Old Town Cetin

The Old Town of Cetin, located on an elevation in Podcetin, just 4 km from Cetingrad, bears witness to centuries of cultural interplay and military strategies. This fascinating fortress has historically been influenced by Croatian, Turkish, and Austrian forces and was abandoned in 1864. In its final form, Cetin was an Austrian fortified barracks surrounded by Turkish walls and bastions. Its uniqueness lies in the layers of architectural styles – from the Frankopan castle of the 12th century to the Turkish fortifications added in the 18th century, making it a unique example of Ottoman military architecture in Croatia.

Within the fortress, you can find the remains of the Ičizar citadel, the Drenđula towers, and Turkish ramparts, all testament to the long history of defensive architecture and its adaptation to military needs. Surrounding sites like Mala and Velika Crkvina, and the Franciscan monastery in Kloštar, form the complex of the Old Town of Cetin, serving as the cultural heritage center of the region.

In 2019, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of State Property and the Cetingrad Municipality, allowing the municipality to use Cetin for the development of the project "Touch of Civilizations." Today, the Old Town of Cetin is a valuable monument of the past, a perfect place for all history and architecture enthusiasts who wish to experience the meeting of European and Oriental styles in the heart of Croatia.