Donji Lepuri: Church Art and Olive Oil

For a trip to Donji Lepuri, cultural history and olive oil are two distinct themes. The Church of St Martin and LEPUR Olive Farm appeal to different interests: archaeological building phases and church history on the one hand, and olive cultivation, tastings, and a seasonal oleotourism experience on the other. When searching for hotels in Donji Lepuri, you can first consider which focus you want your trip to have.

Church of St Martin: History and Archaeological Traces

The Church of St Martin is located in Lepuri, within a Catholic cemetery with a long history of continuous use. The building was restored in the 17th and 18th centuries and built over the remains of a structure dating from the pre-Romanesque period and Late Antiquity. Archaeological findings add further phases to this building history: an investigation uncovered the ruins of an early Christian church into which a medieval church had been incorporated. The history of the site therefore reaches much further back than the restorations of the church building.

Numerous high-quality pre-Romanesque stone carvings and epigraphic remains have been discovered in the walls. Fragments of early Christian architectural sculpture are dated to the 5th and 6th centuries. Fragments of architectural decoration and liturgical furnishings documented near the church have also been studied in connection with 9th-century stone-carving workshops. The site is considered one of the largest pre-Romanesque sites discovered in Dalmatia after the Second World War.

The possible origins of single-nave chapels are also part of this early building history. They were probably built beside the early Christian church, presumably after it was constructed in the early Middle Ages, in the 9th century. This dating remains a probability.

The former Church of St Martin stood directly beside the Benkovac–Skradin road and was destroyed during the Croatian War of Independence. The new church building was solemnly blessed on 11 November 2001. This more recent history should be distinguished from the archaeological building phases: it concerns the former church building and the construction of the new one.

Olive Grove, Tours, and Tastings

LEPUR Olive Farm in Lepuri offers educational tours and olive oil tastings. Every summer, the farm also offers an oleotourism experience that includes a walk through a Dalmatian olive grove. This seasonal experience highlights cultivation as well as the product itself. If you plan to take a tour, attend a tasting, or enjoy the summer offering, check current availability before your trip.

The olive grove covers approximately 20 hectares and is home to 4,000 organically grown olive trees. The area and number of trees give a concrete sense of the scale of the farm. Extra virgin olive oil is available directly from the farm on request. If you would like to buy it there, it is best to contact the farm in advance.

A Museum in the Context of the Municipality of Benkovac

As an additional cultural point of interest in the context of the host municipality of Benkovac, consider the Zavičajni muzej Benkovac. The museum is housed in Kaštel Benković, a protected 15th-century building designated as an individual immovable cultural asset of national importance. Expert guided tours of the museum are available for groups; confirm availability before your trip. This lets you distinguish between the archaeological traces in Lepuri, the seasonal olive experience, and a museum visit for groups when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Smilčić, Donje Biljane, Podgradina, Donji Karin, Podlug, Nadin, Lisičić, Galovac.

For the overview of the wider area: Općina Benkovac.