The Kastel Fortress ( sr-cyr, Тврђава Кастел, Tvrđava Kastel) is a

fortress A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

located in

Banja Luka Banja Luka ( sr-Cyrl, Бања Лука, ) or Banjaluka ( sr-Cyrl, Бањалука, ) is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the largest city of Republika Srpska. Banja Luka is also the ''de facto'' capital of this entity. ...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...

. The fortress is

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

but is situated on the site of previous fortifications going all the way back to Roman and even pre-Roman times. It was captured by the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...

in 1527. The fortress is relatively well-preserved, and is one of Banja Luka's main attractions, situated on the left bank of the Vrbas river in the very center of town. The fortress was surrounded on all sides by stone walls, on which were raised loopholes and watchtowers, which indicates that in the past it was very strong military fortress. Geological excavations uncovering various items and money in the city, which was also used by Romans, reinforce the idea that the fortress was located on the site of a Roman military settlement, or castra. Located at the border between the former Dalmatia and Pannonia, the castra belonged to Dalmatia, as its northernmost part. www.tbh.ba

References

Castles in Bosnia and Herzegovina Forts in Bosnia and Herzegovina National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina Architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina culture Buildings and structures in Republika Srpska Buildings and structures in Banja Luka {{BosniaHerzegovina-struct-stub

See also

References