Frankopan Castle in Krk town on the island of Krk, seen from the outside

Castle & fortressKvarner

Frankopan Castle: the Frankopan stronghold in Krk town

Frankopan Castle (Frankopanska utvrda) stands on the south-west coast of the island of Krk, in Krk town, one of the oldest towns on the Adriatic. Raised over several centuries by the noble Frankopan family, it joins a square tower of 1191 to a later round tower and is a fine stop for anyone curious about medieval Krk.

The oldest part of Frankopan Castle carries a stone inscription dated 1191 that says the whole town helped to build it. Centuries later a Venetian slogan with the lions of St Mark was bricked into the round tower.

WhereKrk town, on the south-west coast of the island of Krk, Kvarner

TypeMedieval castle of the Frankopan family with a square and a round tower

Best forMedieval history lovers, old-town strollers and visitors to the island of Krk

Getting thereIn the old town of Krk, on the coast; the Krk Bridge to the mainland is roughly 25 km away

The history of Frankopan Castle

Frankopan Castle was built by the Croatian noble family of Frankopan over several centuries and several generations. After the death of Dujam I, the first Count of Krk, his sons continued to dominate the island and the town of Krk, and they left the first architectural traces in the town. Wikipedia describes the castle as standing on the site called Kamplin.

The oldest part of the fortification is the square tower, which housed the Frankopan courtroom. An inscription in the lunette over its entrance confirms that it was built in 1191, in the time of Bishop John and of the counts Vid I and Bartol I, who were sons of Dujam, and with the help of the whole municipality.

The round tower at the northern corner of the castle was built after the square one, probably in the 13th century. It was restored around 1480 and again around 1600. It has two floors and an attic, and on the ground floor there were once two doors, one opening towards Kamplin and the other towards the interior of the castle. A walled-in inscription on the tower reads Aureae Venetorum libertati and is accompanied by the lions of St Mark. It dates from 1500.

On the eastern side of the castle, facing the sea, there is another square tower, while on the western side there once stood a sentry box. The complex had space for soldiers. It is not known exactly when it was finished, but the whole castle was complete before 1348.

Curiosities about Frankopan Castle

The inscription over the entrance of the square tower gives the year 1191 and records that the whole municipality helped with the building.
The square tower was home to the Frankopan courtroom, so the oldest part of the fortress was also a place of justice.
A Latin inscription walled into the round tower reads Aureae Venetorum libertati, “to the golden liberty of the Venetians”, and carries the lions of St Mark.
The round tower was restored twice, around 1480 and around 1600.
The castle is the work of several generations of the Frankopan family, not of a single builder.
The town of Krk is described by Wikipedia as one of the oldest towns in the Adriatic.

Tours near Frankopan Castle

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Zipline Experience Krk

★ 4.7 (113 reviews) · 2 h

See details ›

Private Wild Bays Boat Trip with Captain Bobo

★ 5 (50 reviews) · 3.5 h

See details ›

PUBLIC 3,5h Swimming and Snorkeling on the Wild Bays

★ 5 (22 reviews) · 3.5 h

See details ›

Private Plavnik Island Half-Day boat trip with capt. Bobo

★ 4.9 (22 reviews) · 5 h

See details ›

Visiting Frankopan Castle

The castle lies in the old town of Krk, on the coast, so it combines easily with a walk through the town.
Look for the lunette with the 1191 inscription over the entrance of the square tower, the oldest part of the complex.
Look for the round tower at the northern corner and its inscription of 1500 with the lions of St Mark, and for the square tower on the sea side.
The sources do not describe the interior or any museum, so check locally what can be visited and check the current opening hours before you go.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Frankopan Castle is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Photos of Frankopan Castle

Photograph linked to Frankopan Castle on the island of Krk, 2 of 6 — Photo: Georges Jansoone (JoJan), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photograph linked to Frankopan Castle on the island of Krk, 3 of 6 — Photo: Georges Jansoone (JoJan), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions

Where is Frankopan Castle?

It is in Krk town, on the south-west coast of the island of Krk in Croatia.

Who built Frankopan Castle?

It was raised by the noble Frankopan family over several centuries and generations. The oldest tower was built in 1191, in the time of the counts Vid I and Bartol I.

How old is Frankopan Castle?

The oldest part, the square tower, carries an inscription dated 1191. The round tower is later, probably from the 13th century, and the whole complex was finished before 1348.

What does the inscription on the round tower mean?

It reads Aureae Venetorum libertati, which can be translated as “to the golden liberty of the Venetians”. It is accompanied by the lions of St Mark and dates from 1500.

What can you see at Frankopan Castle?

The main features are a square tower with a courtroom and a lunette inscription, a round tower with two floors and an attic, and a second square tower facing the sea.

Is Frankopan Castle worth a stop on the island of Krk?

It is a good fit for visitors interested in medieval history, as it is one of the oldest fortified structures in an ancient Adriatic town and is easily seen during a walk through Krk.