# Samobor Castle

- **Country:** Croatia
- **Coordinates:** 45.798944, 15.698186
- **Notes:** Samobor Castle (Okić-grad), an ancient fortress that is considered one of our oldest fortified towns and a rare example of preserved Romanesque architecture in continental Croatia. The first record mentioning Okić-grad dates back to 1193 in a charter of Bishop Kalan of Pécs. Over the centuries, the city was ruled by the Okić princes, the Babonićs, the Bevenudis, the Frankopans, Matthias Corvinus, Ivan Horvat and finally the Erdödy family, during whose time, in 1616, the Okić fortress became a ruin.
- **Year Built:** 12th century
- **Castle Type:** Fortress
- **Location Text:** Samobor, Zagreb County

Samobor Castle, known locally as Stari grad Samobor, stands as a prominent ruined fortress atop Tepec Hill in Samobor, Croatia, just a ten-minute walk from the city center. Constructed between 1260 and 1264 by supporters of the Czech King Ottokar II during his conflict with the Hungarian King Stephen V, the structure was originally a stone Gothic castle built on solid rock. Its strategic location overlooked important trade routes in the Sava valley and the medieval market town below. Although Croatian-Hungarian forces soon retook the stronghold, it remained a vital military asset for centuries, featuring an irregular layout with a central core, a high guard tower, and later additions including a semicircular tower and a Gothic chapel dedicated to Saint Ana.

Over the centuries, the castle underwent significant transformations that shifted its purpose from pure defense to a residential estate. During the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, expansions created an elongated trapezoidal courtyard surrounded by defensive walls and pentagonal towers. The addition of a three-storey house with Tuscan columned porches in the southern section marked its evolution into a countryside Baroque-style residence. Notable historical owners included the Babonić family, the Hungarian-Croatian kings, and the Counts of Celje. However, after the last residents departed in the late 18th century, the complex fell into gradual decay, eventually becoming the ruins visible today.

Currently owned by the Municipality of Samobor, the castle has been open to the public since the 19th century. While much of the interior equipment is lost, visitors can still observe massive entrance gates, substantial sections of the outer walls, and remnants of the original moat. The site serves as a significant historical landmark, offering insights into medieval military architecture and the region's turbulent past involving Bohemian and Hungarian powers. Despite its ruined condition, the remaining guard tower and chapel foundations provide a tangible connection to its origins nearly eight hundred years ago.

![Photo of Samobor Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Old_Town_Oki%C4%87%2C_Croatia.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samobor_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)