Konjevrate: Church, Archaeology and Cycling Route

Three specific themes are central to planning your trip to Konjevrate: the parish church of St. John the Baptist, archaeological finds from different periods, and a cycling route that passes through the village. The church’s building history dates back to the 9th century; the finds point to other periods as well. This allows you to explore Konjevrate from several historical perspectives.

The parish church and its building phases

The parish church of St. John the Baptist stands on a small rise near the road junctions leading toward Drniš and Unešić. Its present-day form incorporates older walls. The building includes a pre-Romanesque phase from the 9th century; the church was later adapted in the Romanesque style. The bell tower is dated to the 12th or 13th century. The Romanesque main doorway of the older church building dates from no later than the 13th century. The building phase, renovation and tower thus represent different elements and periods in the church’s history.

The furnishings also bring together pieces from later centuries: inside are Baroque altars, a Venetian silver processional cross from the 18th century, and a painting of John the Baptist from the 19th century. The cross was made for processions, while the painting depicts the church’s patron saint. When interpreting the church, it is therefore worth distinguishing its building history from the furnishings added later. Together, they offer insight into different periods in the church’s history.

Archaeological traces from different periods

Immediately beside the church, at the present-day cemetery, is an Early Neolithic archaeological site. The pottery found there belongs to the Impressed Ware culture. These finds provide concrete evidence of the village’s early settlement history.

Distinct from these are six pre-Romanesque relief fragments found in 2003 during archaeological and conservation investigations at the church. They come from a different archaeological context than the Early Neolithic pottery. It is also noteworthy for the church’s history that its pre-Romanesque building phase and the relief fragments relate in different ways to the village’s older heritage.

Konjevrate is also home to the first excavated open-air Palaeolithic site identified along the entire eastern Adriatic coast. Thousands of fragments of flint tools and weapons were found there. The village’s settlement history offers a further perspective: people lived in Konjevrate from approximately 15,000 to 10,000 BC.

Historical references and getting your bearings

The village name also has a history of its own: in late medieval and early modern records, Konjevrate appears under the name Koljevrate. A stone slab tombstone has also been preserved near the church. Anyone interested in Konjevrate can consider the village name, church architecture and archaeological finds as different kinds of historical evidence.

Cycling route through Konjevrate

Alongside the cultural and archaeological history, cycling is another consideration when planning your trip: the Lozovac–Gradina–Konjevrate–Gornji Krnići route passes through Konjevrate. If you include this route in your plans, check its maintenance before setting out.

Find hotels in Konjevrate

When looking for a hotel in Konjevrate, you can first consider which focus will shape your trip: the parish church, with its multiple building phases; the archaeological evidence; or the cycling route through the village. These themes can help guide your plans, without replacing a general recommendation for a particular type of trip. Then check the details for each hotel and choose according to your needs.

Discover more destinations: Zaton, Perković, Brodarica, Danilo Gornje, Grebastica, Jadrtovac, Dubrava kod Šibenika, Lozovac.

For the broader travel overview: Općina Šibenik.