Kaštilac Castle

Kaštilac Castle, locally known as just Kaštilac, lies in the town of Kaštel Gomilica, in the county of Split-Dalmatia in Croatia.

After Bosnia fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1463, Dalmatia, which was part of the Venetian Republic, faced the threat of Ottoman invasions. Local landowners, including the Split Archbishopric, monasteries, and nobles from Trogir and Split, wanted to protect their estates and the villagers who worked for them. As a result, over the following decades, they built 17 fortifications and fortified 12 villages along the coast of Kaštela Bay, between Trogir and Split.

Kaštilac Castle was one of these fortifications. It was built by Benedictine nuns from the St. Rainerio nunnery in Split between 1529 and 1537, on an underwater sea rock 40 meters from the shore.

The castle had a rectangular plan and was surrounded by crenelated walls and a wooden walkway. A machicolated gate tower could be reached over a stone bridge and a drawbridge. Inside the castle, 17 families lived there after fleeing their destroyed village of Kozice during a Turkish raid.

Later, in the second half of the 17th century, a fortified village was established on the mainland.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the water in front of the castle was filled in to create a square. This square was reopened in the mid-20th century, and the stone bridge was reconstructed.

The castle was used as a filming location for HBO's Game of Thrones, serving as the backdrop for the Free City of Braavos.

Today, Kaštilac Castle is a small residential neighborhood. Visitors are welcome, although residents are not very fond of the many tourists.

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