Castle & fortressKvarner

Trsat Castle: the hilltop fortress above Rijeka

Trsat Castle (Gradina Trsat) crowns a steep hill on the left bank of the Rječina gorge, just above the city of Rijeka. The Frankopan family built the present castle in the 13th century on a site used since Roman times. Its current look comes from a 19th-century Neo-Gothic restoration, and the views of Rijeka make it a classic hidden-gem stop on the Kvarner coast.

Trsat Castle sits on a rock above the Rječina gorge where a Roman fort once guarded the road to the sea. In 1826 it was handed to an Irish-born Austrian field marshal, who turned it into a Neo-Gothic residence with his own mausoleum.

WhereTrsat, on a rock about 4 km north-east of the centre of Rijeka, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County

TypeMedieval hilltop castle, restored in the 19th century in Neo-Gothic style, with a mausoleum

Best forHistory lovers, views over Rijeka and the Rječina gorge, a short stop on the Kvarner coast

Getting thereShort trip from the centre of Rijeka; the castle stands on a steep hill about 138 m high

The history of Trsat Castle

The hill above the Rječina gorge made an easy place from which to control access to the sea, and it has been used since Roman days. A fortified settlement named Tarsatica stood here; it was important for a road linking Aquileia with Pannonia and Senia (today's Senj). The sources disagree on whether the earlier hill-fort was Iapodian or Liburnian, so the earliest people of the site are best left open. According to German Wikipedia, the Croats took over the existing fortress in the 8th century and expanded it.

Trsat is first mentioned in 799, during the wars against the Avars, when Eric of Friuli, a commander of Charlemagne, tried to take the fortress. The attempt ended in a heavy defeat and he was killed. In 1225 the older fortress passed to the princes of Krk and the Frankopan noble family as a gift from King Andrew II of Croatia and Hungary. The Frankopans built the present castle in the 13th century to protect their lands in Vinodol.

In 1509 Trsat was caught up in the Austro-Venetian war. After Venetian forces captured the castle, the Ban of Croatia, Andrew Bot of Bajna, first recaptured Trsat with his Croatian army and then entered Rijeka, expelling the Venetians. In October of that year the Venetians withdrew for good.

In the 17th century the castle fell into decay as threats from Venice and the Ottoman Empire receded, and the earthquake of 1750 hastened its ruin. In 1826 Laval Nugent von Westmeath, an Irishman commanding Austrian troops in the area, acquired the castle. He had it restored in Neo-Gothic style and built a mausoleum adorned with the Nugent coat of arms. It stayed in the Nugent family until almost the end of the Second World War, when his great-granddaughter, Countess Nugent, died aged 82.

Curiosities about Trsat Castle

Trsat probably takes its name from the Roman fort Tarsatica, which may in turn have taken its name from an earlier hill-fort called Darsata.
The Roman fort here was vital to a road linking Aquileia with Pannonia and Senia.
Eric of Friuli, a commander under Charlemagne, was killed in 799 trying to take the fortress, according to German Wikipedia.
The Croatian noble Vuk Krsto Frankopan is buried in one of the churches of Trsat.
The castle's owner in the 19th century, Laval Nugent, was born in Ireland yet served as an Austrian field marshal, and his mausoleum is built inside the castle.
The castle courtyard has been turned into a restaurant, and many tourists visit in the summer months.

Tours near Trsat Castle

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

From Zagreb: Opatija, Rijeka & Trsat Small Group Guided Tour

★ 4.9 (20 reviews) · 7 h

See details ›

Zipline Experience Krk

★ 4.7 (113 reviews) · 2 h

See details ›

Private Wild Bays Boat Trip with Captain Bobo

★ 5 (50 reviews) · 3.5 h

See details ›

PUBLIC 3,5h Swimming and Snorkeling on the Wild Bays

★ 5 (22 reviews) · 3.5 h

See details ›

Visiting Trsat Castle

Climb the hill to the castle for the views over the Rječina gorge and the city of Rijeka below.
Look for the Nugent mausoleum inside the castle, decorated with the family coat of arms, and the Neo-Gothic details from the 19th-century restoration.
The courtyard now houses a restaurant, and the site is busiest in the summer months.
Trsat is a good partner for a day on the Kvarner coast, as the Krk Bridge is about 13 km away.
Check the current opening hours before you go.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Trsat Castle is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Photos of Trsat Castle

Questions

Where is Trsat Castle and how far is it from Rijeka?

Trsat Castle stands on a rock about 138 m high at Trsat, roughly 4 km north-east of the centre of Rijeka, in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.

Who built Trsat Castle?

The Frankopan family built the present castle in the 13th century, on the site of an older fortress. The older fortress passed to them and the princes of Krk in 1225.

Who was Laval Nugent?

Laval Nugent von Westmeath was an Irish-born Austrian field marshal who acquired Trsat Castle in 1826, restored it in Neo-Gothic style and built a mausoleum inside it.

What was at Trsat before the castle?

A Roman fort called Tarsatica stood here, guarding a road between Aquileia and Pannonia. It is thought the castle lies on the exact spot of this earlier fortress.

Is there a restaurant at Trsat Castle?

Yes, the courtyard of the castle has been turned into a restaurant. The site is visited by many tourists during the summer.

When was Trsat Castle first mentioned?

The fortress at Trsat is first mentioned in 799, when Eric of Friuli tried to take it during the Avar wars.