Tržan Castle in Modruš
| Tržan Castle | |
|---|---|
| Modruš, Lika region, Croatia | |
Remains of Tržan Castle today | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Ridge castle |
| Controlled by | Royal patronage possession (until 1193) , Frankopan noble family (1193–ca.1553) , Croatian Military Frontier headquarters (ca.1553–19th century) |
| Condition | ruined |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 45°07′41″N 15°14′28″E / 45.128°N 15.241°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 9th century |
| Built by | (unknown) |
| Materials | hewn stone (ashlar) |
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The Tržan Castle (Croatian pronunciation: [ˈtr̩̂ʒan]; Croatian: Tržan-grad or Utvrda Tržan) is a ruined medieval castle above the village of Modruš in the northern part of historical Lika region, central Croatia. Before (from the 11th century) the administrative seat of the former Modruš County (later renamed Modruš-Rijeka County), it is today a ruin in the Josipdol Municipality in the southern part of the Karlovac County.
Having been built on a ridge of a steep hill 670 metres (2,200 ft) above sea level on the eastern slopes of the Velika Kapela mountain, the castle was at a strategic place overlooking the road that connected the Adriatic Sea and the Pannonian Basin since ancient times. The road in question connected the Roman towns of Senia (present-day Senj) and Siscia (present-day Sisak). It was later, during the 18th century, reconstructed, improved and renamed as Josephina road.