Travel

Truffle Hunting from Split?!? It is Time to Visit Dugopolje

By 14 April 2023

April 14, 2023 - Did you also think that truffle hunting was only in Istria? Think again, and take a closer look at Dugopolje, where the motorway connects with Split.

One of the things I love about living in Croatia is finding out how much I do not know about the country despite living here for more than 20 years. 

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For the first 17 of them, for instance, I had always believed that the only truffle area in the country was Istria, the gourmet region that has made truffles a central part of its gourmet brand. 

I was a little surprised a few years ago to learn from a friend on Korcula that there are truffles on the Peljesac Peninsula, but he refused to tell me exactly.  

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And then the big surprise, as the Zagreb County Tourist Board Director, Ivana Alilovic, invited me to go truffle hunting in the forests of Turopolje near Zagreb Airport. Truffles outside of Zagreb? Really?!?

Yes indeed, as you can learn in Move Over Istria: the Rise of Zagreb Truffle Hunt Tourism.

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It was a fantastic day and one more example of authentic Croatian tourism that was somewhat under the radar. 

And then I heard that there was truffle hunting in Lika. And then just outside Split. Really?!?

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Dugopolje is perhaps best known as being the motorway connection to Split, as well as home to the huge retail park that flanks the approach road to the fast road to Zagreb, but it is quite an interesting little destination of its own, being a gateway between the Dalmatian capital and the truly unique inland Dalmatia. And if you like Dalmatian prsut, this is a great place to try the local stuff. 

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But yes, Dugopolje also offers truffle hunting, and the CROMADS team took in the experience a few months ago to discover a fabulous day trip from Split that is hardly known about. You can check out the experience video below, and if you plan to make the trip, having experienced the wonders of Dugopolje above ground with the truffle hunting dogs, time to meet Dugopolje's most spectacular attraction, the truly fabulous Vranjaca Cave. You can learn more about Vranjaca here.

Video by 45 Degrees Sailing.

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What is it like to live in Croatia? An expat for 20 years, you can follow my series, 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years, starting at the beginning - Business and Dalmatia.

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