Visiting Dubrovnik was a sort of a dream for me! I spent four hours walking around the old town, also visiting Srđ and the Lovrijenac Fortress, but that wasn’t enough time to take all the photos I wanted. Since it was the middle of August, the heat was intense and the conditions were tough, so considering everything, I’m happy with the photos I got.
Lovrijenac Fortress is a pretty cool place, and I’m happy I had the chance to take photos of the fortress itself. Probably the best part is how Lovrijenac Fortress exists in symbiosis with Dubrovnik’s old town. It’s part of it, yet it isn’t. I don’t know, I love stuff like that.
Let’s see what the internet has to say about this place.
Lovrijenac Fortress, also known as the “Gibraltar of Dubrovnik,” stands majestically on a rocky outcrop 37 meters above sea level, just outside the western city walls of Dubrovnik. This iconic triangular fortress is not only a popular venue for weddings and theatrical performances but also a historic symbol of Dubrovnik’s resistance against the Venetian Republic.
Historical Significance
During the power struggle between Dubrovnik and Venice, the Venetians had planned to construct a tower on the very spot where Lovrijenac now stands. Had they succeeded, they would have held Dubrovnik under their control. However, Dubrovnik’s citizens, learning of this plan, acted swiftly. According to Dubrovnik’s chronicles, they managed to construct Lovrijenac in just three months. When the Venetian ships, loaded with materials for their planned tower, arrived, they found the fortress already standing, forcing them to retreat to Venice, their mission unaccomplished.
Fortress Structure
Lovrijenac Fortress is designed in a unique triangular shape with three distinct levels. The walls facing the sea are incredibly thick, reaching up to 12 meters, while those facing the city and its harbor are just 60 centimeters thick. This design was strategic, as the thinner walls on the city side would allow Dubrovnik’s defenders to breach the fortress from other city towers if it ever fell into enemy hands.
Visitors enter the fortress via two bridges, and above the main entrance, an inscription in Latin reads: “Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro”, which translates to “Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world.” This powerful motto encapsulates the spirit of Dubrovnik’s determination to remain free and independent.
The fortress also boasts a constant source of fresh water, with a cistern fed by a natural spring. Above this water source is another Latin inscription, translating to: “Nature denies water to the fortress; art, however, brings it back. Let the thirst of its guardians be quenched by this well.”
Cultural Significance
Lovrijenac has long been a site of cultural importance. The fortress has hosted numerous performances, including Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and has become one of the defining symbols of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival. In preparation for the 11th PEN Congress in 1933, a second pathway to the fortress was constructed, named Dr. Marko Fotez Steps, in honor of the first modern theater director who staged performances at Lovrijenac during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival in 1952. The Congress also saw the planting of pine trees at the base of the fortress as a commemorative act.
Armament and Defense
Lovrijenac was heavily fortified with various weapons, including cannons. One of the most famous cannons, named Gušter due to its green patina, stood on the highest level of the fortress until October 1814. The Austrians attempted to remove it and take it to a museum in Vienna, even demolishing the fortress’s inner gates, which bore a Latin inscription. The inscription, translated by I. A. Kaznačić, reads: “If the new power above were to press Typhoeus, let this wall hold him; safe it shall be.”
In addition to Gušter, there were three other cannons on the fortress, inscribed with Opus Baptistae Arbensis and dated 1531, 1532, and 1536. On December 5, 2017, a replica of a cannon cast by Jeronim Vicenco in 1573 at the Dubrovnik foundry was installed at Lovrijenac, preserving the fortress’s martial heritage.
Interesting Facts
From April 4, 1911, until the outbreak of World War I, a cannon shot from Lovrijenac marked noon each day, a tradition that further cemented the fortress’s role in the daily life and culture of Dubrovnik.
Conclusion
Lovrijenac Fortress stands as a powerful reminder of Dubrovnik’s rich history, its architectural brilliance, and the indomitable spirit of its people. Whether viewed as a historic military stronghold, a cultural venue, or a stunning backdrop for events, Lovrijenac continues to capture the imagination of all who visit, embodying the timeless motto that freedom is priceless.
Check the Showcase page of the Lovrijenac Fortress by clicking HERE.
