Nehaj Senj Fortress

Nehaj Senj Fortress - Tvrđava Nehaj, Senj, Lika-Senj County, Republic of Croatia.

Nehaj Fortess is a well-preserved fortress built between 1552 and 1558 by Croatian Army General Ivan Lenkovije. The fortress has 18-meter-high walls and a square plan, with a wall length of 23 meters. The placement and shape of the windows allowed for maximum firepower against attackers from the sea. The fortress is located 180 meters above sea level, and materials from neighboring buildings were used in its construction—a monastery, cells, and a nearby church were partially destroyed. Legend, passed down from generation to generation, says that women helped build the fortress, carrying water, sand, and stones. Exhausted by the difficulties of the work, they sang: "Woe to you, city of Nehaj, when women build you."
If necessary, the castle could accommodate up to 900 people. This fortress stood on land that continually changed hands, from the Venetians to the Turks and back again, so the grounds feature buildings representing three cultures: Venetian, Turkish, and Montenegrin.
Before the fortress was built, the town of Senj was besieged three times but never conquered. After the fortress was built, there were no further attacks.
The courtyard and several halls of the castle now house a museum. There is also a traditional Croatian restaurant with excellent panoramic views of the town and the coast.