Dubovac Castle, Central Croatia, Croatia
4.0 (68 reviews) Friday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent Ranking #4 in Karlovac County Historic Sites • Historic Walking Areas • Castles
Charming
Dubovac Castle is the oldest Karlovac monument, not just because of its ample history, but also because of the pioneer decision to preserve it in the name of collective memory. To this day the castle on the hill above the Kupa River is the most prominent landmark of the cultural and historical landscape of Karlovac. In the Middle Ages, Dubovac developed as a settlement with a fort at the cross-section of river and road routes, and in an area of dense fortified locations. It was first mentioned in 1339, when it got its first parish priest. Frequently written in Glagolitic script, the testimonies of trade and crafts, legal and school life circumstances of Dubovac burghers-freemen, were most numerous in the several decades preceding 1578, when the Osmanlis devastated its city to the ground. Although not large in area, the Dubovac estate was important economically as a regional market town. Its owners were, among others, important noble families from 1387 to 1810.
Address
Zagrad-Gaj ulica 5, Karlovac 47000 Croatia
Mobile
Website
http://www.gmk.hr/
Working hours
Monday :
Tuesday : 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday : 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday : 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday : 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday : 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday : 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Current local date and time now
Friday, May 10, 2024, 1:25
User Ratings
4.0 based on (68 reviews)
Reviews
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5Julijana V 5:00 PM May 14, 2022
Found it by accitent
We were happy to stumble upon this site. Leaving the highway because of a detour we accidentally passed the sign and turned back. Lovely medievil castle and fantastic work has been done to make it possible for visitors to experience the times. The view from the tower is spectacular and you can see Karlovac on the palm of your hand. Unfortunately, we had to be at a certain location, but otherwise the restaurant looked wonderful and the smells from the kitchen were mouthwatering. Have to check it out at our next visit - which is on the to do list!
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3Cora_v 5:00 PM Oct 25, 2011
Pre-arrange in low season
In an attempt to find Dubovac castle in Karlovac, our GPS got us to Dubovac street. We could see the castle on the top of the hill from there, but the only street towards it was one-way (reciprocal). There were also routs for bicycles and pedestrians up from there. We drove back and, as advised by helpful locals, on Marmontova Aleja turned right, to the parallel street (if you drive from the city centre, turn left there). As we passed by the cemetery to the right, the red roof of the castle’s highest tower appeared on the hill. Steep narrow street up there, and very soon we saw the sign to the castle guiding to turn right. Paved ground few hundred meters prior to the castle could be a parking lot, but it was also possible to drive up to the castle walls; no banning signs and no other cars at sight. Parking was for free. It was only when we walked around the castle and saw not a single live soul there that we remembered some guidebooks advised to pre-arrange a visit, if travelling from October to April. We had to content ourselves with the exterior only. Perhaps my rating would have been higher if we succeeded to get inside. The castle, originally built in XIII century, has been significantly rebuilt at least twice, in XV and in XIX centuries. Walk around the place and study its diverse towers. The oldest saw and withstood the Turkish attacks that devastated the settlement around the castle. Not only it has changed few owners in the past (including Nikola Šubić Zrinski, whose wife Katarina received the castle as a wedding gift from her brother, Count Stjepan Frankopan). Its purpose has also changed substantially: a castle; a granary; a dungeon; a gunpowder storage; then (thanks to Count Laval Nugent) back to a castle; recently even a hotel (which is said to have caused significant damage to the place); and finally a museum. Before leaving Dubovac, we enjoyed scenic panorama of the city of Karlovac and Kupa river from the observation site on the hill in front of the castle. It was anyway worthy driving up.
