Ruzica Grad

Ruzica Grad stands on a spur in the Papuk hills above Orahovica, a castle of the fifteenth century that was among the largest in Slavonia, with a long curtain wall, towers and a keep enclosing a substantial courtyard. It was held by successive noble families, taken by the Ottomans, and abandoned after their withdrawal; the woods grew back over it and the walls have been falling ever since. Restoration work has been carried out in stages. The name means little rose, and a legend attaches it to a girl walled into the foundations, the same story told about castles across the region. Papuk around it is a UNESCO global geopark.

What you actually see

• A large fifteenth century castle - among the biggest in Slavonia.
• Ruined in beech woods - abandoned after the Ottoman withdrawal.
• Walls, towers and a courtyard - the plan still readable.
• Papuk geopark around it - the hills the castle sits in.

When to go

April to October; the path is muddy and the woods dark in winter. Three hours.

Honest expectations

The walk in is uphill on a forest track and takes half an hour each way. Parts of the ruin are fenced as unsafe. There is no interpretation on site and no facilities. Ticks are a real consideration.

Nearby

Orahovica is below; the Papuk geopark trails run from here.