Sokolac Castle: the Frankopan fortress in the heart of Brinje
Sokolac Castle is a ruined medieval fortress on a rocky rise in the middle of Brinje, a small town in the Lika region of Croatia. Built by the Frankopan family and first mentioned in 1411, it counts among the most important Gothic monuments in the country. Anyone interested in castles in Lika and hidden gems of Croatia will find a rare survivor from the Frankopan era here.
Brinje takes its coat of arms from the falcon, and its castle takes its name from it: Sokolac means roughly “falcon tower”. Its square entrance tower, with blind arcades on its walls, is called unique in Central Europe.
The history of Sokolac Castle
Brinje is a small town in the Lika region. It appears in the records for the first time in 1390, as a fortified settlement below a castle, oppidum Brinie. The castle that dominates it, Sokolac, takes its name from sokol, the Croatian word for falcon, which also features on the coat of arms of the town. In everyday speech the people of Brinje simply call it Gradina, “the fortification”.
At the beginning of the fifteenth century Nikola IV Frankopan built the fortified town of Sokol, or Sokolac, together with his wife Dorotea Gorjanski. They raised it on a rise in the middle of the settlement, and the Frankopan and Gorjanski families held this land. The castle is mentioned in 1411, when its builder and lord met Prince Ivaniš Nelepić there. It was meant to become a new seat for many generations of the Frankopans, and Ivan Anž VI Frankopan Brinjski is named as the first member of the family to live in it.
Sokolac was a grand building. The way into the castle led through a square, three-storey tower, whose façades were enlivened with lesenes (shallow vertical strips) linked at the top by blind arcades. Wikipedia calls this a unique specimen in the whole of Central Europe. The tower and the chapel stood out as strong vertical accents. The chapel has three storeys and a Gothic portal, and is described as the best-preserved castle chapel in Croatia. The coats of arms of the Frankopan and Gorjanski families can be found in the Gothic vault of the crypt and on the first floor.
The Frankopans also built a fortified settlement next to the castle, in the shape of an irregular hexagon, with four semicircular towers and a bastion. Not far away, the parish church of St Mary holds the tombstone of Matija Čubranić from 1511. Sources differ on the earliest dates of the castle, so only the securely documented reference from 1411 is given here.
Today Sokolac is a ruin, yet it ranks among the most significant Gothic monuments in Croatia, and the Croatian Wikipedia calls it the only surviving town of the Frankopan era. The chapel was recorded in a series of architectural drawings by Martin Pilar in 1885, which survive in an archive.
Curiosities about Sokolac Castle
- The castle is named after the falcon (sokol), which is also the emblem on the coat of arms of Brinje.
- Its square entrance tower, with façades decorated by lesenes and blind arcades, is described as a unique example in all of Central Europe.
- The three-storey chapel with a Gothic portal is called the best-preserved castle chapel in Croatia.
- Inside the chapel, the coats of arms of the Frankopan and Gorjanski families appear in the crypt vault and on the first floor.
- The locals do not use the name Sokolac in daily speech; they call the fortification Gradina.
- Sokolac is the only surviving castle from the Frankopan era in Brinje, according to the Croatian Wikipedia, and its chapel was drawn in detail by Martin Pilar in 1885.
Tours near Sokolac Castle
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting Sokolac Castle
- The castle stands on a rocky rise in the middle of Brinje, so it is easy to combine with a walk through the small town.
- Look for the remains of the square entrance tower and the chapel with its Gothic portal, the two features that define the castle.
- Near the castle, the parish church of St Mary has the tombstone of Matija Čubranić from 1511.
- Sources say little about present-day access or opening arrangements, so check locally before you go.
- Brinje lies in the Lika region; other castles in the area, such as those linked to the Frankopans, can make a route through the interior.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Sokolac Castle is
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Photos of Sokolac Castle
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Questions
Where is Sokolac Castle?
Sokolac Castle stands on a rocky rise in the centre of the small town of Brinje, in the Lika-Senj County of Croatia.
Who built Sokolac Castle?
The Croatian Wikipedia credits Nikola IV Frankopan, who built it with his wife Dorotea Gorjanski at the start of the fifteenth century.
Why is it called Sokolac?
The name comes from the Croatian word for falcon, sokol, which appears on the coat of arms of Brinje. Locals also call the castle Gradina.
What is special about Sokolac Castle?
Its square, three-storey entrance tower with lesenes and blind arcades is described as unique in Central Europe, and its Gothic chapel is called the best preserved castle chapel in Croatia.
Is Sokolac Castle a ruin?
Yes, the German and French Wikipedia describe it as a ruin, although it remains one of Croatia's most important Gothic monuments.
When was Sokolac Castle first mentioned?
It is first mentioned in 1411, when its lord Nikola IV Frankopan met Prince Ivaniš Nelepić there.
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