Public Research - Medieval Balkan Castles & Fortresses

[tavix]

In romanian Baba= old lady )

[Hrobatos]

in south slavic languages, baba is grandmother

[NikeBG]

Yeah, grandmother or old lady (diado/dedo is grandfather or old man), as well as a few other meanings (midwife etc) which are no longer used. In Turkish, baba (with the accent on the second a), ironically, seems to be a honourific word for a man, with the meaning of "father", "wise man" etc (Bulgarian equivalent is "bai") and seems to be of Sanskrit origin. In China it also seems to mean "father", though if I remember correctly, "babo" means "fool, silly person" in Korean. On Swahili, on the other hand, it seems to mean "father, God". Quite an interesting word, it seems...

[Kara Kolyo]

Baba in persian means father and is often used in the names of the chiefs of heterodox islamic orders - Osman baba, Enihan baba etc. these orders were quite common on the Balkans. In the case of the Vidin fortress the legend is about a daughter of a bulgarian king. So it's just a guess how the name came to life.

Unfortunately some of the medieval bulgarian fortresses were renovated during the communism with some strange ideas in mind, so the end result is quite disturbing - the Patriarch church in Turnovo is such an example. Or the round church in Preslav, which was made from concrete....

Edit: Heh Nike beat me to it

[Constantius]

Nike and Kara, nice! you two certainly did your homework

[NikeBG]

...the Patriarch church in Turnovo is such an example...

Not to mention the icons... I mean, wall-paintings... Utter disgrace!
At least pravoslavieto.com lists the pics as "The interior and frescoes of the once "Great Church" after its desacration in the 80s of the XX century", which is a quite on-the-spot description...

[2Shy]

When I was in Tarnovo for the first time and went to the Patriarch church I was pretty scared! And thats all because the stupid comunists !!!

[Wallachian]

Guys, I have looked at Nike's photos with the church paintings and they look very...interesting. What is the story with them? Have the original wall paintings been painted over by the Communist regime?

[NikeBG]

Yup, they're non-canonical wall-paintings made by some team of modern artists, naturally by the order of the commies. Here's what the article at pravoslavieto.com says about it:
"The Patriarchal church is not wall-painted according to the church canon and is a total reconstruction [i.e. based on nothing old]. The church is a monumental temple in which, through the means of the modern monumental art - massive figural compositions - the artist depicts the rise of the political and cultural development of the medieval Bulgarian state. A special role for the emotional perception of the wall-paintings and the general atmosphere in the interior of the Patriarchal church is played by the specific lighting and sounds.

The realization of the wall-paintings is the work of the artist Teofan Sokerov and his aides - the artists Ivan Ivanov, Ivan Vasilev, Kolio Yonchev and Naiden Naidenov.

The Patriarchal church is one of the objects of the 800-years jubilee from the rebellion of the Asen brothers, the liberation from Byzantine rule and the restoration of the Bulgarian state. It was opened for visitations in November 1985."

Basically, the commies decided to have yet another jubilee (this being a monument from around 5 years earlier about the "1300 years Bulgaria" jubilee) and naturally employed their typical and absolutely horrendous (IMO) art.

[slavic_crusader]

wow that is horendous. Cant belive communists whill support such a thing. It simply looks retared....

[NikeBG]

Communists supporting the desacration of a great church? Nothing strange for me. Heck, one of the first things they did when they came to power here was to kill the intelligence of the nation and send all kinds of religious leaders (Orthodox priests, Protestant pastors, Mohammedan imams etc) to concentration... I mean, work camps. After which they hired or infiltrated the churches with agents of DS (National Security). Considering all the damages they've done to the Church, this particular church is just a drop in a sea.

[Wallachian]

Wow, the momunemt for the 1300 years jubilee looks so crazy, really soviet-type monument and the statues aswell.

A real shame about the paintings in the church, I would much rather see the original deteriorated and age-old paintings, rather then modern reconstructions. I do not understand how a people can willingly destroy their own heritage and history. In Bucharest, Romania much of the old, historical centre of the city was leveled by the communists to build a neighbourhood of flats and a massive structure.

[NikeBG]

Ah, Chaushesku's palace! But at least it looks good, definitely visit-worthy (when I was in Romania some years ago, I made pics mostly of it and the arc).

[Aru]

Alright, here's a bit about Croatia. Note that most of forts and castles in Croatia were in use until WW2 and as such always upgraded by their owners to maximum defense efficiency or in 'modern fashion' (baroque and gothic addons) so very few actually look like they did in their original form. So in reality none of them, except those abandoned 500 years ago, are truly medieval.

Trakoščan, 13. century, upgraded until 19. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.trakoscan.hr/

Veliki Tabor, 12. century, upgrades till 19. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.veliki-tabor.hr/

Ilok, Odescalchi Castle, 12. century walls, 17. century manor

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.turizamilok.hr/index.php?...&article_id=23

Ružica Grad, 14. century, abandoned in 18. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Kaptol, 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hvar Fortress, 16. century Venetian

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.island-hvar.info/hvar_attractions.htm

Knin fortress, Medieval capital of Croatia, 10. century, last upgrade in early 18. century, owing to it its present look

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knin_Fortress

Walls of Ston, 15. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.ston.hr/index.php?option=...mid=54&lang=en

And Veliki Kaštio, also in Ston, 14. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Šibenik, fort of st. Mihovil 15-17. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.sibenik-tourism.hr/eng/svMihovil.asp

Šibenik, fort of sv. Nikola, 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.sibenik-tourism.hr/eng/svNikola.asp

Kaštel Bakar, re-fortified in 16. century, upgrades and adaptations to 19. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Split, Klis Fortress, Illyrian and upgraded until 17. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klis_Fortress

http://freeweb.optinet.hr/~pkurtovi/3.jpg

Cetin Fortress, unknown, first mention of parish in 14. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sokolac

