Valamar Blog

Frankopan Castle is located on Kamplin Square in the town of Krk. Nowadays, it is a building that hosts cultural events, but throughout history it played an important role in the defense of the town. The Frankopans’ built it over a number of centuries and generations, who were a noble family from Krk.

Frankopan Castle is made up of a number of parts. The oldest part of the complex is a square tower that is located beside the diocese building, and was where the Frankopan court was located. There is an inscription above the entrance that describes when it was constructed (1191).

There is a round tower on the north wing of the Frankopan Castle that was built after the square tower in the 13th century. It was renovated on two occasions, in 1480 and 1600. On the wall, there is a plaque with the lion of St. Mark that bears witness to the period of Venetian rule, and in 1500 the inscription Aureae Venetorum libertati (Sacred Venetian Freedom) was engraved on it.

On the eastern side of the castle, which is the side that faces the sea, there is another square tower and on the western part there used to be a sentry box. The soldiers’ quarters were located within the complex. There used to be a ‘lower town gate’ a little to the west of Frankopan Castle, which was mentioned in 1392. However, because of its awkward position and its exposure to the strong south wind and huge waves, it gave up its role to the ‘little gates’ that were built some time later.