The Ciro Railway Train conversion in Konavle

"Čiro" was a train that ran through former Yugoslavia, connecting the rural parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the sea, thus creating many jobs and improving the economy of the whole region.

Unfortunately, it was abolished in the 1970s and consequently, the region began to suffer.

Recently, somebody who lived in the era of "Čiro", came up with the idea to renovate the abandoned railways.

As times have changed, the renovated "Čiro" narrow-gauge railway would not be a freight route, but a tour on the once mighty railway, through breathtaking views and a good history lesson.

For more information, visit our website http://www.cirothetrain.com

The original was operational between 1901 and the 1976, officially opened on the 15th July 1901 from Gabela in Bosnia Hercegovina to Zelenika, the port of Boko Kotorska, in Montenegro. Between Uskoplje, Sarajevo, and Gruz in Dubrovnik, where the old port is situated and Hum and Trebinje.

The line was part of the then-southern railway network of narrow gauge, railroads which the Austro-Hungarian Empire began to build in the nineteenth century.

These railways linked the Adriatic ports of Metkovic, Gruz Dubrovnik, Zelenika, in Boko Kotorska, and alter, Ploce, with cities and towns in the mountain terrain of Bosnia-Hercegovina.

In the seventies, the narrow terrain gauge railway network in Bosnia-Hercegovina and southern Dalmatia was all but decommissioned aside from the then profitable routes. The narrow gauge track was replaced with a standard gauge track.

An interest to tourists if reinstated.

On June 1st, 1976, traffic stopped operating on the track between Capljina and Dubrovnik. Consequently, the railroad has been in this area since 1901, it is noted part of the cultural and historical heritage, in the entire region with huge potential as a tourist attraction.

The purpose of the project is to renovate the existing railway line. Tourism in Croatia is the source of income from April to October each year.

The interest to improve such an attraction requires the attention of the local people. However, not many approve of the improvement of the railway track.

Of course, the local population will benefit from this project.

Excursions can easily be organized once this gets into motion.

The travel through the many villages and different landscapes encourages the trip uniquely.

Landscapes to the open sea view and the breathtaking views of the islands, and of the mountainous region that appears in the Konavle region.

A two-hour journey, and so worth your while and a thirty-kilometer distance in travel through villages.

Visitors include individuals from Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Tourists, school and college tours, and foreign cruise ship visitors.

A sheer climb, and with great views, the old castle named Sokol Grad has fantastic views.

Sokol castle was built thousands of years ago and was ruined by one of the worst earthquakes in the sixteenth century.

I recently visited the old castle not far from our home.

The stone stairs are old and are quite a steep climb, make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.

There are battlements, dead ends and a museum that keeps the jewellery, glassware, plates, weapons and coins found around the castle while restoring and digging up these treasures.

The life-size mannequins in the display room with a crossbow are interesting and the artefacts are a great attraction to many visitors.

The castle remains an unexpected find and that is what makes it a mysterious sight in the Konavle region.

A great attraction sight to drive through and explore the villages and see how people live in a different part of the world.

It is an amazing valley that holds spectacular views of this region and is unspoiled.

Discoveries and always with appraisal.

The professionally restored castle has become of great value and a meaningful place to many tourists.

Competition is enormous and tourism is a powerful means of a good lifestyle in Croatia.

The expensive standards allow for most job creation for the local population.

In the southeastern part of Europe, it is new and most interesting if you are the one for a history lesson.

The castle is located near a mountainous terrain and was abandoned in its state of ruins for many years.

Since 2013 the renovations began and now it has archaeological finds, iron spears, weapons, bronze ornaments of amber, and many ancient tools on exhibition.

An exciting place to visit if you are up for the steep climbing of the old stairs and is a secluded gem.

The new tourist attraction is found in the middle of nowhere and is close to the border of Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina and with Croatian borders.

From the Dubrovnik airport, you can easily find your way to this castle.

A small fee of five euros to enter and is a story well learned.

When I first moved into my new home, I had no idea the castle would be a tourist attraction sight.

The castle walls are the height of twenty-five meters, and I am not the one for heights. You will enjoy this visit if you don't mind the heights.

The extensive history of the area is informative and has a gift shop too.

The tour of the castle is about half an hour depending on how interested you are in historical features.

Sometimes people visit for two hours or just twenty minutes.

The old castle is restored and so can the old railway track if thought of carefully.

Ciro is situated in the Konavle region and can make another great attraction if restored.

People don't often see what is good for the country in this case most of the local population are not interested in restoring this railway track.

They feel the idea is not worthy enough and a waste of money.

I see a future for this region and in tourism, thus my greater interest in reopening the old Ciro railway track.

The new idea is to convert the railway track into a bicycle path which is not such an interesting idea.

The old Ciro is a two-hundred-kilometre ride for tourists or other interested individuals.

The ride leads to high mountainous paths and is a beautiful experience.

A bicycle path can be found in many other parts of the region.

The railway track would attract more tourists to Konavle.

Croatia is still developing and needs to move on with a stronger economy. Such ideas are useful to the economy, but most people don't pay attention to such issues. I have an interest in improving what I know is of benefit to many local people.

A positive mind works wonders when you have the same thoughts as others.

It is difficult to force, others with different opinions. Something not often easy to understand.

The Ciro train track is a wonderful journey through beautiful landscapes and villages of the Konavle region.

The old castle and the Ciro railway track will increase tourism in this unspoiled region.

Some decisions are made without careful planning.

The new lifestyle has taught me about how people think here and how changes have made me stronger. A way of life that can cause you frustration, and anger and can make you feel less hopeful.

I understand that not everyone will see everything in the way I do.