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokolac_Castle

Čakovec Castle, 13. century, later upgrades

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%8Cakovec_Castle

Stari Grad, Sisak 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.sisakturist.com/cropovijest.php

Stari Grad Đurđevac 1488

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Zadar, Kopnena vrata, 1543. The city walls of Zadar that were assaulted by Crusaders were replaced by more modern when the cannons were introduced into warfare, but one of the gates survived replacement of walls

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Petrapilosa castle 10-19. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.tz-buzet.hr/index.php?opt...mid=54&lang=en

Stari grad Dubovac 15. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.bestinvestcity.com/eng/objekt.php?id=57

Ozalj, 13. century, upgrades to 18. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozalj_Castle

Sveti Lovreč, 14. century walls

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Nehaj fortress, 1558

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortress_Nehaj

Slavetić, Oršić castle, 13-16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hrvatska Kostajnica, Kaštel Kostajnica

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Ogulin Castle, ~1500 and upgrades

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Svetvinčenat, Grimani castle, 13. century +

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.svetvincenat.hr/ENG/povijest.asp

Kraljevica 15. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Bosiljevo, pre-15. century and later upgrades

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Novigrad Na Dobri, I'm not certain how old, belonged to Frankopan family, destroyed in WW2

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Walls of Nin, another Croatian Royal town. Originally walls from Roman period (1. century), used and rebuilt in medieval times

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Not really on topic, but it's worth to mention "smallest Cathedral in the World" in Nin because it was the seat of the Bishopic in 11. century.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Stari Grad Ribnik. 13-15. century. The field around the fort could be flooded when under siege.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Drivenik 13. century, circular towers in 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Revelin fort, Dubrovnik, 1551

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.sitiunescoadriatico.org/index.php?pg=1502

Krk castle, 12-16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Trsat castle. Unknown build date, probably Liburnian and upgraded through centuries

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Trogir city walls and forts, 13, 14. century onwards

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.trogir.org/main.php?ln=en...ts&id=12#sight

Medvedgrad, 13. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medvedgrad

Senj city walls, up to 15. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Kaptol walls and Zagreb, 13-15. century

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaptol,_Zagreb

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Motovun city Walls, 13. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Pazin castle, 10. century +

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And Dubrovnik

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And plenty more. I'm certain I forgot some famous place, and I intentionally skipped dozens of ruins, and those castles that look medieval, but were built after 16. century. Honestly, I'm quite sick of forts, castles and walls now. It's quite amazing how difficult it is to find English description about most of those places (hence many of them lack a link). So much for being a tourist country. And the condition of most of those castles says enough also.

[Hrobatos]

this was a big and boring task
+rep
well done

[2Shy]

Aru you scared me - all the way down I was wondering where is Dubrovnik but you left it for the end.Great work !

[Wallachian]

Great photos Aru, haven't seen many croatian castles/fortress before. Some really awesome looking places!

[Alex Maximus]

very god pictures aru. i didn't know that are so many castles in croatia

[Aru]

Here are some more I forgot and some bit more obscure and ruined ones:

I should also add Solin, was destroyed in early middle ages, 613, by Slavs and Avars (and people fled to Diocletians palace to form Split)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Old town Kalnik from 13. century. According to legend, this is where king Bela IV was besieged by Mongols.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Valpovo castle

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And castle Grobnik where the Mongols were defeated for the first time in Europe according to legend (though that legend has nothing to confirm it)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I have mistakenly put this picture under Bosiljevo. It's Grobnik.

Garić Grad, destroyed in 1544 by Ottomans

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Jelengrad, 13. century. Only few walls remaining on the first look, but worse then that, it was completely abandoned for 500 years, some restoration or at least clearing the terrain could make more of it

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Norinska tower, 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Old town Barilović

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Belaj Grad doesn't exist today at all, there is a stone quarry at its place, though some older people still remember the ruins (or so I've read).

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Brlog Grad, 15. century. For some reason I can't find any good modern images of the place

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Drežnik, 12. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Klokoć, 13. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Slunj, 12. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Banfi castle, 1373

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Old town Pakrac, probably 12. century. Completely torn down slowly during last 200 years, last tower in 1960. to build city hall Sad. The history of the town was rich. Templars, Mongols, seat of Slavonian Ban, money was being made here...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Severin na Kupi, 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Prekovršac, 15. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Klinac Grad, 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Zrin, the seat of Zrinski family. 14. century (it was actually owned by Babonići before Zrinski)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Gvozdansko, 16. century

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Mirabela and Fortica, Omiš, 13. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Mirabela


Fortica

Potravnik, 15. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Stari Grad Sinj. Can't find when it's built, maybe Byzantine? Or older?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Drniš,

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Ključica, 14. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Nečven, 15. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

BOGOČIN-VILIN GRAD 15. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Nutjak, 15. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Čačvina, 14. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Vrika, Prozor, 15. century

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Zadvarje, 15. century

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Glavaš, 15. century

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Bisag castle, 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Stari Grad Ivanec, at least 16. century. Completely destroyed in WW2

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Maruševec castle, 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Stari GradPaka, 13. c

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Stari Grad Varaždin, 12. century. I can't believe I forgot to add it in the first post

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Fortress of St. Mihovil on Ugljan (can't find a single decent picture)

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Lukavec Stari Grad, 13. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Samobor

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Lovrečina Grad 16. century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

That's it for now. It was hard enough finding pictures of some of those places, I didn't even bother with searching English language info.

[il padrino]

Some other rather unknown castles in Serbia

Milesevac fortress



Stalac fortress



Hisar fortress



Fetislam fortress