Benković Castle

Benković Castle, locally known as Kaštel Benković, lies in the town of Benkovac, in the county of Zadar in Croatia.

In 1409, Dalmatia was divided when one part was sold to the Republic of Venice, while the other belonged to the Croatian-Hungarian Kingdom. The Croatian region of Benkovac then became a border area, and local Croatian nobility built several fortifications to defend their lands against the Venetians.

Benković Castle was one of these fortifications constructed during the 15th century. It was established in the latter half of that century, probably by Ivan Benković. His castle included a tall square keep connected to a square bailey.

The castle was captured by the Ottomans in 1527. They strengthened it by adding two round towers to the south and west corners of the bailey. In 1650, the castle was set on fire during a siege by Karlo de Begna, a Venetian noble from Zadar. The Turks were finally expelled in 1683, and the castle became Venetian property. Venetian administration lasted until 1797.

In the 19th century, Benković Castle lost its military role and became a private residence, which it remained until the mid-20th century. By that time, the castle had fallen into disrepair. During the 1970s, it was restored and now houses a regional history museum. However, the interior of the keep has lost its historical appearance.

Visitors can tour Benković Castle for a small fee. It is a charming, compact castle with an interesting museum.

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