Old City of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, Croatia

19.09.2025

Dubrovnik, Croatia's Historic City

The city of Dubrovnik, located on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, is a true gem of Europe. Its history dates back to the 7th century, when it was founded as a settlement by the name of Ragusa. Throughout the centuries, Dubrovnik became a major maritime power and an important trade center in the Mediterranean. Its strategic location and well-preserved defensive walls made it a target for many conquerors, including the Venetians, Ottomans, and Napoleon.

Today, Dubrovnik is renowned for its beautiful architecture and rich cultural heritage. The Old Town, surrounded by the impressive walls that have protected it for centuries, is a maze of narrow streets, charming squares, and historic buildings. One of the most iconic landmarks is the Stradun, the main street of the Old Town, lined with elegant stone houses and bustling with cafes, restaurants, and shops.

The city is also home to many stunning churches, including the Dubrovnik Cathedral, a Baroque masterpiece with a beautiful Treasury filled with religious artifacts. The Franciscan Monastery, one of the oldest in Dubrovnik, houses a unique pharmacy that has been in operation since the 14th century. Visitors can also explore the Rector's Palace, a former seat of the city's government, which now serves as a museum showcasing the history and culture of Dubrovnik.

But perhaps the most famous attraction in Dubrovnik is the City Walls. These impressive fortifications, built between the 12th and 17th centuries, stretch for 1.9 kilometers and offer breathtaking views of the city and the Adriatic Sea. Visitors can take a leisurely walk along the walls and admire the towers, bastions, and gates that have defended Dubrovnik for centuries.

Dubrovnik's rich cultural heritage has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Its well-preserved medieval architecture, unique city walls, and historic landmarks make it a must-see destination for any traveler. Whether you are interested in history, architecture, or simply looking for a picturesque city to explore, Dubrovnik has something for everyone.

Weiterführende Links:

Dubrovnik Cathedral on Wikipedia

Stradun on Wikipedia

Dubrovnik City Walls on Wikipedia

The 'Pearl of the Adriatic', situated on the Dalmatian coast, became an important Mediterranean sea power from the 13th century onwards. Although severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik managed to preserve its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. Damaged again in the 1990s by armed conflict, it is now the focus of a major restoration programme co-ordinated by UNESCO.

Dubrovnik, historically known as Ragusa, is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. In 2021, its total population was 41,562. Recognizing its outstanding medieval architecture and fortifications, UNESCO inscribed the Old City of Dubrovnik as a World Heritage Site in 1979.

The history of the city probably dates back to the 7th century, when the town known as Ragusa was founded by refugees from Epidaurum (Ragusa Vecchia). It was under protectorate of the Byzantine Empire and later under the sovereignty of the Republic of Venice. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Dubrovnik ruled itself as a free state. The prosperity of the city was historically based on maritime trade; as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, as it became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy. At the same time, Dubrovnik became a cradle of Croatian literature. In his letter to Nikola Nalješković (1564), poet Ivan Vidalić named it "crown of Croatian cities".

The entire city was almost destroyed in a devastating earthquake in 1667. During the Napoleonic Wars, Dubrovnik was occupied by the French Empire forces, and then the Republic of Ragusa was abolished and incorporated into the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy and later into the Illyrian Provinces of France. In the early 19th to early 20th century, Dubrovnik was part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austrian Empire. Dubrovnik became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia immediately upon its creation, and it was incorporated into its Zeta Banovina in 1929, before becoming part of the Banovina of Croatia upon its creation in 1939. During World War II, it was part of the Axis puppet state Independent State of Croatia, before being reincorporated into Socialist Republic of Croatia in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

In 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence, Dubrovnik was besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling. After undergoing repair and restoration works in the 1990s and early 2000s, it re-emerged as one of the Mediterranean's top tourist destinations, as well as a popular filming location. Often called "The Queen of Adriatic" Dubrovnik is considered one of the most popular destinations in the Adriatic and in Europe.

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