- Opuzen
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Opuzen — Town — 
OpuzenCoordinates: 43°01′03″N 17°33′44″E / 43.017577°N 17.562321°ECoordinates: 43°01′03″N 17°33′44″E / 43.017577°N 17.562321°E Country 
CroatiaCounty Dubrovnik-Neretva Government - Mayor Ivo Mihaljević (HDZ) Area - Total 24.04 km2 (9.3 sq mi) Population (2011)[1] - Total 3,264 Time zone CET (UTC+1) - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2) Opuzen (Italian: Forte Opuseo) is a small town in Dubrovnik-Neretva County in Croatia. The town is located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) upstream from the mouth of the river Neretva, in southern Dalmatia. This settlement is known as a major center of tangerine production in Croatia.
The total population of Opuzen is 3,264 (census 2011), in the following settlements:[1]
- Buk-Vlaka, population 494
- Opuzen, population 2,732
- Pržinovac, population 33
Opuzen got its name from its fortress, Fort Opus.[2] The fortress was built by the Republic of Venice in 1684. Ruins of the fortress remains are called Recycle and are part of the old town wall. The center of the old part of Opuzen is a classic Roman Forum. In the Middle Ages, Opuzen was mentioned as Posrednica. Republic of Ragusa in the 14th century had major trading markets (mainly trading in salt) in Opuzen. The markets got burnt down in 1472. The first Community School was opened in 1798 and was the only school in the Neretva region until 1845.
In the town is located Opuzen's Parish church of St. Stephen and it is in the main square. Among others serving the parish (priests) were Peter Kovacic, Ante Klaric, Jozo Bebic, Mate Caleb, Vinko Sanader, Stjepan Jerkovic, Ante Salacan, Nikola Juračić, Michael Prović, Jure Bjeliš and nun Mila Deak from Opuzen.
Important cultural and sport events related to Opuzen and the local countryside are "The Melodies of the Croatian South" [3] and Opuzen Boat Marathon. The marathon is held on the river Neretva and about 35 boats participate each year.
Opuzen has several sports clubs:
- NK Neretvanac - founded in 1932
- RK Opuzen - established in 1977
- ZRK Neretvanka Opuzen - founded in 1989
The Partisan war hero, Stjepan Filipović, was born in Opuzen in 1916. The local school had been named after him between 1942 and 1992?.
References
- ^ a b "Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011, First Results by Settlements" (in Croatian and English) (HTML). Statistical Reports (Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics) (1441). June 2011. ISSN 1332-0297. http://www.dzs.hr/Eng/censuses/census2011/htm/E11_Zup37_3069.html. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
- ^ Opus-www.culturenet.hr
- ^ Opuzen-www.klek.info
External links
Subdivisions of Dubrovnik-Neretva County Cities and towns 
Municipalities Categories:- Populated places in Dubrovnik-Neretva County
- Cities and towns in Croatia
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