[Alpe-Adria] - Castles and Fortresses

[Krpan]

Sneznik



Bled

The castle was first mentioned in 1004, which makes it one of the oldest in Slovenia. The oldest part of the castle is the romanesque tower. In the Middle Ages more towers were built and the fortifications were improved. Other buildings were additionlly constructed in the Baroque period. The buildings are arranged around two courtyards, which are connected with a staircase. There is a chapel on the upper courtyard, which was built in the 16th century, and renovated around 1700, when it was also painted with illusionist frescoes. The castle also has a drawbridge over a moat.





Grad Mirna



The seigniories of Mirna (Neudeck) are mentioned in the records for the first time in 1163 starting with Mainhard I, followed by Wulfing in 1220, Popo in 1226, During in 1231, and others. Their arms depict the following image: Sable, a lindworm Argent.

The Mirna family obtained the castle in fief from the Patriarch of Aquileia. In 1335, the castle became property of the seigniories of Zovnek (Saneck), the later Counts of Cilli. With the extinction of the lineage it came into possession of the Habsburgs.

Since the 15th century the castle of Mirna had several important owners, that were members of the state in Carniola: Coraduzzi, Turjaški (Auersperg), Erdödy and others. The Coraduzzi removed the castle complex with the external arcades. In this form the castle was preserved until 1942, when partisans set it ablaze under the pretext, that the occupation forces might use it as a fortress.

After WW2, some renovations were undertaken, but they did not start before 1962.

Turjak castle
is inseperable connected with the history of the literature. Protestant theologian, writer and translator of the Bible - Jurij Dalmatin (1547-1589) held sermons in the castle chapel.
The old castle stood below the present building. Present castle was first mentioned in 1220 as Owersperch. Owner of the castle was family Auersperg.
The castle was burned down in 1943. Some parts of the castle were renovated later. Frescoes in the old chapel are still very beautiful.

[Delmat]

Dubrovnik

[Ballota]

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Slavonski Brod - tvrđava.

Tvrđava Brod barokna je pogranična tvrđava na rijeci Savi, a ujedno i spomenik nulte kategorije i znamenitost Slavonskog Broda koja čini njegovu jezgru.

U Brodu, jednom od važnih strateških i prometnih mjesta koje je kontroliralo granični prijelaz prema Turskoj i povezivalo glavne trgovačke putove, Austrija u vremenu 1715. - 1780. godine gradi veliku Carsku i kraljevsku slavonsku pograničnu tvrđavu Brod na rijeci Savi.

Tvrđava pravilnog zvjezdolikog oblika koji je diktirao ravničarski teren zidana je zemljanim nabojem, opekom, drvetom i djelomično kamenom. Za potrebe velikog tvrđavskog kompleksa predviđenog za smještaj 4000 vojnika i 150 topova posječene su bogate šume u širokoj okolini grada.

[Krpan]

Celje Stari Grad

Counts of Celje
Counts of Cilli, also Counts of Celje (Slovene Celjski grofje, German Grafen von Cilli) represent the most important medieval aristocratic and ruling house with roots and territory in present-day Slovenia.
At the time the house died out they held the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire and many other titles in territories of present-day Central Europe. The family is referred to in historical science as Counts of Cilli.

The name "Counts of Cilli" was given to the house by emperor Louis IV of Bavaria in 1341 and derived from the medieval name Cilli of town Celje at Savinja river in present Slovenia. Celje itself became property of the dynasty in 1333.Their rise to powerful family started in a small castle in Žovnek (Sannegg), Braslovče (Upper Savinja valley), but in a short period of time they owned more than 20 castles all over territory of modern Slovenia and beyond through the marriages of their daughters.

In 14. cent. they allied with Habsburgs in war against counts of Gorizia-Tirol, making Cilli vassals of Habsburgs in 1308. With acquiring large estates in Styria, Carinthia, Carniola and in the territories of the Hungarian crown (Croatia, Slavonia) their influence rose and they became one of the most powerful families in area. They were related by marriage with rulers of Bosnia and Polish and Hungarian kings.

Their rapid rise started after the Battle of Nicopolis (1396) where Hermann II of Cilli saved the life of Sigismund of Luxemburg (Hungarian king, from 1433 Holy Roman emperor). As a reward king Sigismund donated (1397-99) the city of Varaždin, the county of Zagorje, and many estates in present-day Croatia to the family.The House of Cilli and Sigismund became even more strongly related with the marriage of Hermanns' daughter Barbara of Cilli with king Sigismund.In 1436 the Emperor elevated the counts to the rank of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. That caused a war with the Habsburgs that lasted until 1443, when an agreement of mutual inheritance was signed.

Ulrich II of Cilli was the most powerful member of the Cilli family. He held a large influence in many courts, that originated from the relationships the Cilli family made in the past. He tried to get regency of Hungary, Bohemia and Austria through control over Ladislas the Posthumous, at the time a minor. With such ambitions he got many opponents and rivals, such as Hunyadi family. After unsuccessful claim of the Bosnian crown, Cilli received some territories in Croatia and Slavonia but finally succeeded to force Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor to hand over (1452) the boy king Ladislas the Posthumous to his keeping. Ulrich II became practically the ruler of Hungary. In 1456 after the death of his rival John Hunyadi, Ulrich II was named Captain General of Hungary, an office previously held by John Hunyadi. That initiated a plot by the Hunyadi family against Ulrich II, killing him on the 8th of November, in Belgrade.

