Fort Lovrijenac

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Fort Lovrijenac or St. Lawrence Fortress is located outside the western wall of the city of Dubrovnik. Famous for its plays and importance in resisting Venetian rule, it overshadows the two entrances to the city, from the sea and by land. Early in the 11th century the Venetians attempted to build a fort on the same spot where Fort Lovrijenac currently stands. If they had succeeded, they would have kept Dubrovnik under their power, but the people of the city beat them to it. The 'Chronicles of Ragusa' reveal how the fort was built within just three months time and from then on constantly reconstructed. When the Venetian ships arrived, full of materials for the construction of the fort, they were told to return to Venice.

Lovrijenac has a triangular shape with three terraces. The thickness of the walls facing the outside reach 12 metres whereas the section of the walls facing the inside, the actual city, are only 60 centimetres thick. Two drawbridges lead to the fort and above the gate there is an inscription Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro ('Freedom is not to be sold for all the treasures in the world'). Lovrijenac's use as a stage was a recent addition to the history of the fort, and the performance of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' has become the symbol of Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

 

 

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Founded: 11th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Croatia

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Ivan Vukovic (Dubrovnik tourist guide) (2 years ago)
Just fantastic. Game of Thrones location. The red keep.
Matt Smith (3 years ago)
What a very cool fort! Well worth the price of admission and the walk up the stairs. You definitely get some great views of the old town and of the Adriatic Sea. If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, this is a must visit.
Jakob Fix (3 years ago)
If you're a Game of thrones fan, then this is one of the must sees in Dubrovnik. Before going, it's best to check out one of the videos detailing the different things to look out for. Very impressive when you are at the same place as the characters in the series. If you can then visit during the pandemic, so few people, so much space for you! ?
Steven C (3 years ago)
This fort is just outside the city walls and involves a steep climb up stairs. Along the way you will be treated to beautiful views of the city surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. You will also see some quirky houses built into the stairs made famous in game of thrones. The fort itself is incredible although there is a distinct lack of information anywhere. We got free admittance with our city walls ticket. The inside is well preserved and again you will recognise many areas from game of thrones. As you reach the top you have fantastic 360 views of the city, sea and mountains. Well worth the visit.
Formula One Fix (3 years ago)
I'm glad I've managed to visit this place. There's some amazing spots on top of the building form where you can see the whole Town. Only 50KUNA to visit so it's quite cheap. Inside you can also see the spot where Game of Thrones was filmed and where the large map of the seven kingdoms was drawn on the floor. That courtyard is accessible to everyone and unfortunately looks smaller that in the TV show. Make sure you get to the top so you can see the castle canons and the sea
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Odeon of Herodes Atticus

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone theatre structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens. It was built in 161 AD by the Athenian magnate Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla. It was originally a steep-sloped theater with a three-story stone front wall and a wooden roof made of expensive cedar of Lebanon timber. It was used as a venue for music concerts with a capacity of 5,000. It lasted intact until it was destroyed and left in ruins by the Heruli in 267 AD.

The audience stands and the orchestra (stage) were restored using Pentelic marble in the 1950s. Since then it has been the main venue of the Athens Festival, which runs from May through October each year, featuring a variety of acclaimed Greek as well as International performances.