Vidova gora
780 m
Croatia
- Elevation
- 780 m
- Prominence
- 780 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Mar–May
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Approximate line — not for navigation
An automated check found that parts of this line could not be matched to mapped trails, so it may stray far from the real route. Use it for planning only, with a map and a guidebook.
Why? 5 check notes
- Donje Podbarje → Veliko Koštilo: closed above ~68 m (OSM access/foot=no on way 106675305)
- DIN time up 4.15 h vs published 1.5 h (+177%)
- Donje Podbarje → Veliko Koštilo: bridge (snap_failed; one off-graph gap, 4.9 km)
- Veliko Koštilo → Vidova gora: bridge (snap_failed; one off-graph gap, 3.0 km)
- waypoints at the same position: Quarry = Donje Podbarje
Bol's classic walk: from Donje Podbarje at the top of the town (about 80 m) a quarry road and then the stony, waymarked Vela staza zigzag up behind Koštilo hill to the ridge, then along it to the summit viewpoint above Zlatni Rat. About 5 km and 700 m of ascent; roughly 1½–2 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- ≈ 7.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- ≈ +870 m
- −139 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 780 m
- Time Up
- ≈ 4h 09m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- ≈ 3h 11m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start where Ulica Donje Podbarje meets the Bračka cesta at the top of Bol (about 80 m; add about 20 minutes from the harbour). Cross the main road with care and walk through the hamlet of Donje Podbarje; at its exit the trail to Vidova gora is signposted, with red-and-white waymarks. The first section follows a gravel road past a church to a stone quarry, then becomes the Vela staza, an old stony mule path that climbs the valley east of Koštilo hill and switchbacks steadily up behind it, partly through pine woods but with long sunny stretches. The path tops out on a ridge high above Bol; from there it is another 15–20 minutes to the summit, where the trail meets the asphalt road and the viewpoint. The top carries a cross, a TV mast, a cistern, a tavern, the remains of an Illyrian hillfort and the ruins of the 13th-century Romanesque chapel of St Vitus. The view takes in Zlatni Rat directly below, Hvar, Vis, Korčula, Pelješac and Biokovo on the mainland. Descend the same way; the loose stones make the descent slower than expected and many walkers take as long down as up. A longer alternative descends west to Murvica and returns along the coast past Zlatni Rat (about 18–20 km for the full loop).
Start
Donje Podbarje46 m
- Catamaran from Split to Bol, or ferry Split–Supetar and bus to Bol; the trailhead is a short walk from the town centre.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donje Podbarje → Vidova gora | 7.8 | 870 | 139 | 4h 09m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Donje Podbarje46 m
- Feature: Quarry46 m
Road becomes the stony Vela staza path beyond the church and quarry (not on route line)
- Feature: Veliko Koštilo598 m
The path climbs the valley east of the hill and passes behind it; not climbed
- Summit: Vidova gora780 m
Key Passages
- Crossing the Bračka cesta at the start
- Stony switchbacks behind Koštilo
- Ridge walk to the summit viewpoint
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The highest point of Brač and of all the Adriatic islands (780 m), a limestone summit rising almost straight from the sea above Bol. A stony mule path climbs 700 m in under two hours to a viewpoint directly above the Zlatni Rat spit, with Hvar, Vis and Biokovo spread around.
Vidova gora sits on the southern edge of Brač, the largest island of central Dalmatia, where the karst plateau of the island's interior breaks off in a steep slope to the sea at Bol. Because the drop is so abrupt the summit feels much higher than its 780 m: the famous pebble spit of Zlatni Rat lies directly below, with Hvar across the channel and Vis, Korčula, Pelješac and the Biokovo range on the mainland on the horizon.
An asphalt road reaches the top from the D113 between Nerežišća and Pražnica, so the summit is often busy with cars and tour groups; it carries a cross, a TV mast, a cistern, a tavern, the remains of an Illyrian hillfort and the ruins of the 13th-century chapel of St Vitus (Sveti Vid), after whom the mountain is named. Walkers usually come up from Bol by the Vela staza, an old stony mule path through pine woods and maquis, which is waymarked and easy to follow.
The main challenges are heat and footing: much of the path is exposed to the sun, there is no water on the way, and the loose stones make the descent tiring. Spring and autumn are the best seasons.
Climbing Notes
A half-day walk for anyone with sturdy shoes and moderate fitness: about 5 km and 700 m of ascent each way from the top of Bol, 1½–2 hours up and a similar time down. Start early in summer, carry at least 1.5 litres of water per person plus sun protection, and take care on loose stones in descent. The trail is well marked with red-and-white blazes; a map is not essential. Summer wildfire risk is high on Brač: do not light fires or smoke on the trail, and check for any fire-related closures. Strong bora or jugo winds can make the exposed ridge unpleasant. The summit tavern is seasonal; do not rely on it for water.
History
The name honours St Vitus, whose Romanesque chapel stood on the summit in the 13th century; local tradition links it to the Slavic god Svantevid. The summit also holds remains of an Illyrian hillfort. A mountain shelter was being built here in 1935–1936 and by 1937–1938 it was the most visited hut of the Croatian Mountaineering Society by foreign visitors. In 1993 the first training camp of the Croatian Army's military police counter-terrorist units was held on Vidova gora.
Season
Best Mar–May- January: Good
- February: Good
- March: Best (best window)
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Good
- July: Possible
- August: Possible
- September: Good
- October: Best
- November: Best
- December: Good
- Jan
- Mild but windy; short days; bora can be strong
- Apr
- Spring flowers; caterpillars and spider webs on the path
- Jun
- Hot; start early
- Jul
- Very hot and exposed; high wildfire risk; start at dawn
- Aug
- Very hot and exposed; high wildfire risk
- Sep
- Still hot early in the month
- Dec
- Short days; possible rain and wind
Access & Permits
- Rules
- No fires: very high wildfire risk on Brač in summer
- Getting There
Bol
Brač Airport (BWK) near Bol (seasonal); Split Airport (SPU)
- Catamaran from Split to Bol, or car ferry Split–Supetar then bus or car to Bol (about 40 km across the island)
- Car to the summit: road branching off the D113 between Nerežišća and Pražnica
- Walkers start at the junction of Ulica Donje Podbarje and Bračka cesta at the top of Bol
Hazards
- Weather