Kožljak, Medieval castle ruins in Istria County, Croatia
Kožljak is a small settlement clinging to the western slopes of Mount Učka, with the ruins of a medieval fortress positioned on a steep hillside above it. The settlement includes a Romanesque chapel with a carved inscription and two smaller places of worship built on the castle grounds.
The fortress was first recorded in historical documents in 1102 under the name Castrum Iosilach and functioned as a guard post along an ancient trade route. Its position on the hillside made it a vital checkpoint for controlling movement between the interior and the coast.
The settlement sits on land where religious life revolved around the small church dedicated to Saint Hadrian, showing how faith shaped daily routines in this remote mountain location. The carved Glagolitic script found inside speaks to how local people preserved their written heritage across generations.
The settlement is served by a railway station on the Lupoglav-Štalije line, making it accessible by train for those without a car. Visiting the ruins means walking uphill on steep terrain, so wear sturdy footwear and come prepared for a physical climb.
In the 16th century, Francesco Barbo transformed the hilltop fortress into a haven for Protestant thought and accumulated the largest collection of Reformation texts in the region. This religious shift was striking for an area otherwise dominated by Catholic traditions.
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