Srebrenik Fortress

Srebrenik sits on a limestone crag standing free of the ridge behind it, and the only way in is across the gap: a bridge spans from the ridge to the gate, as a drawbridge did originally, which makes the approach the memorable part. The fortress is first documented in 1333 in a charter of Stjepan II Kotromanic, which makes it one of the earliest firmly dated Bosnian fortifications, and the walls, towers, a chapel and cisterns survive on the rock, consolidated and walkable. The view runs over the wooded hills of the northeast. The site is a short drive from Srebrenik town and is staffed in season with events held there in summer.

History

Who built the fortress and when is unknown, but it first appears in edicts of Stephen II to Ragusa in 1333, and its place on key military roads made it a prize: an army of Louis I of Hungary suffered heavy losses below it in 1363, Sigismund of Luxembourg took it in 1393, and it changed hands several times before King Thomas of Bosnia won it back by 1433. The Ottomans held it by 1462, Matthias Corvinus took it back and in 1464 created the Banate of Srebrenik for Nicholas of Ilok, and the Ottomans probably retook it between 1510 and 1519, after which it saw little fighting for nearly two centuries (Wikipedia, Srebrenik Castle).

Highlights

• The bridge approach - the span across the gap to the gate.
• The crag position - the fortress on its isolated rock.
• Walls and chapel - the surviving structures within the enclosure.
• The hill view - the wooded country from the walls.

When to go

May to October when the site is staffed and the events run; access is possible but unstaffed in winter. Mornings are quiet. The approach road is narrow.

Things to know

The fortress is small and the visit takes about an hour. Consolidation has replaced some masonry. The bridge and walls have drops without full barriers. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Gradacac lies north; Tuzla is southwest.

Key facts