Fort Lovrijenac, Fort Imperial & the Dubrovnik Cable Car

Fort Lovrijenac is an imposing 3 sided castle overlooking the main entrances to Dubrovnik by land and sea. It is said that in the 11th century the rising maritime power of Venice identified the rocks on which it is built as being an ideal location to build a fortress. However the industrious people of Dubrovnik incredibly built their own and when the Venetian navy arrived just 3 months later with the supplies and manpower to construct their castle, they found the site taken by a fully functional fort and Dubrovnik was  likely saved from an eternity of Venetian domination.

The castle was constantly upgraded as Venice and the Turkish Ottomans were always looking to find a way to capture this great city for the next 850 years. Above the entrance to the fort is an inscription “Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro” which means the freedom is not to be sold for all the treasures in the world.   

  

  
    
 
Next up I took a boat ride out to the island of Lokrum which is now a natures reserve. It was a great experience and afforded great views of the coastline and Dubrovnik from the sea.

   
    

The island has many ruins but no one lives there any more, not even the nudists who have a beach on the corner of the island which apparently shocks many a kayaker who is paddling around the island!
    
 

Throughout my first days here, my attention often focuses on the looming Mount Srd which is 412 metre so/1350 feet high. I could see the giant Fortress Imperial looming on top along with a large white cross. Luckily for me there is a cable car that runs from just outside the city walls to the summit.

  
Now everyone knows I hate flying… Or rather crashing but I have no fear of heights and very happy standing on top of cliff tops or London towers and I knew I would have no trouble with this though one or two others had a nervous moment or two.

Going Up Dubrovnik Cable Car

The view from the top of the mountain is incredible. There is an fortress which is now a museum dedicated to the recent war which I found interesting but very grim. There is also a cross that overlooks the city and standing next to it made me think or the statue of Christ The Redeemer in Brazil.