Senj – City Walls
The city walls of Senj are an impressive remnant of the town’s long and turbulent history. Built and reinforced over centuries, they once protected Senj from invasions and pirate attacks coming from the sea and the mountains. Walking along the remains of these walls, visitors can imagine the strength and resilience of the people who lived here through challenging times.
The walls surround the old town and connect with the famous Nehaj Fortress, offering a glimpse into Senj’s medieval defensive system. Today, they stand as a proud symbol of the town’s heritage and provide beautiful viewpoints over the Adriatic Sea and the red rooftops of Senj.
The fortifications of the town of Senj were extensive, and parts of them are still preserved today. Their existence can be traced back to the late 13th century. Throughout the centuries, the town was continuously defended — the walls were at times destroyed, rebuilt, and improved.
At the beginning of the 15th century, the city walls of Senj were repaired more thoroughly, as special taxes were introduced to fund the works. After the town was taken from the Counts of Krk, the fortifications were further strengthened. In 1498, King Vladislav issued a charter allowing the income from the tridesetnica (customs duty) to be used for wall repairs, amounting to 60–70 forints per year.
Following the Battle of Krbava Field, the people of Senj sought and received assistance from Pope Alexander III, which helped them to improve and reinforce the town’s defenses even further.