Fortress Nehaj Senj

The Fortress Nehaj is the symbol of the town of Senj. It is situated on the Trbušnjak hill encircled with the old town and the Trbušnjak settlement on the eastern side. The fortress  was built in 1558 under the supervision of the captain and general of the Croatian military area Ivan Lenković. It has a square shape and it is pointed to all sides of the world. This 18m high and 23 m wide fortress could be reached by staircases via wooden bridge through narrow double gate. The powerfull walls are 2 to 3,30 m thick  narrowing towards the top ended with crenel and five small corner towers. They comprised a hundred of loopholes and eleven embrasures. Within the groundfloor  right section there was a fire-place surrounded by premises for the garrison and arsenal. The remains of a small Early Romanesque church of St. Juraj from the 11th c. can be seen here. In the centre there is a courtyard with a cistern which received, rainwater running from the roof. Above is a triple coat of arms, that of the Gradac archduke who administered Senj in that period flanked by those of Ivan Lenković (on the left) comprising the year of the fortress erection and of his successor captain (on the right). The premises for the garrison and the captain were on the first floor.

On the second floor works on reconstruction of the former battery with 11 heavy guns have been currently undertaken. This is also the place where well-known music performances, are regularly organized in summer. The Nehaj fortress keep is a belvedere today. In the old times it was the observation post and the guards were looking out for the enemy approaching the town from the sea or land or received the smoke or lights signals from their neighbours of the nearby islands or coastal region. From the top of the fortress there is a splendid view of the Croatian coastal area and the islands of Rab, Goli, Prvić, Cres, Krk and to the mountains of Gorski kotar, Učka and Velebit. The Fortress Nehaj is opened to public during spring, summer and autumn and according to previous arrangement.