Konavle, smještene na krajnjem jugu države između mora i planiskog zaleđa, odlikuju se jedinstvenim krajobrazom. Reljefno se dijele na obalni pojas: prostor strmih Konavoskih stijena s dva primorska mjesta; Cavtata na jednom i Molunta na drugom kraju, Donju i Gornju bandu, među kojima se provuklo plodno Konavosko polje, te na Konavoska brda smještena u oporom krškom krajoliku poluplaninske klime. Svaki ovaj dio nosi svoje pejzažne osobitosti, boje, teksture i oblike promjenjive ovisno o godišnjem dobu.
Snažne vertikale gustih čempresata najuočljiviji su pejzažni element Konavala. Negdje se penju visoko u brda, negdje se spuštaju u polje, uvlače u sela, čuvaju crkve i groblja. Tamnozelenu boju pejzažu daju i gajevi lovorika, a najljepši su u području vodotoka rječice Ljute - zaštićenog prirodnog krajobraza. Šume dubova i danas prožimaju konavoski pejzaž, a ime dub sadržano je u brojnim toponimima baš kao i u imenu grada Dubrovnika. Brojne su i šume pinija i alepskih borova, te mediteranske makije najgušće između mora i Donje bande. Konavosko polje uvuklo se usred Konavala poput golemog pašnjaka po kojem pasu tek male skupine ovaca i krava. Nekoć je polje bila glavna žitnica Dubrovačke Republike, dok je danas nažalost najvećim dijelom zapušteno. Pa i visoka brda i strme obalne stijene također imaju svoju vegetaciju prilagodljivu surovim uvjetima života.
Skladno se u Konavlima spojio prirodni i kultivirani krajobraz upotpunjen ruralnom arhitekturom sela i zaseoka sa starim kamenim kućama i pripadajućim gospodarskim objektima poput kominata, pojata, gumna i mlinica. Pre-poznatljiva sakralna arhitektura crkvica i srednjovjekovnih groblja stopila se s pejzažom, gdje nije grob tu je maslina, gdje nije kamen tu je čempres. Sačuvala se iako uglavnom ruševna i renesansna ladanjska arhitektura koja je uglavnom bila gospodarskog karaktera. Tragovi ljudskog rada žive u kamenu i biljci. Međe (suhozidovi), te jednostavne kamene strukture vrijedne su pažnje jer pomisao da je svaki njegov kamen prenijela težačka ruka i stavila ga baš na to mjesto danas se čini nevjerovatnim. Pomno slagane kamene niti u svom zagrljaju čuvaju slikovitu maslinu, grbave čokote vinove loze, smokve, mjendule -bademe i agrume. I vrtovi uz kuću sačuvali su ruralni karakter, mješavina su ugodnog i korisnog pa uz povrće, voće i ljekovite trave raste cvijeće i ukrasno grmlje. Tarace i pročelja zasjenjuju odrine vinove loze. Nađe se tu i pomno orezanih živica i pokoja palma koja doduše nikako ne pripada ovom pejzažu.
Na sreću otkrivanje istinskih tradicionalnih vrijednosti, domaćeg čovjeka ponovno vraćaju prirodi, obnavljaju se stari i sade novi maslinici, a među lozom sazrijeva i stara konavoska sorta "Malvazija". Dudov svilac opet jede mlade listove murvi iz čijih će se kukuljica istkat duge svilene niti za prelijepu konavosku nošnju i vez. Obnavljanje srušenih i zapuštenih mlinica te otvaranje restorana s domaćom kuhinjom zasigurno ukazuju na povratak prirodi i konavoskom krajobrazu koji svojom iskonskom i inspirativnom ljepotom zaslužuje posebno mjesto u ukupnoj krajobraznoj slici Hrvatske.Konavle, located in the furthermost southeastern point of the country, between the sea and the mountains in the hinterland is distinguished by its unique landscape.
By its relief the terrain is divided into the coastal strip: the area of the Konavoske stijene, the steep Konavle cliffs with two coastal places; Cavtat at one end and Molunat at the other, Donja i Gornja banda, the Lower and the Upper Banda and the fertile Konavosko polje, the Konavle field between them, and Konavoska brda the Konavle hills situated in the harsh karst landscape in the semimountaineous climate. Each part has its distinct landscape characteristics such as: colour, texture and shape depending on the season of the year.
Mighty vertical llines of dense cypress-tree woods are the most noticeable element of the Konavle landscape. Somewhere they ascend high up the hillside, and descend downhill towards the valley elsewhere, wriggle through villages, guard churches and their graveyards. The bay-tree groves create the dark green colour in the landscape, and the most beautiful ones are in the area of the small river Ljuta and its streams - the protected natural landscape area. Oak-tree forests still permeat through the Konavle landscape and many toponyms contain the name dub. In the very name of the City of Dubrovnik just as well. Umbrella-pine and allepo pine woodlands are numerous, while the thickest mediterranean macchia is between the sea and the Lower Banda. The valley of Konavle lies in Konavle as a huge pasture where only some sheep and cows graze. Once this field was the main grainbearing region of the Dubrovnik Republic. Today, unfortunately, it is neglected for the most part. Even the high mountains and the steep cliffs are covered with their own vegetation adaptable to the cruel living conditions.
Natural and cultivated landscape in Konavle has harmoniously blended in along with rural architecture of the villages and hamlets built of old stone houses and pertaining homesteads such as their chimnies, sheds, threshing-floors and mills. The recognizable sacral architecture of the small churches and medieval graveyards merge with the landscape. Where grave does not exist there stands an olive tree, where cypress grows there stone is no more. The Renaissance country villas have been preserved, although mainly dilapidating. The traces of human labour escist in stone and in plants. Walls, those simple limestone rubble masonry structures deserve our attention and the mere thought that each single stone was carried by peasant hands put and just in that place, today seems quite unbelievable. These stone filaments carefully put together in their embrace harbour a picturesque olive, a bent grapevine, fig-trees, almond-trees and citrus fruits. Even the nearby gardens have preserved their rural features.They are a mixture of pleasing and useful, so flowers and decorative shruberry grow along with vegetables, fruit and medicinal herbs.Terraces and facades are screened from light the grapevine. One can find carefully clipped hedges and a palm tree which certainly does not belong to this type of landscape.
Fortunately, disclosure of the true traditional values bring local people back to the nature, old olive groves are renewed and the new ones are planted.
Among the vines there is »Malvazija«, an old Konavle cultivar. Silk-worms eat the young leaves of the mulberry-trees again. The long silk filaments will emerge out of their cocoons for the splendid Konavle national costume and its embroidery. Restoration of the ruined and neglected mills, opening of the restaurants with home-made specialities, surely, indicate the return to nature and to the Konavle landscape, which with its primeval and inspirational beauty deserves a very special place in the integral landscape image of Croatia
