Ozalj Fortress, situated on the stone cliff perched above the river Kupa, is one of the best known fortifications of this type in Croatia. It is a very old stronghold (first mentioned in 1244) that has been transformed into a castle. The popularity of this castle is due to the fact that it was the common castle of the Croatian noble families of Frankopan and Zrinski. In fact, it was the scene of the unfortunate Zrinski-Frankopan conspiracy, which significantly marked the history of Croatia.
Grad Ozalj History
In the course of its history, the castle of Ozalj has been reconstructed several times. The remains of the wall dating back to Ancient Roman times prove that the first foundation of the castle dates back to at least the 6th century.
Since 1244, the castle was in the possession of some influential families: Babonici, Frankopanks family, Zrinski family, Petazzi counts, Perlas family, Batthyany counts, Thurn family and Taxis family. Since 1928 and up to the present time, the castle belongs to the association known as the "Brothers of the Croatian Dragon".
Entrance to the courtyards of Ozalj Castle is completely free of charge. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the inner courtyards of the castle, climb the walls and enjoy the picturesque views of the surrounding nature and the river Kupa.
Inside the fortress there is a museum dedicated to the origins of Ozalj / "Zavičajni muzej Ozalja". In the museum you can find an interesting collection of historical and archaeological artifacts from ancient Ozalj and surrounding areas.