878. From 1782 to 1879 Počitelj was the kadiluk (area under the jurisdiction of a kadija or qadi - judge) centre and it was the headquarters of the Počitelj military district from 1713 to 1835.

The significance and the town's appearance has altered during the course of its history. As far as the development of Počitelj goes, three significant periods can be distinguished:
The period of the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus during which the town had a major strategic importance (1463–1471).
The period of the settlement development under the Ottoman Empire with the erection of public buildings: mosques, imaret (charitable kitchen), mekteb (Muslim primary school),, medresa (Muslim high school), hamam, baths, han (inn) and the sahat-kula (clock-tower) (1471–1698). In this period military conflicts were occurring in more remote areas.
The period after the Venetians conquered and destroyed Gabela (1698–1878) and recovery of Pocitelj's strategic importance.
After the establishment of Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878, Počitelj lost its strategic importance and started deteriorating rapidly. The loss of the town's strategic role assisted in the preservation of the original urban architectural ensemble, so that the town remained in its original form to present day.
However, the entire historic urban site of Počitelj and surrounding area suffered extensive collateral damage during the 1992-1996 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Namely, it was heavily damaged by Croatian forces during the 1993 Bosnian War. Following the bombing, Pocitelj's sixteenth-century master works of Islamic art and architecture were destroyed and a large part of the town's population was displaced.
As proposed by the University of York, United Kingdom, and the University of Sarajevo, Počitelj was in 1996 named by the World Monuments Watch as one of the world's 100 most endangered cultural heritage sites. In the year 2000 the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Government initiated the Programme of the permanent protection of Počitelj. The program includes the protection of cultural heritage from deterioration, restoration of damaged and destroyed buildings, encouraging the return of the refugees and displaced persons to their homes and the long-term protection and revitalization of the Počitelj's historic urban area. The Programm is on-going.
As of 2008, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) expressed concern over the proposed construction of a nearby highway, Corridor Vc. Initial plans include a 1,000-meter long, 100-meter high bridge over the Neretva river. It is feared that the construction will result in a “physical, visual and ecological degradation and devastation of this cultural and historical unity and its authentic surroundings.” While a new potential location for the bridge crossing is being investigated, non-controversial sections are under construction.

Railroad of Ciro cycling route: What to do / What to see?

 

Cities along Railroad of Ciro cycling route