Opuzen

The historic town of Opuzen lies roughly halfway along the Croatian stretch of the Neretva towards its mouth. It grew up on an island surrounded by the main course and branches of the river, and the ever-present water is still an important part of its identity. Its past goes back to Roman times, and thanks to its strategic position, surrounded by the river on three sides, powerful fortresses once stood on the site of today’s Opuzen, the best known being the Venetian fortress from the 17th century.

Set in the middle of a sea of mandarins, Opuzen is an excellent starting point for exploring the lower course of the Neretva. Close by stands the Fortica fortress, with a view over almost the entire Neretva Valley, and the town itself has a lovely historic core with traces of Roman times, where interesting cultural and tourist events are held.