Old Town Slunj

The Old Town of Slunj, built in 1390, was originally a residential space for the Princes of Krk, constructed as an impressive seven-sided building with a palace and auxiliary rooms within its walls. Strategically located on a steep rock surrounded on three sides by the Slunjčica River, the town was further fortified in the 16th century due to increasing threats from the Ottomans. The walls with semi-towers and a protective moat on the eastern side were key elements of this defensive system.

At the beginning of the 15th century, a settlement emerged on the opposite bank of the Slunjčica River, whose oldest core includes the Franciscan monastery, the church, and a series of civil buildings clustered around today's Zrinski and Frankopan Square. Slunj became the center of the captaincy in 1579, taking on the role of a military hub, a status it held for centuries.

During the brief period of French rule in the early 19th century, Slunj experienced an economic boost, and after the abolition of the Military Frontier in 1873, the town rapidly urbanized and gained the status of a district center. In the 20th century, Slunj transformed into a well-connected settlement, especially after the construction of a bridge over the Korana River and a new road linking it to the north and south of Croatia.

Today, the Old Town of Slunj, whose remains belong to the town of Slunj, preserves the living history of this region – offering visitors the chance to explore its unique architecture, old defensive system, and rich past, making it a lasting symbol of Slunj's identity.