Illyrian fortress Mljet

Mljet is much more than the island of breathtaking nature and crystal clear sea, chirping birds in the trees. The castaways, from Ulysses to Sao Paulo, have marked Mljet on their charts as a fabulous and magical destination, which attracts more adventurous, but also those in search for peace and tranquility. Because Mljet has all of it. What were Illyrians looking for 4000 years ago when they landed on the coast of Mljet diversified, sailing from Peljesac peninsula, it is hard to imagine. It was not an apartment, of course, although, there is no reason to worry about housing on the island of Mljet. Moreover, it is a place where your adventurousness can easily get reconcilable with the stillness of the historical sites, which will welcome you in the most unusual places. Veliki Gradac (Large Gradac), a hill with a cliff 20 meters above Veliko Jezero (Great Lake) in the interior of the island, is a place where the Illyrians had built the fortress, whose remains testify about the history of gestation and desirability of the southern Dalmatian islands. Illyrian settlements consisted of a combination of stone walls, which were covered with bushes and plants to protect from the weather. Even though most of them were built in the inner part of the island, Illyrians, except the breeding of animals, practiced the fishing as well. The castle ruins above the Great Lake is also the place where from a magnificent view of the National Park, Big Lake and the sea, extends. It is the place you can reach through the steep but passable paths, which will invite adventure and the pioneering spirit in you. However, walk down the marked trails if you do not have your guide. You can go to Govedari or Soline, where the trails begin through the dark vegetation of sage, heather, shrubs, oaks and wooded area of Aleppo pine, which are the ideal choice for shaded mornings of spring, summer or autumn. And if you are flora fan, you can also search for the Ephedra, an endemic species that grows back the islands of the Mediterranean, with red berries, scattered on hanging bushes, which the wise natives were using for tea for warriors once upon a time, as the mentioned berries provide high power and endurance. You'll need the power for the walk to the remains of the Illyrian fortress, but you can easily draw the strength from the thrilling beauty of the noble landscape. Bring potable water along, even though wise Illyrians had erected their fortresses close to sources of drinking water. Summer temperatures will not be alleviated by 24-26 average 24-26 Celsius degrees of the water of Great Lake where you'll definitely want to cool off, on your way back to the real world.