Kablina

Kablina is a modest but distinctive hill rising above the village of Krvavac in the Kula Norinska municipality, in southern Dalmatia, right at the edge of the Neretva valley.

Where is Kablina located?

Kablina stands at roughly 450 metres above sea level and forms part of the Rujnica range, a compact chain of hills stretching around 15 km along the Neretva valley between Metković and Ploče. The peak looms directly over Krvavac, the largest settlement in the Kula Norinska municipality, located about a kilometre from the historic riverside watchtower that gives the municipality its name. This is Neretva delta country, known for its irrigated fields and citrus orchards spreading out right below the bare, limestone ridges — the contrast between the green valley floor and the dry rocky spine is obvious even from a distance.

How do you get to Kablina?

The approach starts near Kula Norinska and takes about an hour and fifteen minutes on foot. Since 29 July 2024, the slope has held a via ferrata — the first route of its kind in the entire Dubrovnik-Neretva County. It was built by the Gledavac mountaineering club (HPD Gledavac) from Metković, which secured the steepest, rockiest sections with steel cables, rungs and ladders, the standard fittings of a via ferrata that let even less experienced hikers cross difficult terrain safely. The opening was a genuine local event, attended by municipal officials and club members alike.

What is there to see?

The main draw is the climb itself and the view it opens up from the upper stretches of the hill. From Kablina you can look out over the whole Neretva valley: the meandering river, a patchwork of fields and citrus groves, and the ring of hills enclosing the basin all the way toward the coast near Ploče. It is one of the few spots in the region where a genuinely mountainous route meets a Mediterranean river-delta landscape. Down in Krvavac itself, it is worth a short stop at the historic Kula Norinska tower on the riverbank.

It is also worth knowing that the future A1 motorway is planned to pass through the area — the project includes a roughly 1,250-metre "Kablina" tunnel and an Opuzen interchange close to Krvavac. That is an infrastructure project rather than a visitor attraction, but it shows how this small hill has become a real reference point on the region's map.

When should you visit?

Because the terrain is rocky and largely without shade, and the climate is Mediterranean, spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for tackling the via ferrata, when temperatures are milder than in the height of summer. If you go in summer, start early in the morning and carry plenty of water, since the route offers little shelter and no drinking-water points along the way.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Kablina? The hill reaches about 450 metres above sea level, part of the Rujnica range above the Neretva valley.

Is there a via ferrata on Kablina? Yes. It opened on 29 July 2024 as the first via ferrata in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, built by the HPD Gledavac mountaineering club from Metković.

How long does it take to reach the top? The walk up from the Kula Norinska side takes roughly an hour and fifteen minutes.

What can you see from the summit? A panorama of the entire Neretva valley — the river, farmland, surrounding hills, and the landscape stretching toward the coast at Ploče.