Nehaj Fortress

The city of Senj was owned by the Frankopan family until the 15th century. It is not known whether a medieval castle already existed on the hill at that time. However, during reconstruction work in 1965, the remains of the Church of St. Juraj from the 11th to 12th century were discovered, which had been destroyed during a Turkish raid around 1520 and later demolished during the construction of the fortress. Excavations also uncovered the so-called Senj Tablet, a Glagolitic inscription from around 1100, which is among the oldest Croatian documents. In 1539, Senj captain Ivan Lenković advocated for the construction of a new fortress on the hill to the imperial court. After Emperor Ferdinand I provided the necessary funds, construction of the complex began in 1558. By Lenković's order, all buildings outside the city of Senj were demolished, and their materials were used for the fortress construction. The fortress became the main base for the Uskoks, a community of hajduks that emerged around 1500 and was supported by the German Emperor as a paramilitary organization for border security. They fought for over a hundred years against the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice.

Nehaj Fortress is situated on Nehaj Hill in the city of Senj, in the Lika-Senj County, a region in Adriatic Croatia. It stands at an elevation of approximately 48 meters above sea level.

Nehaj Fortress is currently state-owned and open to visitors. It serves as a museum and is a popular excursion destination.

• Sokolac Castle Ruin, approx. 18.1 km away
• Grižane Castle Ruin, approx. 28.3 km away
• Tržan Castle Ruin, approx. 31.0 km away
• Drivenik Castle Ruin, approx. 34.5 km away