The Nehaj Fortress ( ) is a

fortress A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from L ...

on the hill

Nehaj Nehaj is the name of the hill that is found above the center of the town of Senj in Croatia. More famous is the Nehaj Fortress that stands on top of the hill. The name ''Nehaj'' comes from the Croatian term ''Ne hajati'' which means ''Don't ca ...

in the town of

Senj Senj is a town on the upper Adriatic coast in Croatia, in the foothills of the Mala Kapela and Velebit mountains. The symbol of the town is the Nehaj Fortress () which was completed in 1558. For a time this was the seat of the Uskoks, who were ...

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

Name

The name ''Nehaj'' comes from the Croatian term ''Ne hajati'' , which means 'don't care'. In Croatian this fortress has also other names, which are: ''Kula Nehaj'' , what means ''Nehaj Tower'', and ''Nehajgrad'' , what means ''Nehajtown''. This name was given to the hill and the Fortress by the

Uskoks The Uskoks (, , singular: ; notes on naming) were irregular soldiers in Habsburg Croatia that inhabited areas on the eastern Adriatic coast and surrounding territories during the Ottoman wars in Europe. Bands of Uskoks fought a guerrilla wa ...

, who built on the top of this hill the Fortress for defensive purposes. They gave the hill and the Fortress such a name because they wanted to emphasize to the citizens of the town of Senj, and all of those that lived in the vicinity of the town of Senj, that they should not worry that someone will conquer this hill or the Fortress as long as they are there.

Description

The fortress is tall and wide, and square shaped with

wall A wall is a structure and a surface that defines an area; carries a load; provides security, shelter, or soundproofing; or serves a decorative purpose. There are various types of walls, including border barriers between countries, brick wal ...

s averaging from in thickness. There are five

tower A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...

s on top of the Fortress, and eleven large

cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during th ...

openings along the walls. Inside the Fortress, there are displays of cannons and other household items, as well as a collection of costumes and weapons of the Uskoks of Senj. There is also an annual medieval festival that is held in Senj, and an important part of it is when the "Uskoks" march up to the fortress on horseback. There are also crafting workshops and other medieval themed attractions around the fortress at this time; as well as a detailed overview of its history. Today, the fortress serves primarily as a museum. With exhibits of weapons, clothing, drawings and models of various things from the time when the fortress was actively used.

History

The fortress was built by Croatian army general

Ivan Lenković Ivan Lenković (died 22 June 1569) was a Habsburg Croatian army general and the leader of the Uskoks. He carried the title of baron. He is noted for the construction of Nehaj Fortress and as a captain of the Senj area.Bousfield (2003), p. 227. ...

, a captain of the ''

'', on the

hill A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit, and is usually applied to peaks which are above elevation compared to the relative landmass, though not as prominent as Mountain, mountains. Hills ...

.Bousfield (2003), p. 227.Senj
culturenet.hr Finished in 1558, it was built on the remains of ruined churches,

monasteries A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which m ...

and

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...

s which were situated outside of the walls of Senj. These buildings were scrapped since it was concluded that they would not survive anyway if they were outside the city walls, as the Ottomans would loot them or use them as housing during sieges. The fortress was mainly built to fight the Ottoman Empire, and to be used as a base for the Uskoks.

Gallery

File:Nehaj Senj Croatia 01.jpg, Fortress Nehaj, that is found on the

, is the symbol of the town of

. Image:SenjNehajgrad1.JPG, Roof of the Fortress File:Nehaj Senj Croatia indoor 090727a.JPG, The middle part of the inside of the Fortress File:Senj east 090727b.JPG, A look through a window on the north side of the Fortress File:Senj Nehaj ploca.JPG, Glagolitic stone of Senj, probably from the pre-romainc church of St.George. Dated around 1100, it is among the oldest documents written in Croatian. File:Senj Nehaj St.George church remains 2.JPG, Remains from the pre-romanic church of St.George in Senj (11th-12th century), burnt down during the Turks' attack of 1520 File:Senj Nehaj St.George church remains.JPG, Remains from the pre-romanic church of St.George in Senj (11th-12th century), burnt down during the Turks' attack of 1520 File:Senj Nehaj coat of arms 1.JPG, Senj Nehaj coat of arms File:Senj Nehaj coat of arms 2.JPG, Senj Nehaj coat of arms File:Senj Nehaj coat of arms 3.JPG, Senj Nehaj coat of arms

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

External links

The official web-site of the Nehaj Fortress
{{Castles in Croatia Buildings and structures completed in 1558 Forts in Croatia Buildings and structures in Lika-Senj County 1558 establishments in Europe Tourist attractions in Lika-Senj County