St. Michael Castle

St. Michael Castle

St. Michael Castle, locally known as Tvrđava Sveti Mihovil and also often called St. Michael Fort, lies west of the town of Preko on the island of Ugljan, in the county of Zadar in Croatia.

Archaeological excavations showed that the first fortification at this site was an Iron Age hill fort from the 4th century BC. Later, during the 6th century, the Byzantines erected a fortress on the site, which was part of a chain of fortifications protecting and controlling maritime routes in the Adriatic. The site was strategically chosen; the top of a 263-meter-high hill; the 2nd highest on the island, opposite the city of Zadar on the mainland.

In the 11th century, a Benedictine monastery, dedicated to St. Michael, was established within the fortress, after a church was erected there a century earlier.

During the Fourth Crusade, in 1202, the city of Zadar was taken and sacked by the Crusaders, together with the Venetians. The following year, the Venetians then built the present St. Michael Castle to establish their control over Zadar, prevent its reconstruction and protect their maritime trade. The citizens of Zadar had had enough, however, besieged and took the castle, and imprisoned the Venetian garrison. The castle was badly damaged in the process. Venetian authority was re-established in 1205 as the result of a peace agreement.

During the next centuries, the citizens rebelled several times against their Venetian masters. This led to a 16-month-long Venetian siege of the city in 1345/6, during which the Venetians also unsuccessfully tried to re-take the castle. A year later, however, they succeeded. In 1358, as a result of the Treaty of Zadar, the Venetians gave up the castle, and it again came under the control of Zadar. It was then rebuilt as it had been considerably damaged by the Venetian sieges.

Dalmatia, and with it St. Michael Castle, again became a Venetian property in 1409, when Ladislaus of Naples, the king of Croatia and Hungary, sold it to them. During the next 4 centuries, the castle lost its military importance and served as a mere lookout post and lighthouse.

Even during the 20th century, the castle received war damage. First in WW II, when the castle church was completely destroyed and the castle walls were damaged and partly destroyed. Lastly, during the Croatian War of Independence, in the first part of the 1990s, on account of a radio-television antenna mounted on the fortress just before the war.

At present, the castle is a curious mixture of a medieval fortification with modern-day concrete additions.

St. Michael Castle is freely accessible. A nice castle ruin offering great views all around.

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St. Michael Castle

St. Michael Castle

St. Michael Castle, locally known as Tvrđava Sveti Mihovil and also often called St. Michael Fort, lies west of the town of Preko on the island of Ugljan, in the county of Zadar in Croatia.

Archaeological excavations showed that the first fortification at this site was an Iron Age hill fort from the 4th century BC. Later, during the 6th century, the Byzantines erected a fortress on the site, which was part of a chain of fortifications protecting and controlling maritime routes in the Adriatic. The site was strategically chosen; the top of a 263-meter-high hill; the 2nd highest on the island, opposite the city of Zadar on the mainland.

In the 11th century, a Benedictine monastery, dedicated to St. Michael, was established within the fortress, after a church was erected there a century earlier.

During the Fourth Crusade, in 1202, the city of Zadar was taken and sacked by the Crusaders, together with the Venetians. The following year, the Venetians then built the present St. Michael Castle to establish their control over Zadar, prevent its reconstruction and protect their maritime trade. The citizens of Zadar had had enough, however, besieged and took the castle, and imprisoned the Venetian garrison. The castle was badly damaged in the process. Venetian authority was re-established in 1205 as the result of a peace agreement.

During the next centuries, the citizens rebelled several times against their Venetian masters. This led to a 16-month-long Venetian siege of the city in 1345/6, during which the Venetians also unsuccessfully tried to re-take the castle. A year later, however, they succeeded. In 1358, as a result of the Treaty of Zadar, the Venetians gave up the castle, and it again came under the control of Zadar. It was then rebuilt as it had been considerably damaged by the Venetian sieges.

Dalmatia, and with it St. Michael Castle, again became a Venetian property in 1409, when Ladislaus of Naples, the king of Croatia and Hungary, sold it to them. During the next 4 centuries, the castle lost its military importance and served as a mere lookout post and lighthouse.

Even during the 20th century, the castle received war damage. First in WW II, when the castle church was completely destroyed and the castle walls were damaged and partly destroyed. Lastly, during the Croatian War of Independence, in the first part of the 1990s, on account of a radio-television antenna mounted on the fortress just before the war.

At present, the castle is a curious mixture of a medieval fortification with modern-day concrete additions.

St. Michael Castle is freely accessible. A nice castle ruin offering great views all around.

Gallery

Details
Hits: 381