Frankopan Castle

Frankopan Castle Frankopanski Kaštel
Krk, island Krk Croatia
The round tower of Frankopan Castle
Frankopan Castle Frankopanski Kaštel
Coordinates	45°01′33″N 14°34′35″E / 45.0257°N 14.5764°E / 45.0257; 14.5764
Type	Castle
Site information
Controlled by	Frankopan
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Slightly renovated
Site history
Built	1191
Built by	Croatian noble family of Frankopan
Materials	Limestone

Frankopan Castle (Croatian: Frankopanski Kaštel) is a castle located on the southwest coast of the island Krk, in the ancient town of Krk, which is one of the oldest towns in the Adriatic, in Croatia.

Frankopan Castle on Kamplin was raised by Croatian noble family of Frankopan through several centuries and several generations. After the death of the first Duke Dujam, his sons continue to dominate over the island and the town of Krk. They left first architectural traces in the town of Krk. The oldest part of fortification is the square tower with the diocese, in which was located Frankopans courtroom. The inscription on the lunette over the entrance confirms that the building was raised in 1191, at the time of Bishop John and dukes Vitus and Bartula, with the help of the entire municipality.

The round tower on the northern corner of the castle with a transversely extended lower part, was built after the square, probably in the 13th century. It was restored around 1480, and again around 1600. On the tower there is bricked inscription Aureae Venetorum libertati with lions of St. Mark, which dates from 1500. This cylindrical tower has two floors and attic. On the ground floor once there were two doors, one open to the Kamplin, and the other toward the interior of the castle. On the eastern part of the castle, overlooking the sea there is still a square tower, while on the western part of the castle there was a sentry box for guard. Within the complex there was space for soldiers. It is not known precisely when, but the entire complex was completed before 1348.