The Story Of Dubrovnik City Walls
BRING A STONE To enter the city
Dubrovnik City Walls are 1940 meters long walls, high up to 25 meters and from 3 to 6 meters thick, which surround the Old City of Dubrovnik. There are 16 towers and 3 fortresses incorporated into the City Walls, as well as bastions and ramparts built in front of the northern and western section of walls.
The current look of the walls comes from the late 17th century, when the reconstruction of them was finally finished. There were several small reconstructions in the more recent times, but the general look of the walls hasn’t been significantly changed in the last 300 years.
In the 15th century during the major reconstruction of the City Walls, all visitors to Dubrovnik were obliged to bring a stone of a particular size as an entrance fee!
Dubrovnik city walls at that time were thin and tall, the best protection from arrows and catapulted stones. From the city tops defenders used the same weapons to protect the access to the city.
The Reconstruction Of The Walls
With the emergence of firearms, walls suddenly became an ideal artillery target. For that reason, the reconstruction was initiated: walls were duplicated and strengthened and towers were filled with dirt and stones. The height of the walls was reduced. Fortresses were rebuilt with casemates, openings inside the walls where cannons were situated. The defense of the city came from the tops of the walls down, closer to their base. And if you join me on my city tour, by walking above the city roofs, you will get the completely different perspective of the city.
In the past, there were only 4 gates leading inside the walls; 2 towards the land and 2 to the city harbor. Every night, all four of them were closed and locked. Overnight city was preserved within the walls, with no access inside of them.
In the morning, gates were reopened, according to the strict routine.
For the last time in their past, the city gates of Dubrovnik were closed and locked just 200 years ago, at the end of World War I. Although the Old City of Dubrovnik at that time was just a city quarter within a much larger place, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy treated the Old City as a castle, and followed the ancient tradition of closing city gates every night. With the collapse of the Monarchy, old traditions were abandoned.
Dubrovnik City Walls are 1940 meters long walls, high up to 25 meters and from 3 to 6 meters thick, which surround the Old City of Dubrovnik. There are 16 towers and 3 fortresses incorporated into the City Walls, as well as bastions and ramparts built in front of the northern and western section of walls.
The Story Of Dubrovnik
City Walls
BRING A STONE To enter the city
Dubrovnik City Walls are 1940 meters long walls, high up to 25 meters and from 3 to 6 meters thick, which surround the Old City of Dubrovnik. There are 16 towers and 3 fortresses incorporated into the City Walls, as well as bastions and ramparts built in front of the northern and western section of walls.
The current look of the walls comes from the late 17th century, when the reconstruction of them was finally finished. There were several small reconstructions in the more recent times, but the general look of the walls hasn’t been significantly changed in the last 300 years.
In the 15th century during the major reconstruction of the City Walls, all visitors to Dubrovnik were obliged to bring a stone of a particular size as an entrance fee!
Dubrovnik city walls at that time were thin and tall, the best protection from arrows and catapulted stones. From the city tops defenders used the same weapons to protect the access to the city.
The Reconstruction
Of The Walls
With the emergence of firearms, walls suddenly became an ideal artillery target. For that reason, the reconstruction was initiated: walls were duplicated and strengthened and towers were filled with dirt and stones. The height of the walls was reduced. Fortresses were rebuilt with casemates, openings inside the walls where cannons were situated. The defense of the city came from the tops of the walls down, closer to their base. And if you join me on my city tour, by walking above the city roofs, you will get the completely different perspective of the city.
In the past, there were only 4 gates leading inside the walls; 2 towards the land and 2 to the city harbor. Every night, all four of them were closed and locked. Overnight city was preserved within the walls, with no access inside of them.
In the morning, gates were reopened, according to the strict routine. For the last time in their past, the city gates of Dubrovnik were closed and locked just 200 years ago, at the end of World War I. Although the Old City of Dubrovnik at that time was just a city quarter within a much larger place, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy treated the Old City as a castle, and followed the ancient tradition of closing city gates every night. With the collapse of the Monarchy, old traditions were abandoned.
