Drežnica – Herzegovina
A historic limestone playground above the Neretva River.
Drežnica is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s oldest and largest sport-climbing areas, offering over 120 routes spread across beautiful, compact limestone. Most climbs are technical and varied, sitting comfortably in the mid-grades, with plenty of styles to explore.
Perched above the confluence of the Neretva and its tributary, the Drežanka River, the crag combines superb climbing with epic valley views. The main climbing area, Vrt Ciklame (“Cyclamen Garden”), takes its name from the wild cyclamen flowers that carpet the terraces of the crag. The first routes were established in 1997 by Roberto Ferrante and Edin Durmo from Extreme Sports Club ˝Scorpio˝ Zenica, with continuous development since by local and international climbers.
Expect everything from long pumpy tufas and overhangs to delicate grey slabs with micro-features and alpine-feeling cracks. Some of the original '90s bolts are still present, so always assess hardware and make your own decisions.
One of the biggest attractions is Kuk Ciklame, the closest and most exposed sector, rising 40 m with powerful, athletic lines. Along the Drežnica ridge, numerous other sectors offer friendly beginner’s climbs, long vertical pitches, and positive gray-and-white limestone up to 40 m.
A major recent development is the sector Toplo, established in 2021 by the members of ASPK Neretva within a shady oak and hornbeam forest. It features some of Herzegovina’s best new routes: long, clean walls, sharp features, friction slabs, and pumpy cracks. In the summer of 2024, a new steep powerhouse tufa sector was opened by Wanja Reichl and friends, sector Novi Korak, that hosts some of the hardest routes in Herzegovina, spanning up to 8b and above!
In summer, the valley heats up—so most climbing happens in the morning shade or evening sessions. Luckily, the turquoise Drežanka and Neretva rivers are only minutes away for a perfect post-climb swim.
