Looking down over Rijeka in the hilltop suburb Trsat sits Trsat Castle, a semi-ruined 13th-century Frankopan fortress that has its origins as far back as Roman times. The majestic views from one of the Croatian coast’s oldest structures span the Rječina River valley to the docks, the Adriatic and the distant island of Krk.
Bird's-Eye Views
The present structure standing sentinel above Rijeka at Trsat was built by the Frankopan dukes of Krk (it's been mentioned as a parochial center as far back as 1281). Its latest facelift was in 1824, when Irish-born count Laval Nugent, a commander in the Austrian army, bought the castle and had it restored in a romantic neoclassical Biedermeier design. What's left is remarkedly well preserved. Wander freely among its grounds and battlements, and don't miss the best unobstructed views of the ruins of Roman defense lines known as the Liburnian Limes on the opposite hills (Katarina and Kalvarija), as well as the entirety of Rijeka's old town from the terrace above the Interpretation Centre Trsat.
Dungeons & Dragons
Trsat’s centerpiece Nugent family mausoleum, built in ancient Greek style, is flanked by two basilisks – mythological hybrids with a rooster-like head, a dragon’s body and the tail of a snake – which are said to be based on a peacekeeping dragon who once lived in a cave above the castle. In summer the fortress stages open-air concerts, theater performances, fashion shows, occasional exhibits and literary evenings.
