You can visit Klis Fortress by heading to the small village of Klis near the well-known city of Split. The defensive fortification rises on a steep hill between the Kozjak and Mosor mountains, standing 360 meters above sea level. It is from here that you will be able to see the picturesque landscape and magnificent views of Split and the islands of Brač, Hvar, and Šolta.
Without a doubt, Klis Fortress stands out from other fortifications in Croatia. It is several levels high, melds into the mountainous landscape, and is located near one of the most recognizable cities in Croatia. It was also chosen as the setting for the T.V. series “Game of Thrones” for good reason. Its formidable stature and interesting interior were the ideal setting for the series.
Hidden history of Klis Fortress
In the place where Klis Fortress stands today, there was originally a fort built by the Illyrians in the 2nd century B.C. The Dalmatians, one of the Illyrian tribes, were the first to settle in this area. The spread of the Romans led to contacts and conflicts between them, and the fortress was established as protection for Salona, the ancient metropolis of Roman Dalmatia. The fall of the Roman Empire brought the fortress under the rule of the Byzantine Empire, in whose hands it will remain until the 7th century. For the next 200 years, Croats came to Dalmatia, and at the end of the 9th century, the fortress passed into the hands of the Hungarians.
Throughout the Middle Ages, it changed hands between Venetians, Turks, and Croats numerous times. In the 17th century, it was conquered by Venice (again), followed by Austria, France, and the Habsburg dynasty. The last time the fortress was used was during World War II. After the war, it came under the rule of Yugoslavia, and since 1990 it has been the property of Croatia.
Klis: Something for fans
Any fan of “Game of Thrones” will be delighted with this place. Klis Fortress appears in season 4 of the series as the city of Meereen. Here Princess Daenerys utters the famous words “injustice with justice” and regenerates her strength for further struggles against adversity. Now you can follow in her footsteps and feel like the main character of the series. Also, do not forget to find in the fortress the places where the various scenes were filmed. Be sure to take photos there to compare them later with still from “Game of Thrones”. Besides, traversing in the characters’ footsteps can become an interesting and exciting adventure for you.
It is worth mentioning that for many scenes, locals were involved as extras, and the filming of the series was also a great attraction for the local society. Inside the fortress, a special room “Game of Thrones” room has been opened for fans of the series. There you can see photos of the filming of individual scenes and gadgets used in the series and read about the filming of scenes. It’s undoubtedly an attraction fans won’t want to miss out on.
