Croatian Travel: Coastal Castles

Castles of the Dalmatian Coast

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Dalmatian nobility of the Croatian coast needed to find a safe and secure place to live and play without the fear of attack by the Turks. The stretch of land between Trogir and Split became the ideal location for castle building due to its relative safety located between the hills and the sea. So, the wealthy families of Split began building their mansions and well-fortified castles along the breathtaking and protected regions of the Dalmatian Coast. These castles still remain today nearly fully intact due to the fact that the Turks never did make their way to their front gates and managed to escape destruction for more than five hundred years.

There are seven ports along this coastal region called Kastela that you can spend the day driving or boating to in order to visit the many beautiful castles in the area. Starting from Trogir you will make your way to Kastel Stafilic which sits on an islet connected by a drawbridge from the mainland. Next you will find Kastel Stari, the oldest castle on the coast built in 1476. This particular castle also comes with a tragic lover’s tale of a couple who are buried on the site. You’ll then make your way to Kastel Gomilica, a castle built by Benedictine nuns, which is surrounded by a beautiful sandy beach and shallow water to frolic in. Finally, you’ll come to Kastel Sucurac where you will find an old cemetery and a path that leads to the ridge of Kozjak for a picturesque final stop.