Walls of Dubrovnik

Walls of Dubrovnik Dubrovačke zidine
Dubrovnik Dalmatia Croatia
Walls of Dubrovnik with sight on Minčeta Tower
Walls of Dubrovnik Dubrovačke zidine
Coordinates	42°38′24″N 18°06′29″E / 42.640°N 18.108°E / 42.640; 18.108
Type	Walls
Height	Up to 25 m (80 feet)
Site information
Owner	City of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Controlled by	Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik)
Open to the public	Daily 9 am–5 pm (May-mid October until 7 pm)
Condition	Well-preserved or intact
Site history
Built	7th century – 17th century Defined in the 14th century
Built by	Dubrovnik citizens Architects involved: 1319 Nicifor Ranjina 1461–1464 Michelozzo di Bartolomeo 1465–1466 Giorgio da Sebenico (Croatian: Juraj Dalmatinac) 1466–1516 Paskoje Miličević 1538 Antonio Ferramolino 1617 Mihajlo Hranjac
Materials	Limestone
Events	Notable non-battle events: Foundation of Republic in 1358 Strong earthquake in 1667 Marshal Marmont abolished the Republic of Ragusa in 1808

Dubrovnik citizens
Architects involved:

Notable non-battle events:

The Walls of Dubrovnik (Croatian: Dubrovačke gradske zidine) are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the citizens of the afterward proclaimed maritime city-state of Dubrovnik (Ragusa), situated in southern Croatia, since the city's founding prior to the 7th century as a Byzantium castrum on a rocky island named Laus (Ragusia or Lave). With numerous additions and modifications throughout their history, they have been considered to be amongst the great fortification systems of the Middle Ages, as they were never breached by a hostile army during this time period. In 1979, the old city of Dubrovnik, which includes a substantial portion of the old walls of Dubrovnik, joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

The oldest systems of fortifications around the town were likely wooden palisades. Today's intact city walls, constructed mainly during the 12th–17th centuries, mostly a double line, have long been a source of pride for Dubrovnik. The walls run an uninterrupted course of approximately 1,940 metres (6,360 ft) in length, encircling most of the old city, and reach a maximum height of about 25 metres (82 ft). The bulk of the existing walls and fortifications were constructed during the 14th and 15th centuries, but were continually extended and strengthened up until the 17th century.

This complex structure, amongst the largest and most complete in Europe, protected the freedom and safety of a "civilised" and "sophisticated" republic that flourished in peace and prosperity for some five centuries. The walls were reinforced by three circular and 14 quadrangular towers, five bastions (bulwarks), two angular fortifications and the large St. John's Fortress. Land walls were additionally reinforced by one larger bastion and nine smaller semicircular ones, like the casemate Fort Bokar, the oldest preserved fort of that kind in Europe. The moat that ran around the outside section of the city walls, which were armed by more than 120 cannons, provided superb city defense capabilities.