Pupnat

Home » Pupnat

Pupnat is a village in the interior eastern part of the island of Korcula, about 12 kilometers west of Korcula Town. The village is located on the regional road running along the island. The population is about 500 inhabitants and this is the smallest village on the Island.

The name of the village, according to some interpreters, derives from “pampinata” (pampinātus), meaning the growth of vine leaves.

The Illyrians lived around the village in the area of Mocila where remains of Illyrian graves were found. The location of the village was chosen by its settlers in the hilly part of the island, not to be noticed from the sea, and in this way Pupnat survived as was protected from the pirates through the centuries.

The main occupations of the village residents are farming and tourism.

The graveyard church of St. George was first mentioned in 1383 and the three-nave parish church of Our Lady of the Snows was erected after 1620.

The major feast day in Pupnat is Our Lady of the Snows – locally called ‘Gospa od Sniga’ (5th of August), when, apart from a religious feast, entertainment and cultural programs are also organized.

Another important date for people of Pupnat is the 24th of August when ‘Blazeni Marko of Pupnat’ is their festival.

In the village, visitors may buy first-class homemade food: wine, prsut, olive oil, brandy, honey, dried herbs and fruit.

The families from Pupnat are the owners of the bay of Kneza on the northern coast of the island, with a number of houses and villas rented to tourists.

From Pupnat, the road climbs up almost to the top of the island from where a wonderful panorama stretches as far as the island of Mljet to the southeast and the island of Lastovo directly to the south.

Hidden in a valley between high hills, Pupnat is a very pleasant and interesting visitors destination. It is the starting point for a number of interesting walking tours: to the peak of the island (Klupca, 568 meters), to the village of Racisce and Kneza, on the northern coast, to the Zukovica valley on the southern coast, and to the town of Korcula via Zrnovo, all by prehistoric walking paths (approximately 3 hrs walk). Also, to Veliki Hom hill.

The southern coast comprises the beautiful bays on Island Korcula: Bacva, Smokva, Pupnatska Luka and Ripna. They all have nice pebble beaches accessible also by foot as well as by asphalted roads.

There is a new road from Pupnat to Cara which can also be reached by the old road along the seaside. This serpentine road passes Pupnatska Luka, a beautiful bay on the southern side of the Island, with a clean pebble beach and amazing turquoise colors of water. It used to be accessible by foot-only, but a few years ago, a wider road was built so Pupnatska Luka can be accessed by cars, bicycles, and scooters too. Pupnat is located on the regional road running along the island.

Getting to Pupnat: see bus schedules here

Map of Pupnat

Map of the village, Pupnatska Luka, Kneza, and other surrounding areas in the near vicinity on Korcula Island. Click to see the large version of the Map of Korcula Island.

Photos of Pupnat

• Downhill to Pupnat ride – photo gallery
• Pupnatska Luka – the most beautiful beach near Pupnat / Bacva Bay and Beach – a nice little bay & Ripna – another lovely bay in the vicinity