Konavle

An area in southern Dalmatia southeast of Dubrovnik. Konavle extends from the settlement of Obod near Cavtat to Cape Ostri rt at Boka Kotorska in the southeast. It consists of the fertile Konavosko polje (Konavle Plain), the low coastal ridge with a mostly very steep coast (cliffs such as Konavoske stijene) and the higher limestone northeastern part with its highest point at llijin vrh (1234 m), a peak in the Snijeznica Massif. Konavle's economy is based on agriculture, fruit growing, livestock breeding and tourism. The name Konavle is derived from the irrigation canals between the fields. The only permanent stream is the Ljuta, but the intermittent Konavocica and Kopacica Streams also contribute to the fertility of the area. Larger settlements include Cavtat, Cilipi and Gruda. At the end of the 12th century, Konavle was part of Serbia, followed by Bosnia in the 14th century. In the first half of the 15th century, the area was purchased by the Dubrovnik Republic and became its southeasternmost territory.

Traces of the past include prehistoric stone mounds, the remains of the Roman aqueduct on the Konavosko polje serving Cavtat, the ruins of the large Soko Fortress from the 15th century in the village of Dunave, and numerous Bogomil tombstones. In the village of Gabrili stands the Church of sv. Mitar (St. Demetrius) from the 11th and 12th centuries with two large tombstones set into the wall. An extraordinary tombstone from the end of the 14th century stands in the village of Brotnice next to the Church of sv. Luka (St. Luke). In the village of Pridvorje, which was the administrative seat of Konavle in the period of the Dubrovnik Republic, stand the Rector's Palace and a Franciscan monastery from the 15th century. There is an important ethnographic collection in Cilipi. The 1991-92 war caused irreparable damage to the Konavle area, but restoration is in progress. The old national costume of the area, particularly the women's costume, has been preserved to this day and is considered a cultural monument.