Dragović monastery

Dragović Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery on a hillside above Lake Peruća, near the small town of Vrlika in inland Dalmatia, Croatia. Knin lies about 20 kilometres away. The site has an unusual story: the original monastery was swallowed by an artificial reservoir, and the present one was built a short distance away on higher ground beside the water.

Where is Dragović Monastery?

The monastery stands in the village of Koljane, in the hamlet of Dragović, at a spot called Vinogradi. It overlooks the Cetina River where it widens into Lake Peruća. The coordinates are roughly 43.864° N, 16.511° E. You reach it from the Vrlika side, through quiet, hilly and sparsely populated country with views over the lake.

Why was the monastery moved?

The old monastery stood on unstable, damp ground close to the Cetina. With permission from the Venetian authorities, work on a new monastery at Vinogradi began in 1777. The new church was consecrated on 20 August 1867. This second monastery is the one pilgrims and visitors see today.

What happened to the old monastery?

In the 20th century a hydroelectric dam was built on the Cetina, creating Lake Peruća. Several villages went under the water together with the old Dragović monastery. Sources give different dates for the flooding, all within the 1950s. When the water level is low, remains reappear from the lake, including the apse of the old church, village ruins and an old bridge. These draw photographers and walkers along the exposed shoreline.

The monastery during the war

Between 1991 and 1995, during the war in Croatia, the monastery was broken into several times and damaged, and in 1995 it was abandoned. Rebuilding followed over the next years. On 15 September 2004 a new monastic brotherhood arrived, and liturgical life resumed.

What to see nearby

• Lake Peruća — a quiet spot for swimming and water sports, far from the crowded coast.
• Vrlika — a small town near the source of the Cetina and a good base.
• The Cetina valley — cycling and walking routes along the river.
• Knin — fortress town about 20 km from the monastery.
• The Split coast — within day-trip range by car.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dragović Monastery active? Yes. A monastic brotherhood has lived here since 2004, and the monastery belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Can you see the sunken monastery? Only when the lake is low. Then the apse of the old church, village remains and the old bridge emerge. At high water nothing is visible.

How do I get there from Knin? It is about 20 kilometres towards Vrlika along Lake Peruća. A car is the easiest way.

Are there rules for visitors? It is a place of worship. Dress modestly, keep quiet, and ask before taking photos inside the church.

When is the best time to go? Spring and autumn are pleasantly cool. Summer is hot but best for swimming, and the submerged ruins are usually visible after a dry summer.

Dragović Monastery combines the memory of old Dalmatia, Serbian religious tradition and a striking lake landscape that still carries traces of a drowned past. It makes a rewarding stop for travellers exploring the interior beyond the tourist coast, especially together with Vrlika, Knin and the Cetina valley.