With the death of Ulrich II the male line of the Counts of Cilli died out, and after the war of succession all of their estates and property were handed over to the Habsburgs on the basis of the inheritance agreement.

[BiH-x]

Some more pictures of the castle in Gradacac:

image hosted on flickr



image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[Ballota]

Trsat - Rijeka:

[Delmat]

Trogir



Korčula







More of Dubrovnik











these beautifull pictures are from Manolo_B2, I hope he wont mind

[Ballota]

Some of mine pics of Trogir :




















This place is only 30 minutes away from me.
Split can't wish for a better suburb than this...

[Delmat]

Bravo m8

[Ballota]

Medvedgrad - Zagreb:

[Ballota]

Now something on Split's doorstep.

2200 year old city walls of Salona...well...what's left of them :








Map of the city:


The walls ran on the north side...for some 1.5km.
Ultimetely they were destroyed, together with the city and it's 60.000 residents by the Avars...

[Alle]

Originally Posted by Ballota

Now something on Split's doorstep.

2200 year old city walls of Salona...well...what's left of them :


The walls ran on the north side...for some 1.5km.
Ultimetely they were destroyed, together with the city and it's 60.000 residents by the Avars...

Tragic, but that is also the reason why the slavs were invited there, and why we have the south slavic cultures, languages etc on balkan today .

Thanks for all the photos. Great suburb there indeed, as I said a truly urban and roman-style city, a lot of inspiring attractions.

Who inhabited Salona btw? Because obviously the neolithic and even paleolithic people in the region were hardly annihilated by the avars generally, as the slavs later assimilated the indigenious people throghout the region. I dont know too much about the indigenious people in dalmatia though. But i suppose its similiar to the rest of the south slavic nations. (and im not talking about the widely grouped "illyrian" tribes, but further back in time :P ).

And thanks all who have shared those magnificient structures from throughout the region. Great attractions altouhg i have to admit that its hard to beat those german manors and architechture they have in germany as the ones in in our region often tend to have a "colder" look, with more fortification etc. But then they are castles and fortresses .


Krpan

As a note, that sigismund figure also killed 200 of the aristocratic families in Bosnia and Croatia in the eartly 15th century .

[Ballota]

Originally Posted by Wiki

Salona was an ancient Illyrian Delmati city in the first millennium BC. After conquest by the Romans, Salona became the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia. When the Roman Emperor Diocletian retired, he erected a monumental palace nearby; this massive structure, known as Diocletian's Palace, became the core of the modern city of Split. In present times Salona (or Salon) is siuated near today's town of Solin (near Split).

Salona was largely destroyed in the invasions of the Avars and Slavs around the year 639 AD.

Croatian link (more info): http://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salona

[skingrad]

Why is there no flag on any of the Bosnian castles? We seem to be the only country that doesn't put flags on castles. Look at Croatian castles they all have flags on them.

Why is this?

[LordMarshall]

Originally Posted by skingrad

Why is there no flag on any of the Bosnian castles? We seem to be the only country that doesn't put flags on castles. Look at Croatian castles they all have flags on them.

Why is this?

thats not true there are flags on Bosnian castles the pictures posted here just don't do them justice and some castles are just forts that are in need of renovation.

[Alle]

Originally Posted by skingrad

Why is there no flag on any of the Bosnian castles? We seem to be the only country that doesn't put flags on castles. Look at Croatian castles they all have flags on them.

Why is this?

I think that several ones of them are unmanaged, unfortunately. Id hope some historic insittution or something would manage them but i suppose theyd need sponsorship.

Id also rather see the coat of arms than the current "bosnian" flag :P . The only thing good about the latter it is that its bosnian, heh.

[Union.SLO]

Predjamski grad:



Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in southwestern Slovenia. Predjama castle is located in the middle of a 123 m high, overhanging, limestone cliff, in the entrance of a cave. It is approximately 11 kilometres from Postojna. Predjama Castle was probably built in the 12th century but was first mentioned in the year 1274, then named Luegg, when Aquileian patriarchs built the castle in gothic style. It was built in an area that was controlled by the town of Aquilea but then was contested by the Counts of Gorizia. In 1478 the castle became the property of the knight Erazem. He was probably the most famous inhabitant of Predjama Castle. The castle now houses a museum and once a year the traditional Medieval games are taking place here.

[Zero00]

WOW

[Zero00]

Korcula: I took this one years ago.. I have a summer home in Orebic so I see this town every day across the peljesac channel...

[Alle]

Originally Posted by Union.SLO

Predjamski grad:



Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in southwestern Slovenia. Predjama castle is located in the middle of a 123 m high, overhanging, limestone cliff, in the entrance of a cave. It is approximately 11 kilometres from Postojna. Predjama Castle was probably built in the 12th century but was first mentioned in the year 1274, then named Luegg, when Aquileian patriarchs built the castle in gothic style. It was built in an area that was controlled by the town of Aquilea but then was contested by the Counts of Gorizia. In 1478 the castle became the property of the knight Erazem. He was probably the most famous inhabitant of Predjama Castle. The castle now houses a museum and once a year the traditional Medieval games are taking place here.

Wow! That is without doubt top 3 at least in this thread in my own humble opinion :O .

Very beautiful. Is that green fields just below it as well? I love grassy, saturated green fields . Very spectacular, and that is amongst more than able competition in the region as has been demonstrated in this thread.


I wonder if the mostar bridge structure, showed in the banner today, can be classified as a fortress, wasnt it sort of a road fortress with protective outposts? Definitely not a castle, but a fortification nevertheless.