Ruzica Castle, Duzluk, Croatia - SpottingHistory.com

Ružica Castle is large ruined castle in Virovitica-Podravina County, Croatia. Since the origin of the medieval structure remains unknown, it has become the stuff of legend over the years. It is one of the most picture-perfect places in the country and a must-see for those in search of hidden gems that are far from mass tourism.

The first document of Ružica castle dates from 1357. It lost its military purpose after Turkish occupation in 1543 and was ruined.

User Reviews

Danijel Pobi (11 months ago)
Great

Dubravko Bogović (2 years ago)
Beautiful Castle ruin, a must visit place if you're near. It's a shor walk from the Orahovica lake.. also a great place to relax. Check out the local legends too, they're easy to find online.

Tomislav Schmidt (3 years ago)
Very slow service when crowded, very unorganized, when asking why so slow, the answer was to go to another restaurant!!!!! But the pizza was nice...

Ivan K. (4 years ago)
Ružica castle is at beautiful place with awesome view on Orahovica and region. It could be better if someone would renovate it and make it more safe. There are signs that you enter at your own risk because of the falling rocks from walls, so watch out if you head to the heart of the castle.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

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Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

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