Posted by The Dubrovnik City Wall is one of the most famous and best-preserved fortifications in the world. It surrounds the historic city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, and offers stunning views of the city and the Adriatic Sea. In this article we will explore the history, features and attractions of Dubrovnik City Wall.
Admission to Dubrovnik City Wall + Opening Hours
Admission prices to Dubrovnik City Wall vary depending on the time of year and whether you are an adult or a student. As far as I know, the entrance fees for the walls were in 2022 (summer):
Adult ticket: about 32 euros
Students and children about 14 euros
Free entry for children under 7. These prices are subject to change, so we recommend checking the current prices before visiting.
So the entrance fee is huge, few sights in Europe cost as much. However, the City Wall of Dubrovnik is also one of the biggest sights in the whole of Croatia. Nevertheless, the entrance fee is too high from our point of view.
With the entrance fee, you can enter and walk the entire length of the wall, which takes about 2 hours. The Wall is open daily from 8am to 6pm, and longer in summer. Tickets can be purchased at the Wall entrances such as the Pile Gate, the Ploce Gate and the Maritime Museum. We recommend coming early in the day to avoid crowds and long queues, especially in high season.
Tours of Dubrovnik: There are a large number of day trips by bus, boat, kayak … City tours etc.: All bookable on the well-known, German ticket website Getyourguide.
History of Dubrovnik City Wall
The construction of Dubrovnik’s city walls around the old town began in the 7th century and continued over the centuries, with most of the fortifications being completed in the 16th century. The wall was built to protect the city from invasion and attack, and over the centuries it played an important role in the defence and protection of the city.
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Game of Thrones walking tour Dubrovnik: If you don’t want to look for everything from the series yourself in Dubrovnik, you should definitely take part in a Game of Thrones city tour. >>> More information and booking on this link at Getyourguide.
Important Info City Wall Dubrovnik
The city wall of Dubrovnik is about 2 km long and up to 25 m high. There are towers and fortifications at strategic points along the wall. The wall consists of a series of gates, bastions and towers that have been well preserved over the centuries and offer a fascinating insight into the city’s history and military architecture.
The wall is built of limestone blocks and consists of several sections, including the Minceta Tower, the Bokar Fortress and the St. John Fortress. The Minceta Tower is the highest point of the wall and offers a breathtaking view over the city and the sea. Bokar Fortress is located on the west side of the wall and is known for its impressive cannon emplacements. St. John Fortress is located on the east side of the wall and is one of the oldest forts in the city.
Sightseeing Dubrovnik City Wall
A walk along the City Wall of Dubrovnik is a popular tourist activity that offers visitors to the city a unique and memorable experience. The wall offers stunning panoramic views of the city and the Adriatic Sea, and there are several points along the way where visitors can stop and rest or enjoy the view.
In addition to the view, the wall also offers a glimpse into the history and architecture of the city. Visitors can explore the gates, bastions and towers of the wall and learn more about the military strategies and defences used to protect the city.
Great day tour to the small country of Montenegro from Dubrovnik: On this link more info and booking
Some of the most popular sights along the city walls of Dubrovnik are:
The Pile Gate: one of the main entrances to the city and the starting point for the tour of the wall.
The Lovrijenac Fortress: A well-preserved fortress that played an important role in the defence of the city.
The Minceta Tower: The highest point of the city wall and an impressive example of medieval military architecture.
Bokar Fortress: A well-preserved fortress known for its impressive cannon emplacements.
St. John Fortress: One of the oldest fortresses in the city and an important military site in the past.
History of the Dubrovnik city walls
The Walls of Dubrovnik are a series of defensive fortifications that surround the historic city center. They are among the most impressive examples of medieval fortresses in Europe and have played an important role in the city’s history.
Ancient history of the wall
Dubrovnik’s first fortress was built in the 9th century, when the city was still known as Ragusa. At that time the city was surrounded by simple walls made of stone and earth. However, as the city grew and became more prosperous, the walls were enlarged and strengthened. The current walls were built during Dubrovnik’s Golden Age between the 13th and 16th centuries. The walls were designed by Italian architect Michelozzo di Bartolomeo and built by local craftsmen using high quality limestone from the nearby island of Korcula.
Wall construction and design
The walls are 2.5 km long and range in height from 5 to over 25 meters. They consist of several towers and fortresses such as the Minceta Tower, Bokar Fortress and Lovrijenac Fortress. The wall also has several gates, such as Porta Pile, Porta Ploce and Porta Buza. The walls were built to resist attacks from land and sea. It is 6 meters thick at the base and has numerous defensive features including battlements, loopholes and loopholes.
The walls also served a symbolic purpose, as they were intended to both impress and intimidate visitors to the city. The wall was intended to convey Dubrovnik’s power and wealth and deter potential attackers from taking the city by force.
Significance of the wall in the history of Dubrovnik
The city walls have played an important role in Dubrovnik’s history, protecting the city from numerous attacks over the centuries. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the walls withstood several sieges by the Venetian navy, then the strongest navy in the Mediterranean.
The wall also helped defend the city during the Croatian War of Independence in the early 1990s. When the city was besieged by the Yugoslav People’s Army, the city walls provided an important defense against artillery and gunfire.
Today the city walls are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Dubrovnik. Visitors can walk on the walls and enjoy panoramic views of the city and the Adriatic Sea.
