The mount Vidova Gora, island of Brač in Croatia

[Photos] [Presentation] [Situation] [Visits] [Culture] [Practical Information] [Other topics]

[Previous topics] [Croatia] [Parent topics] [Via Gallica]

Presentation

General information

Vidova Gora seen since the sea. Click to enlarge the image.

Vidova Gora is a mountain located on the southern part of the island of Brač in Croatia in the county of Split-Dalmatia. With its 778 m of altitude, its top is highest of all the Croatian islands of the Adriatic.

This broad headland offers a splendid panorama on the islands of Dalmatia power station with to the foreground the islands of Hvar and Screw, and the beach of Zlatni Rat at the bottom of the mountain.

On the undulating plate located in the north-eastern part of Vidova Gora the single airport of the island of Brač is.

Etymology

The mountain of Vidova Gora which dominates the island of Brač, and to which the clouds of storm cling, was - since unmemorable times - a mystical place; at the time pagan it was devoted to the god Svevid, a Slavic divinity of the light, war, fertility and abundance.

After the christianization of the Croats, the mountain was devoted to Sveti Vid (holy Vitus or holy Guy), which, inter alia virtues, is supposed to secure against the lightning. Vidova will gora thus means: the mountain (will gora) of Guy. A small chapel Saint-Guy, today in ruins, is at the top of the mountain.

At the time of the Republic of Venice, Vidova Gora was named Monte San Vito in Italian.

Situation

Vidova Gora (Kelovy author). Click to enlarge the image.

Vidova Gora is located in the southern part of the island of Brač, immediately above the seaside resort of Bol.

Since Bol, a path makes it possible to go up in 2 hours until Vidova Gora; this path rather difficult, is exposed to the south and deprived of shade, also it is preferable to make this excursion while leaving the morning early.

The access in the car can be done on the northern side by a track stony but suitable for motor vehicles which takes on the regional road D113, between Nerežišća and Pražnica. After 6.5 km, this road leads to a surface of carpark near a tavern.

The walkers can also borrow this track, or an alternative located on the line, and reach the top of Vidova Gora in 2 hours, without difficulties (weak rise). A junction, on the right, makes it possible to go down towards the hermitage from Blaca.

Visits

The plate of Vidova Gora east covered by a large natural forest of black pines (Pinus will nigra subsp. dalmatica) which was exploited for a long time for its resin, but this activity is from now on abandoned. The plate gives many opportunities of walks of discovered among the wild sage scents, of rosemary and other aromatic herbs. At the end of the headland, a mule track goes down in a throat shaded for a pleasant walk from 30 min. During the winter Vidova Gora east often covered with a thin layer of snow and becomes a station of winter for the inhabitants of Brač.

Sight on the Crown of Bol
Since Vidova Gora one can admire the Crown of Bol (Bolska Kruna), a set of hills which dominates the seaside resort. On one of these hill (Koštilo), one can see the remainders of a fortress illyrienne: Illyriens occupied this area well before the arrival of Slavic on the coasts of the Adriatic.

Sight on the Southern part of Brač, Bol and Zlatni Rat
From the top of Vidova Gora extends a single sight towards the southern part of the island of Brač: in the distance one sees the plain of Bol with his fertile valleys where the vine is cultivated, and the gravel beach of Zlatni Rat (the Gold Horn), with the characteristic form.

Sight on the Channel of Hvar

Sight on Hvar
The top of the mount Vidova Gora presents a spectacular panorama on the Dalmatian islands, one of most beautiful of the Adriatic: just opposite, towards the south and south-east, the glance goes on the island close to Hvar; in south-east the island of Screw is; in the east they are the peninsula of Pelješac, and the islands of Korčula, remote Lastovo and even of Mljet which are visible. When time is particularly clear, one can see the summits of the Apennines in Italy.

At the top of Vidova Gora is a catholic cross, a tower of television and telecommunications, and a tavern.		The very steep cliff lends itself to the practice of the paragliding.

The Chapel Saint-Guy
The chapel Saint-Guy (Sveti Vid), built with 13th or 14th century, but today in ruins, was drawn up at the top of Vidova Gora, some 30 meters west of the terrace of the tavern. Every on June 15th, a pilgrimage takes place with Vidova will gora.

Practical information

General information

Visiting times

Hotels

Restaurants
The Tavern Vladimir Nazor (Konoba Vladimir Nazor)
The tavern - which is called after the large Croatian poet Vladimir Nazor - makes it possible to taste the local specialities: the pršut (smoked ham, like the Italian prosciutto), the cheese, wine and the lamb of Brač. Telephone: 00,385 (0) 21,549,061