Knin Fortress

Knin fortress runs for well over a kilometre along the Spas ridge above the town, which makes it one of the largest fortified complexes in Europe by ground area. Knin was a seat of the medieval Croatian kings - Zvonimir held court here in the eleventh century - and the fortress was rebuilt through the Ottoman period and again by Venice and Austria, so the walls, gates and bastions belong to several eras strung along the same ridge. The site is also central to recent history: the town was the centre of the Serb-held territory in the 1990s and was taken by the Croatian army in August 1995, and the fortress is used for the annual commemoration.

What you actually see

• Over a kilometre of fortifications - among the largest complexes in Europe by area.
• A medieval Croatian royal seat - Zvonimir's court in the eleventh century.
• Layers from several eras - Ottoman, Venetian and Austrian rebuilding.
• A site of recent history - the town taken in August 1995, commemorated here.

When to go

April to October; there is no shade on the ridge in summer. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The 1990s are unavoidable here and are treated very differently by different people locally; the commemoration is a live political occasion. The fortress is long, exposed and takes real walking. Facilities are limited.

Nearby

Krcic waterfall and the Krka source are close; Dinara rises east.