Dreznik Castle Ruins, Rakovica, Croatia

The old town of Drežnik is mentioned in the historic sources back in the 12th century. Its history has been marked by wars and its different rulers. The historic events in the area have mostly been marked by constant wars, which is also the reason that it did not develop as a trading place or a settlement but rather as a defence fortress. After 1830, the Austrian monarch sold the fortress to a private trader, who started demolishing the walls and selling stone as construction material. The defence tower has been renovated and from there the visitors can enjoy in the view over the canyon of the Korana river and the surrounding mountains and learn something on the history of this always dynamic border region.

References:

plitvicevalleys.com

User Reviews

Daniel Kudrik (3 months ago)
Very nice old part of historical castle. The river Korana was out of water. Should be fine walking in the surrounding.

Siewling Lay (4 months ago)
Very small site and seemed like someone started work on restoring(?) the place but made it only halfway with lots of trash left behind which was not too pretty to look at.

Ivan Lončar (8 months ago)
Nice fortress settled right above the canyon of Korana River. Several walking & biking trails around the castle. Don't hesitate to explore some of them to find beautiful viewpoints.

SK 2 Beauty (15 months ago)
Great food, lovely ambience. Fresh seafood and great service. Its not so near to the old town but worth the walk after a full tummy.

Jan Hudec (16 months ago)
Nice tower. But it looks like they ran out of money for renovations. Unfortunately the tower itself was locked. The opening hours in maps are wrong. On the site is nice small parking place.

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Les Invalides is a complex of buildings containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building"s original purpose. The buildings house the Musée de l"Armée, the military museum of the Army of France, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d"Histoire Contemporaine, as well as the burial site for some of France"s war heroes, notably Napoleon Bonaparte.

Louis XIV initiated the project in 1670, as a home and hospital for aged and unwell soldiers: the name is a shortened form of hôpital des invalides. The architect of Les Invalides was Libéral Bruant. The enlarged project was completed in 1676, the river front measured 196 metres and the complex had fifteen courtyards. Jules Hardouin Mansart assisted the aged Bruant, and the chapel was finished in 1679 to Bruant"s designs after the elder architect"s death.

Shortly after the veterans" chapel was completed, Louis XIV commissioned Mansart to construct a separate private royal chapel referred to as the Église du Dôme from its most striking feature. Inspired by St. Peter"s Basilica in Rome, the original for all Baroque domes, it is one of the triumphs of French Baroque architecture. The domed chapel is centrally placed to dominate the court of honour. It was finished in 1708.

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