Fortress of History and Legends
Above Novi Vinodolski, on the rocky terrain overlooking Ledenice, rise the mysterious ruins of Gradina – a once-powerful fortress that guarded this region for centuries. Today, only the silent walls and remnants of towers tell the story of warriors, strategic defense, and legends that shaped history. Every stone bears witness to a time when Ledenice was a military stronghold, and the spirit of past ages still lingers over this historic fortification.
On the rugged, hard-to-reach rocky terrain above the village of Ledenice lies Gradina – a historical treasure that holds many secrets of the past. Unfortunately, today, at the top of the hill, which offers an incredible view of the surrounding landscape and islands, only the remains of the once-mighty fortress stand.
The fortress was strategically positioned to defend the area from enemies. Gradina was surrounded by strong walls with walkable arcades, corner towers, and numerous loopholes. The oldest part of the fortress consisted of a mighty square tower built from well-carved stone bonded with mortar. Based on the remnants of the massive walls, which are between half a meter and one meter thick, it is clear that this was a solid stronghold. No decorative elements can be found in the remains of the fortress and residential buildings, indicating that everything was dedicated to defense.
Small coastal stone houses with tiny windows, similar to loopholes, reveal that Ledenice was a true military town, where life followed strict rules. Each house was designed to support defense, with small windows that allowed for safe observation of the outside world while also making defense easier in case of danger. Immediately after entering the town, to the left, lie the remains of what was once the parish church dedicated to Saint Stephen the First Martyr, an important spiritual center of the settlement, along with the remains of the Pauline house (the parish court).
Descending just 140 meters, you will come across a unique circular cemetery with the remains of the Chapel of St. George. The cemetery is enclosed by a perfectly round dry-stone wall with a diameter of 35 meters. It contains stone tombstones mostly from the late 19th century, and the cemetery has long been out of use.
Gradina Ledenice is a place that keeps its secrets but also invites every visitor to become part of its story. It is no surprise that this very place inspired the great writer August Šenoa to write his work Plague’s House.
Above Novi Vinodolski, on the 260-meter-high hilltop, lie the ruins of the ancient, abandoned town-fortress of Ledenice. This is “Gradina” or “Plague’s House”, once a strategic stronghold that protected Vinodol and the coast from raiding hordes from the interior. Several legends speak of it.
In the Middle Ages, after one of the unsuccessful sieges by the Turkish conquerors, while a blood-red moon loomed over the site, a woman of strange appearance arrived at the walls of Ledenice. She was dressed in a white robe that barely covered her bones, and her snake-like hair cascaded down to her shoulders. In the dead of night, she entered the village, touching each house with her hand. Behind her, a desolate village remained. All the inhabitants perished from the plague, touched by her deadly hand…
That is the legend, but the historical truth is that in 1463, the ruthless plague ravaged Ledenice. The surviving inhabitants moved down into the valley, where, near fertile fields, they began to build a new settlement. Gradina remained a fortress, occupied by armed guards. When Lika was freed from the Turks at the end of the 17th century, the importance of Gradina diminished.
Today, Ledenice is a charming village, especially in spring when nature turns green, and the scent of flowers and birdsong create an enchanting atmosphere. Up on the hilltop, the silhouette of a sad, crumbling tower can still be seen – this is Plague’s House, whose walls are being slowly devoured by time.
