You can’t miss them when you arrive by the sea! The Walls of Dubrovnik are imposing, unmissable and a must-see for a lot of visitors. The city walls of the ancient city of Ragusa protect the fortress and surround it almost entirely (except for the harbor).
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The historical city walls
The walk is about 2 km long and is one of the few places in Europe where almost all the walls are still standing. The city’s leaders were skilful diplomats and always preferred negotiation to conflict.
The view from here is very impressive. At the top, there is an impressive panoramic view of the landscape. Looking inland, you can see a large number of round-tiled roofs as well as the Stradum and other historical buildings. As you look out over the Adriatic Sea, you can enjoy the view of the sea and Lokrum Island.
The city walls were built on different levels due to the terrain and the constraints caused by the sea, so they are not completely linear. They require you to climb up and down several flights of stairs. No time for boredom on this walk, which offers a new point of view from each pathway of the fortifications.
The Walls of Dubrovnik date from the 13th century. They are 6 meters wide on the land side and 3 meters on the sea side, with a maximum height of 25 meters. They were initially thinner, but were progressively improved and fitted with towers. The towers and other constructions added at regular intervals in the 14th and 15th centuries progressively reinforced the city’s defenses.
Description of the city walls
The city walls are divided into 2 parts:
- The inner part has 10 semi-circular bastions;
- The outer part is more imposing: 12 rectangular or square towers, 3 round towers and 5 bastions as well as the fortress of St. John (Sveti Ivan) located in front of the sea, at the harbor’s entrance, south-east of the old town. Back then, a chain was stretched between the fort and the dike every night to protect the city from attacks from the sea.
- There were also outposts beyond the city walls. These include the fortresses of Lovrijenac and Revelin, which locked the accesses from the west (Pile gate) and from the east.
Visiting the Walls of Dubronik
- It’s very hot in the summer so plan to visit in the morning or in the evening;
- The city walls are very popular with tourists during the summer;
- There is only one way to walk around. The most beautiful viewpoints are at the beginning of the tour;
- You need at least 2 hours to go around the walls without hurrying;
- The main entrance is through the Pile gate, but you can also enter through the Saint-Jean fort or the Market gate (less crowded through these last 2 entrances).
Opening hours and days: During low season, from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 3pm. From April to October: every day from 9am to 7pm
Prices: adults are charged a minimum of 10 euros.