Kupari: Sandy Beach and History on Župa Bay

Kupari combines a clear connection to the coast with a local history dating back to the 15th century. On Župa Bay, there is an approximately 400-metre-long sandy beach; at the same time, the fortified Toreta and the early chapters of organised tourism tell different stories about the area. If you are looking for a hotel, you can consider the beach and history as two distinct priorities when choosing your destination.

Sandy Beach on Župa Bay

The sandy beach in Kupari is approximately 400 metres long and lies on Župa Bay. This clear measure makes the area's connection to the coast tangible. If a seaside stay is important to your travel decision, the beach offers a clear point of reference when choosing Kupari.

The Toreta, the Place Name, and the History of Tourism

The Toreta is a surviving fortified house in Kupari. Orsat Đurđević had it built in 1623 to defend against pirates. Its design and stated purpose give the area's history a distinct historical dimension alongside the beach.

The name Kupari also reaches back into the past: the area was first recorded as Criepi in 1440. This name comes from a local workshop that made bricks; the modern name derives from the Italian translation of the same term. In Kupari, the name of the area and the surviving Toreta thus represent different historical traces.

Organised tourism developed from the late 1910s onwards. Construction of the first hotel, Štrand, began in 1919. A former brickyard and a manor house were converted into Hotel Grand; a palm-lined park was also laid out. The hotel construction, adaptive reuse, and park mark the early development of tourism in Kupari.

Hiking Trails in the Wider Destination of Općina Župa Dubrovačka

For a look beyond Kupari, the wider destination of Općina Župa Dubrovačka has its own hiking trail network. “Walking Paths of Župa dubrovačka” is a 50-kilometre network of themed trails through the entire municipality. In addition, the Connecting Route links Župa dubrovačka with the Croatian Long Distance Trail towards Srđ above Dubrovnik and with the Heart of Konavle Trail. The network and the named connection are two distinct points of reference if hiking is one of your travel interests. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Other Historic Places in the Municipality

The history of other places in the wider destination of Općina Župa Dubrovačka also offers a range of themes. Mlini was a historic centre of milling; one of the former mills is still well preserved. The Church of Sv. Ilara in Mlini is mentioned in the Statute of Dubrovnik of 1272 and was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1683.

Goričina, between Kupari and Srebreno, was once the site of a settlement and a harbour. Fragments of Roman amphorae, pottery, and coins have been found there. Further historical periods are represented by the medieval votive chapel of Sv. Ivana on the hill above Plat, first mentioned in 1366, and the Church of Sv. Nikole in Soline, which has a Gothic building phase from the 14th and 15th centuries as well as an addition from the 18th century. This allows you to consider the beach, the history of tourism, and regional culture as distinct aspects when choosing your destination.

Discover more destinations: Čibača, Brašina, Plat, Čelopeci, Soline, Srebreno, Brgat, Mlini.

Return to the wider travel overview: Općina Župa Dubrovačka.