Ostrovica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ostrovica highlights

The Ostrovica Castle is a large medieval structure situated above the small village of Ostrovica near Kulen Vakuf, Bihać municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Having been built on a woody ridge of a steep hill overlooking left bank of the shallow Una river, the castle was located on a strategic site connecting the northern and southern parts of the long Una valley. The Modern-day castle was built most probably in the 15th century on the foundations of ancient fortification which dates back to ancient Roman times or even earlier.

Other places we know in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Banja Luka - Known for fortress, museum, river, orthodox cathedral, islam mosque

Blagaj - Known for ancient settlement, castle, landmark, museum, nature, river, islam monastery; monastery is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Bobovac - Known for fortress, medieval old town, viewpoint

Doboj - Known for fortress, historical center, museum

Dobrićevo (Dobricevo) - Known for orthodox monastery

Gradačac (Gradacac) - Known for architecture, castle, museum

Jablanica - Known for lake, landmark, monument, river

Jajce - Known for fortress, historical center, nature, park, river, waterfall; historical center is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Ključ (Kljuc) - Known for fortress, medieval old town, park

Konjic - Known for bridge, river

Kraljeva Sutjeska - Known for historical center, museum, ruines, franciscan monastery

Kravica - Known for park, waterfall

Lukomir - Known for ethno village, viewpoint

Maglaj - Known for fortress, historical center, islam mosque

Međugorje (Medjugorje) - Known for catholic pilgrimage center

Mostar - Known for bridge, historical center, medieval old town; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Neum - Known for coastal town, marina

Ostrožac (Ostrozac) - Known for castle

Počitelj (Pocitelj) - Known for fortified town, fortress, medieval old town, viewpoint; medieval old town is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Radimlja - Known for archaeological site; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sarajevo - Known for bridge, fortress, historical center, museum, river; historical center is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Srebrenik - Known for castle, fortress

Stolac - Known for archaeological site, fortress, medieval old town, viewpoint, waterfall; fortress is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Tešanj (Tesanj) - Known for castle, fortress

Travnik - Known for architecture, fortress, historical center, river

Trebinje - Known for architecture, medieval old town, orthodox cathedral

Tuzla - Known for lake

Tvrdoš (Tvrdos) - Known for orthodox monastery

Velika Kladuša (Velika Kladusa) - Known for fortress

Vjetrenica - Known for cave; cave is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Vranduk - Known for fortress, historical center

Zavala - Known for orthodox monastery

Last reviewed: 6 December 2019

Ostrovica description

First mentioned of the Ostrovica Castle was in 1407. In the Middle Ages, the Ostrovica Castle belonged to the Kingdom of Croatia.

The almost permanent Ottoman threat to Ostrovica began after the fall of the medieval Kingdom of Bosnia in 1463. Still, the castle resisted until December 1523, when the castle and surrounding area came under Ottoman control.

The long period of Ottoman rule lasted until 1878. In that period the castle was enlarged and reinforced, serving as an Ottoman military stronghold.

A significant enlargement of the castle occurred at the beginning of the 17th century. The present-day look of the castle was finally given at the beginning of the 18th century.

The Austrian Empire took over governing Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878, but despite Croatian demands, Ostrovica was not returned to the Croatian Kingdom, which part it was before the arrival of Ottoman Turks. Moreover, the whole territory of Turkish Croatia, including Ostrovica, Bihać, Banja Luka and so on, was given to direct Habsburg imperial control, as a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ostrovica related tours

We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Ostrovica during multi-day small group car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Ostrovica.

We have developed several small group tours that visiting beautiful Ostrovica. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. We charge nothing for develop a custom itinerary. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.

Balkans castles tour 13 days. Visit 17 castles & fortresses in Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia. All seasons cultural tour across 3 countries. tour starts in: Budapest, Hungary tour finishes in: Budapest, Hungary tour duration: 13 days (12 nights) tour countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary tour destinations: Banja Luka, Bory, Doboj, Dubovac, Gradačac, Keszthely, Ključ, Medvedgrad, Ostrovica, Ostrožac, Ozora, Siklós, Srebrenik, Szigliget, Sümeg, Tešanj, Trakošćan, Varaždin, Velika Kladuša, Veliki Tabor, Zagreb Balkans castles tour in 13 days. With this tour we going to visit 5 castles located in Hungary, 5 castles located in Croatia, together with historical center of Zagreb, and 3 castles and 4 fortresses in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Most of the sites are national monuments in own countries. Most of them dated back to 15-16 centuries and everyone have rich history.

all seasons tour 13 days Price from € 1,692   View tour details Request this tour