Description

The castle is situated on a small hill above the town of Benkovac which allows it to dominate the entire surrounding plain. It is a fairly simple fortification. It has a rectangular courtyard surrounded with stone walls. There is a tall rectangular tower, wider at the bottom, on the north side. Next to it is the main entrance. On the south side there are two round towers at the corners. The castle houses the museum of local history.

History

The existence of the castle was recorded in the 15th century. It is believed that it was built by the Benković family, which is mentioned in the historical sources around that time. It is one of a chain of forts built along the Venetian-Croatian border on the Croatian side. Some of the others are Kličevica and Perušić. It was under the Ottoman Turks' control for the better part of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Tower

Plan

South side

Gate

More history

When the Turks took the castle, which belonged to the Croatian medieval county of Luka and to the diocese oh Nin, it became the estate of Benković Bey, a noble from Livno in Bosnia. In the history of the noble family of Begna from Zadar we learn that one of their members, Karlo de Begna, lead an attack on the castle. The Turks were driven away from the castle and Dalmatia in 1683, but came under Venetian rule. After the fall of the Venetian Republic Dalmatia was taken over by the Austrians who ruled over it until 1918, except for a brief French period. It was in the 19th century that the town of Benkovac, as we know it today, started to develop around the old castle.

Courtyard

State

Conservation and restoration of the building are required to protect it from deterioration. The best way to do this is to include the building in the contemporary everyday life.