Game of Thrones: The fortress of Braavos

We come directly from Krka National Park, which is an attraction for tourists because it has wonderful nature and beautiful waterfalls. But also other visitors come here more and more in the last years: Krka was used several times as a backdrop for outdoor scenes in the famous "Game of Thrones" movies. The natural idyll represented the lands of Westeros, alienated and therefore hardly recognizable.

The place where Daenerys rules

The situation is different nearby. Not far from Sibenik, the city that appears in Game of Thromes as "Braavos" and plays a central role in season 5, lies the fortress Klis. Down in the city, the Cathedral of St. James served as the site of the "Iron Bank of Braavos," through the small streets Arya Stark creeps after two mysterious people. But at the fortress, since ages a historically significant castle in Dalmatia, Daenerys Targaryen and her army establish their own government after freeing the slaves.

The castle on top of the mountain is impressive. Just a few kilometers from the late antique city of Split the fortress allows a phenomenal view of the coast, Split and the surrounding countryside, as well as the islands of Brač, Šolta, Hvar and Vis.

Once you've climbed up to the fortification, you see what drew the creators of GoT here: Klis has everything a fortress needs. Bleached stones, green pines, blue sky.

Mysterious castle

Add lookout and defense towers, gates from the 6th century, a Venetian armory, deep, dark vaults, hidden dungeons and even an impressive multimedia show. There is an interesting secret entrance that was used only when needed and then walled up again.The former armory is now a small museum that displays weapons real used in the history of the fortress.

The real castle once connected the trade route of the Croatian Adriatic coast with Bosnia via Solin. Because of this strategic location, Klis Fortress was even nicknamed "The Key of Dalmatia". Whoever wanted to enter the country had to pass here. The Muslim Ottomans did not make it because well-known castle with its garrison stood up to them and resisted.

"The Key of Dalmatia"

Even today Klis represents a connection between the sea and the Dalmatian hinterland, but for a long time the castle was one of many. Its great fame, which makes it a place of pilgrimage for tens of thousands of fans every year, Klis received only through the series "Game of Thrones".

Here and in Dubrovnik they filmed countless scenes of the series, so that fans can now go in search of clues through the streets of Meereen turned. Most at this fortress didn't even need any additional editing - apart from the large pyramid, which was cheated into the picture on the computer.

Every now and then, you can find photos from the set that show some of the main characters, such as Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister, in the exact spot where you are standing. With a new trick, you can even conjure up real dragons: For a small fee, a photo booth allows you to take a selfie on the long corridor that Daenerys Targaryen struts up as head of government. If you have the picture sent to you - automatically by e-mail - there are really real and fearsome dragons circling in the blue sky of Dalmatia.

The wars of the Dalmatians

Klis Fortress was one of the most famous fortification buildings in Croatia before due to the resistance struggle of Dalmatians (not dogs!). Its impressive history dates back to the time before Christ. At that time, the Illyrians are said to have built a castle here already. When the Croats arrived in the 9th century, they imitated them. The heir to the throne lived in Klis.

Later the fortress was often fought over, in the period of the early Middle Ages barbarian invaders, mainly Goths and Avars, repeatedly tried to storm the fortress. In the late Middle Ages, the fortress was conquered by Venice, which at that time held power over many Dalmatian cities.

The Ottomans managed to get their hands on the fortress only in 1537. However, 100 years later the fortress were back to the Venetians, who finally lost the structure in the 19th century to Napoleon, who in turn had to give it to the Habsburg monarchy.

Small things for fame

Always was rebuilt, always was demolished. To this day, archaeologists search the soil for overlooked clues to history, because through the many masters - Turks, Venetians, French and Austrians - the fortress is really a small historical museum of the Middle Ages and more recent times. Only the last and smallest chapter is its fame as the filming location of Game of Thrones. But this of all things has made the Klis Fortress really famous beyond the borders of the country. Irony of history.

Klis is located just 15 kilometers from Split near the entrance to the A1 highway. The fortress is easily accessible by car and there is free parking nearby. If you are without a car, you can also make it here by local bus lines from Split. When you enter the fortress, you will receive a brochure with a map and information about all the sights of interest to the fortress.

Thank you for reading and if you like my work please follow me          on Hive, Travelfeed or Steem or visit my homepage koenau.de

A few more pictures:

Disclosure: Posts on TravelFeed may contain affiliate links. See affiliate disclosure.