The spirit of antiquity attracts me, awakens in me the imagination of harsh life and wars, of great battles and achievements... I usually do not study the history of an ancient place before I get there... At first I let my imagination soar here, dictating my feelings and thoughts...
So, today I invite you again to medieval Dubrovnik, Croatia. A few months ago I spent three unforgettable days there and you may have already read about
my first impression and about the lavender apartments and the view from above!?
Today we will climb the stairs that are carved directly into the rock and enter the defense castle of Lavrienets, which rises on a rock in the sea...
We go to the right of the round tower, which is covered with black moss from the influence of the ages and the sea and looks like a strict guard of the city, we move along the wall where people sit and sunbathe.
We slowly climb up, enjoying the views, which become more and more exciting as we climb! You see a concrete jetty, next to which colorful canoes seem to be parked. Fortresses, orange roofs and canoes create a unique picture that is the unique face of Dubrovnik.
To get up to the entrance to the Lovrinets fortress, you have to climb quite a lot of steep stairs. We stop to rest in a pine park at the top, where there is a beautiful view of the other side of the rock, where there is a steep cliff.
There is a cozy bay, surrounded on both sides by steep picturesque rocks, which form a favorite place for relaxation and swimming for tourists. Here, above the small beach, there are several exclusive coffee shops. You can also rent a canoe. And people here sit and lie directly against the ancient walls of the city. There are several steps in the rock that you can use to go down into the sea to swim.
Fort Lovrienets is located outside the city walls of Dubrovnik, at the western entrance to it. The fort is a majestic fortification built on steep cliffs, the height of which is 37 meters above sea level. There are many legends and legends about the fort and its defenders.
You can see that the rock on which the fortress is located is constantly being restored and strengthened even today. We add the last steps and see the statue of St. Lawrence, whose name bears the castle, which is created in the wall of the fortress.
I am always enveloped by the feeling of the presence of the spirit of antiquity when I find myself inside and climb the internal stairs up... The dark vaults and arches reinforce this feeling.
Fort Lovrienets protects the west of Dubrovnik both from the sea side and from the continental side. Together with Fort Bocari, they protect the harbor of Calarinha, the oldest in the city.
According to Dubrovnik historians, Fort Lovrienec was built in such an inaccessible place in the 11th century by the townspeople who wanted to protect their city from the Venetians, whose plans included building a large fortress and holding power over the city. According to historical data, the fort was built in three months...
The armament of the Lovrienets fort consisted of guns, the largest of which is the Guster (which means lizard in translation). "Guster" was made by Ivan Rablyanin, a master gunsmith, and is rightfully considered a masterpiece in this field.
I looked for a long time at these terrible metal products that protected Dubrovnik from invaders in the hoary old days... There are many inscriptions here that would surely be understandable to people interested in weapons.
There are also images of amazing creatures and an unknown coat of arms on the cannon.
Separately stand cannon shells, which are stacked in the form of a pyramid and covered with a net...
Croatia is inspiring! And it inspires not only travelers who fall in love with this country at first sight, but also directors who, after seeing the local landscapes, come here to shoot movies and TV series
The famous Star Wars, Game of Thrones, the film Odyssey were filmed here...
Various performances were staged in the Lovrienets fort, it is considered one of the best scenes for the production of Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Now, instead of guns, musical instruments can be heard in the fortress: Lovrijenac has been used as a venue for the annual Dubrovnik Summer Festival since 1950...
Now the aborigines call this fort "the gray old man", and on its gate there is an ancient Latin inscription, which is translated differently in different sources, but the essence of which boils down to one thing: "Freedom cannot be sold for any treasure." Photos of the fort are surprisingly good both from the land side and, if possible, from the sea side.
Lovrijenac fort together with the fortress forts of the old town, forms a single defense from the sea. The walls are high and thick. From the walls of the fort there is a wonderful view of old Dubrovnik and the island of Lokrum.
I hope you are interested in continuing to explore with me the old medieval Dubrovnik that I visited in July 2022 during my #TheLongestTrip.
Our journey has been going on for the ninth month since we left our native Ukraine because of the war. Thank you for your support!