Klis Fortress: the cliff-top stronghold above Split
Klis Fortress (Tvrđava Klis) is a medieval stronghold on a rocky ridge above the village of Klis, a short drive north-east of Split. It guards the pass between Mount Mosor and Mount Kozjak and looks out over Split, Salona, Trogir and the Dalmatian islands. Royal seat, Ottoman sanjak and Venetian bastion in turn, it is one of Dalmatia's most valuable surviving examples of defensive architecture.
From a distance Klis Fortress is almost impossible to pick out as a building: its walls grow straight out of the limestone. Yet armies have fought over this pass for some 2,000 years.
The history of Klis Fortress
The rocky ridge was first held by the Illyrian tribe of the Dalmatae, the earliest known inhabitants of the site. Rome annexed the region in AD 9. The Romans called the place Andetrium (or Anderium) and later Clausura, the root of Clissa and of modern Klis, and remembered it for a celebrated siege in the time of Augustus. After the fall of Rome the area passed to the Ostrogoths and, from 537, to the Byzantine Empire; the name Klis first appears in a text by Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus.
In the 9th century Duke Mislav made Klis the seat of his rule, and his successor Trpimir I, who named his realm the “Realm of the Croats” in a charter of 852, ruled from here as well. In the valley below, at Rižinice, Trpimir founded a church and the first Benedictine monastery in Croatia. King Tomislav later used Klis and Biograd na Moru as his main residences. From the early 12th century the castle was governed mostly by Croatian nobles under Hungarian kings, and in March 1242 Mongol troops pursuing King Béla IV failed to take it.
Klis is best known for the Ottoman wars. The captain Petar Kružić and his Uskoks held the fortress for more than a quarter of a century with little outside help. In 1537, after Kružić was captured and executed and with water running short, the defenders surrendered in exchange for their freedom, and many retreated to Senj. For about a century Klis was the seat of an Ottoman sanjak. A brief recapture in 1596 ended within weeks.
Venice took the fortress during the Cretan War (1645–1669), under the commander Leonardo Foscolo, and then restored and enlarged it. The stone fortress seen today mostly dates from that Venetian rebuilding. In 1797, after the fall of the Republic of Venice, Klis passed to Austria, and the army eventually left it in the 19th century.
Curiosities about Klis Fortress
- The fortress is built into the south face of a rocky mass and is barely recognisable as a man-made structure from a distance.
- Its name has a long pedigree: the Roman Clausura became Clissa in Venetian times and finally Klis.
- Saint Margaret, a daughter of King Béla IV, was born in Klis Fortress in January 1242, during the Mongol invasion.
- The Mongols who attacked in March 1242 believed the king was inside; he was not, and they rode off towards Trogir.
- The small domed building inside the walls began as an Ottoman mosque and became the Catholic church of St Vitus under Venice.
- A local saying captures its stubborn reputation: it is hard for Klis because it stands on the rock, and hard for the rock because Klis stands on it.
Klis Fortress on screen
Klis has served as a film location more than once. Wikipedia mentions two productions that used it.
- Game of Thrones – The HBO series used the fortress as a location for the fictional city of Meereen.
- Eagle in a Cage (1972) – This historical film, which portrays Saint Helena, also used Klis as a location.
Tours near Klis Fortress
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting Klis Fortress
- The fortress has three parts, each enclosed by its own walls and entrance. The only way in is from the western side, so expect a climb along the ridge.
- Look for the medieval Oprah tower on the second line and the former mosque, now the church of St Vitus, near the top.
- A museum in a former Austrian armoury shows arms, armour and traditional uniforms; the Kliški uskoci association helps to keep the site alive. Check the current opening hours before you go.
- The summit view covers Split, the ruins of Salona, Solin, Kaštela, Trogir and most of the central Dalmatian islands.
- Klis combines well with other nearby sites such as Salona and the Hollow Church.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Klis Fortress is
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Photos of Klis Fortress
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Questions
Where is Klis Fortress and how far is it from Split?
It stands above the village of Klis, about 5 km north-east of Split, on the pass between Mount Mosor and Mount Kozjak at roughly 360 m above sea level.
What is Klis Fortress famous for?
It is famous for its long defence against the Ottomans under Petar Kružić, for its role as a seat of early Croatian rulers, and for appearing in Game of Thrones.
Who was Petar Kružić?
Kružić was the Croatian captain who led the defence of Klis for more than 25 years. He was captured and executed in 1537, shortly before the fortress surrendered.
Was Game of Thrones filmed at Klis Fortress?
Yes. The fortress was used as a location for the fictional city of Meereen in the HBO series.
What can you see from Klis Fortress?
The fortress overlooks Split, the ancient site of Salona, Solin, Kaštela, Trogir and most of the central Dalmatian islands.
Is Klis Fortress worth a visit if you are staying in Split?
It is only a short distance from Split and combines a well-preserved fortress, wide views and more than 2,000 years of history, so many visitors treat it as an easy half-day trip.
Also nearby
Hollow Church
Solin · ruined 11th-century coronation church beside Salona
3 km away
Salona
Solin · Roman capital of Dalmatia and Croatia's largest archaeological park
4 km away
Golden Gate
Split · Roman north gate with empty niches and a tiny church
9 km away
Temple of Jupiter, Split
Split · Roman temple turned baptistery inside Diocletian's Palace
9 km away