Drivenik Castle

Drivenik Castle (Croatian: Gradina Drivenik) is a castle in the hinterland of Crikvenica and Novi Vinodolski, in the northern part of the Adriatic coast, western Croatia. Coordinates: 45°14′17″N 14°38′48″E / 45.23806°N 14.64667°E / 45.23806; 14.64667

The castle of Drivenik is first mentioned in 1228 as one of the co-signers of the Vinodol Code. It is near the village of Drivenik in the Vinodol region, on a high point named "Glavica", 181 metres (594 ft) above sea level. The castle sits in front of the mountain range called ‘Križišće’ opposite Tribaljsko polje (Tribalj field). It is in a small village of Drivenik, near a larger village of Tribalj, around 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Crikvenica.

From the 13th century the castle was the seat of the district administration, and upon the arrival of the Frankopans, their deputy Dragoljub resided there in 1288. In the 16th century (1571 based on an inscription on its walls) the castle was expanded in size and in the style of Renaissance fortresses it received round towers on its corners. Then in 1577, the castle was ruled by the noble family Zrinski.

The construction of the road in 1746 linked Drivenik to Novi Vinodolski and Bakar. This allowed the inhabitants to move from the hilltop down into the valley where present day Drivenik village developed along the roadway. Ultimately the castle was abandoned as an active settlement, only the church of Sveti Dujam (St. Domnius) and its cemetery remained as active properties.

Near the castle is the chapel of St. Stephen, built probably at the end of the 16th century with its tower containing three bells. The...