Opuzen

Opuzen (Forte Opus) is a small town in Dubrovnik-Neretva County in Croatia. The town is located 12 km upstream from the mouth of the river Neretva, in southern Dalmatia. This settlement is known as a major center of tangerine production in Croatia.

Opuzen got its name from its fortress, Fort Opus. The fortress was built by the Republic of Venice in 1684. Ruins of the fortress that remain 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 known as Posrednica. The 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

Demographics
According to the 2021 census, its population was 2,838 with 2,355 living in the town proper.

The total population of Opuzen was 3,254 (census 2011), in the following settlements:
 * Buk Vlaka, population 492
 * Opuzen, population 2,729
 * Pržinovac, population 33

The partisan war soldier, Stjepan Filipović, was born in Opuzen in 1916. The local school was named after him between 1967 and 1992.

Sports
Important cultural and sport events related to Opuzen and the local countryside are "The Melodies of the Croatian South" 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