Castles and palaces are often among the top bucket list sites. (Image: Getty)
It’s always nice to visit a real castle to recreate the mystical feeling that we often associate with our favourite fairy tales or legends.
They also serve as tangible reminders of a region’s history, shedding a light on important past events, wars and rulers.
Architectural designs vary greatly across different eras and countries – some with towering structures, while others exude elegance.
Now, 10 castles and palaces in Croatia have been awarded the Golden Pin, an accolade presented by Google, based on user reviews and ratings on Google Maps.
Diocletian’s Palace
Representing the imperial residence in Split, this incredible palace was built at the end of the third century AD by the Roman emperor Diocletian. It is no wonder the palace was added to the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage in 1979, with its complex modelled on Roman forts and remains one of the most imposing ancient structures in existence today.
Don’t expect a palace, though, nor a museum – this is the city’s living heart, its labyrinthine streets packed with people, bars, shops and restaurants.
Eltz Manor is an 18th century Baroque palace in Vukovar. (Image: Getty)
Eltz Manor
Eltz Manor is an 18th century Baroque palace in Vukovar, which now serves as the location of the Vukovar City Museum.
The palace was originally built between 1749 and 1751 but suffered substantial damages and destruction in 1991 during the Croatian War of Independence. However, after four years of restorations, it was completely restored to its pre-war appearance in October 2011.
Trakoscan Castle
Located in northern Croatia, in the Varaždin County, in the 14th century Trakoscan was a small medieval fortress.
However, in the 19th century, the Drašković family turned the castle into a residential manor-house in Neo-Gothic style, with the surrounding landscape transformed into beautiful Romanticist gardens and the valley into a picturesque large lake.
Veliki Tabor Castle
This Medieval and Renaissance castle, located in Zagorje, near Desinić, was built back in the 12th century, but its present appearance dates to the 16th century.
The exhibition at the site includes old vehicles, ethnographic items, swords, paintings and pottery, as well as a description of its most famous owners, the Ratkaj family.
Sponza Palace, also known as Divona is a 16th century castle in Dubrovnik. (Image: Getty)
Frankopan Castle – Krk
It was built by the Frankopani noble family from the southwest coast island of Krk, and today it can be viewed in its entirety by walking along the walls and viewing the interior of the castle.
The oldest part of the fortification is the square tower with the diocese, in which Frankopan’s courtroom was located.
Kastel-Morosini-Grimani
Located in the centre of picturesque Svetvinčent, this castle has been a symbol of the centre itself for several centuries.
It was built in the 13th century, and today’s castle represents a form of late medieval construction with strongly emphasiSed Renaissance characteristics.
Sponza Palace
Sponza Palace, also known as Divona is a 16th century castle in Dubrovnik. Its name is derived from the Latin word “spongia”, the spot where rainwater was collected.
The rectangular building with an inner courtyard was built in a mixed Gothic and Renaissance style between 1516 and 1522 by Paskoje Miličević Mihov.
Luckily, it survived the devastating 1667 earthquake without damage and it is now home to the Dubrovnik State Archive, which holds documents dating back to the 12th century, the earliest from 1022.
Trsat Castle has preserved features of early medieval construction. (Image: Getty)
Cakovec Castle
The most valuable cultural and historical monument in Međimurje, the old Renaissance palace of Cakovec, or Zrinski was transformed into a monumental baroque castle, which today is a symbol of the identity and tradition of Međimurje County.
The castle is located in the Zrinski Park, not far from the city’s central square, and today remains partially restored.
The castle’s main palace houses the Međimurje County Museum, the biggest museum in the county, and its atrium is also used as an outdoor theatre during the summer months.
Ozalj Castle
The medieval town of Ozalj above the river Kupa was first built in the 6th century, but was converted into a castle and given the form it stands in today in the 18th century.
The entrance to this beautiful castle is over a bridge that used to be a guardhouse. Many noble families lived here, including the Zrinski and Frankopan families. The castle is now a museum of architecture and art from the past centuries.
Trsat Castle
One of the most visited and recognisable symbols of the city of Rijeka, Trsat Castle has preserved features of early medieval construction and is thought to lie on the exact spot of an ancient Illyrian and Roman fortress.
Today it is enriched with new contents and summer concerts and open-air theatre performances are often held there.
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