Ledenice
No one knows exactly when the fort of Ledenice and the surrounding settlement were built. However, it can be assumed that the fort was constructed on the spot of a former Illyrian hillfort or a Roman military station. This assumption is supported by the fact that the fort is located in the vicinity of the fertile plain of Ledeničko polje with a drinking water source right beneath it, and is also near the coast with several important harbours. Several interesting finds have been made in this area: some Roman coins were found in the old town of Ledenice, and some Roman amphorae were discovered in Povilska Dragain 1961. In Roman times, the area of Ledenice was part of the Liburnia region. A Roman road that led from Tarsatica (Rijeka) in the north to Senia (Senj) and further south to Dalmatia passed through the Ledenice area. Remnants of this ancient road can still be found around Ledenice. Today we know for certain that Ledenice existed in the 13th century, because representatives of this town were present in 1288 at the signing of the Vinodol Law, the oldest legal codex in this part of Europe. At that time, the area of Ledenice was a separate municipality within the Principality of Vinodol, a base for the Uskoks (Croatian soldiers) and a seat of the Frankopan noble family. The inhabitants of Ledenice put up great resistance to the invasions of the Turks in the 15th and 16th centuries. Being located in the territory of the Military Frontier (Vojna krajina), Ledenice played an important role in the defence of the Littoral and was essential for the whole Vinodol region. Ledenice was built on difficult terrain. At the top of the rocky hill are the ruins of a fort that is known today as Gradina. Beneath it, towards the sea, was the settlement (town), and everything was surrounded by a strong defensive wall with porches to walk on, towers at the corners, and many loopholes. The oldest part of the fort is the mighty rectangular tower made of stone blocks covered in plaster. The entrance to the fort was from the direction of the settlement, but no visible traces of it remain today. However, the remnants of the mighty defensive walls, between half a metre and a metre thick, reveal that this must have been a very strong fortress indeed. No decorative elements whatsoever have been found either in the fortress or in the surrounding houses, which shows that this building was designed entirely for defensive purposes. Guards at advanced locations would light bonfires to warn about the arrival of an enemy. Ledenice was indeed a well fortified medieval town. On the left from the entrance to the town are the remnants of the former parish church of St. Stephen the Protomartyr. Despite much of this church being ruined, some of its structure remained intact until 1988, when that too collapsed entirely. The first part of the church was built in the Romanesque style, the rest was added in the Gothic style. In the immediate vicinity of the church are the ruins of the parish office, and all around are remnants of small stone family houses, all built in the typical style of the littoral area. Some ruins still feature the visible traces of walled fireplaces. The windows of these houses used to be very small, sometimes resembling loopholes, which shows that the whole settlement was in fact a defensive structure, and the people in Ledenice lived under military discipline. There are 72 or 74 remnants of such houses.On a plateau approximately 140 metres beneath the Gradina, there is an old cemetery with remnants of the St. George's Chapel, mentioned by Bishop Glavinić in 1695. The specific features of this cemetery are its circular shape and the dry stone wall enclosing it. The cemetery has not been used for a long time and includes many tombstones from the end of the 19th century. Although this cemetery has never been archeologically investigated, it is presumed to be very old, as it was used continuously until the beginning of the 20th century. The deceased were buried in family tombs in and around St. George's Chapel. Returning to the plateau, we notice a small winding road that leads to one of the most stunning vantage points in the area. The breathtaking view of the surroundings, the sea and the mighty karst, reveals the full majesty and force of nature. It is no wonder that a visit to this place inspired the great Croatian writer August Šenoa to write his famous novel Kugina kuća. In the distance are Povile and Klenovica, quaint coastal villages whose coves are particularly popular with tourists in summertime. Today, Ledenice is a coastal village dominated by the Church of Our Lady of Carmel and the adjoining parish house, which was built in the Biedermayer style in 1827. The main altar, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a valuable artwork from 1715 influenced by the Baroque style. As early as the beginning of the 18th century, pastors from Ledenice were referring to it as a church. The Church of Our Lady of Carmel was under the patronage of the Austrian emperors, who helped build the parish house in 1826. Apart from the church, which is architecturally the most interesting site here, also well worth visiting is the Dobra source of drinking water. This source is located at the edge of the plain of Ledeničko polje beneath the Gradina fort. The plain resembles an oasis surrounded by many rolling hills whose small houses seem to almost float over this idyllic green field.
Today Ledenice is an attractive day-trip destination whose surrounding area is also very popular for hunting.
