Zvornik Fortress

Zvornik Castle (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Zvornička tvrđava / Зворничка тврђава), also known as the Old Town of Zvornik (Stari grad Zvornik / Стари град Зворник) and Kula Grad (Кула Град, English: Tower City), is a medieval castle located in Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the mountain Mlađevac overlooking Drina Valley. Zvornik fortress is 147 metres (482 ft) above sea level.[1]

Zvornik Castle
Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zvornik Castle is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zvornik Castle
Zvornik Castle
Coordinates44.3697°N 19.0903°E / 44.3697; 19.0903
Site history
Builtc. 7th century

History

The medieval town of Zvornik called "Đurđevgrad" or "Kula Grad" was first mentioned as a property of Bosnian medieval feudal family Zlatonosović in 1410 when Hungarian King Sigismund was in the area.[2] It was probably built in the 12th or 13th century and is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[3]

Austria-Hungary

Part of the structure was destroyed in 1878 during the Austro-Hungarian invasion of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

World War II

Ustasha troops of the fascist Independent State of Croatia occupied the fortress along with the rest of Zvornik and most of Bosnia, in April 1941. The fortress was liberated in July 1943 by the 1st Proletarian Brigade during the Battle of Zvornik.

Bosnian War

Beginning on 8 April 1992, about 300 soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina defended the fortress from Serb soldiers of the Yugoslav People's Army during the first stages of the Bosnian War.[4][5] Following the Bosnian War, Zvornik became a part of Republika Srpska and the new Serb government had a church built on the grounds of the fortress and relocated a church bell from the village of Divič to the new church to mark their victory over Bosniaks.[6]

In May 2013, the remains of several war victims from the 1990s conflict were uncovered in Kula grad.[7]

  • Interior of the main structure
    Interior of the main structure
  • Two cannons visible on side
    Two cannons visible on side
  • View of Drina Valley from the castle
    View of Drina Valley from the castle
  • The dungeon
    The dungeon
  • Ceiling of a room in the main structure
    Ceiling of a room in the main structure
  • Courtyard
    Courtyard
  • Courtyard with security cameras visible
    Courtyard with security cameras visible

See also

References
  1. Zvornik fortress Altitude and Location
  2. "Zvornik: Kule kao svedoci vekova". Novosti. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  3. Toal, Gerard; Dahlman, Carl T. (16 February 2011). Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and its Reversal; page 78. ISBN 9780199742417. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  4. "Kula Grad: Sjećanje na čudo bosanskog otpora". Kalesija info. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  5. "Kula Grad, čudo bosanskog otpora: Bilo nas je 300, samo 150 je imalo oružje". B Portal. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  6. Tuathail, Gearóid; Toal, Gerard; Dahlman, Carl T. (16 February 2011). Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and its Reversal; page 262. ISBN 9780199730360. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  7. "U Zvorniku nastavljena ekshumacija žrtava". Radio Sarajevo. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
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