Gvozdansko Castle

Gvozdansko Fortress was built in the 16th century by the noble Zrinski family. During this period, Croatia was marked by conflicts with the Ottomans. The castle played a role in the defense system and was repeatedly targeted by Ottoman attacks. Particularly noteworthy is the siege from 1577 to 1578 by the troops of the Bosnian-Ottoman commander Ferhad-Beg Sokolović. The defenders, outnumbered, withstood the siege for weeks. Despite hunger, cold, and lack of supplies, they refused to surrender. On January 13, 1578, when the Ottoman troops stormed the castle, they found all defenders dead – they had succumbed to exhaustion, cold, or their wounds. This resistance to the last man made Gvozdansko a national symbol.