The History of Dubrovnik’s Walls
What is known for sure is that the city has been completely surrounded by its fortifications since the 13th century.

The survival of the walls in their present state is a testament to the skill and ingenuity of the builders but also to the lengths to which generations of city residents have gone to preserve their historical environment.

The walls also give us insight into the diplomatic skill of the people of Dubrovnik (known as Ragusa through much of history) — the city avoided catastrophic attacks, despite its strategic position, because the city authorities expertly maintained positive relations with the powers of the East and West.

When you visit the walls, you will be impressed by the scale of the fortifications. At times the walls are as thick as 6 meters (20 ft) and, in certain sections, reach heights of up to 25 meters (80 ft).

The fact that the walls were constructed with the basic technology available to the builders at the time is reason enough to marvel at this great historical site!

The strength of the walls is well illustrated if you read a list of the attempted sieges made on the city over the centuries: attacks from Saracens, Venetians, Russians, and Austrians were either completely repelled by the city’s defenses, or the walls at least saved the city from suffering damage.

Even during the Yugoslav army siege of 1991–1992, in which millions of dollars worth of damage was inflicted on the city, reports found that the ancient city walls did a better job of withstanding bombardment than any of the city’s modern structures!

Dubrovnik (Croatian: [dǔbroːʋniːk] ⓘ,[3] UK: /d(j)ʊˈbrɒvnɪk/ dyuu-BROV-nik, US: /duːˈ-/ doo-;[4] Italian: Ragusa [raˈɡuːza] ⓘ; see notes on naming) is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Its total population is 41,562 (2021 census).[5] In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in recognition of its outstanding medieval architecture and fortified old town.[6]

The history of the city probably dates back to the 7th century, when the town known as Ragusa was founded by refugees from Epidaurum (Ragusa Vecchia). It was under protectorate of the Byzantine Empire and later under the sovereignty of the Republic of Venice. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Dubrovnik ruled itself as a free state. The prosperity of the city was historically based on maritime trade; as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, as it became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy. At the same time, Dubrovnik became a cradle of Croatian literature. In his letter to Nikola Nalješković (1564), poet Ivan Vidalić named it "crown of Croatian cities".[7]

The entire city was almost destroyed in a devastating earthquake in 1667. During the Napoleonic Wars, Dubrovnik was occupied by the French Empire forces, and then the Republic of Ragusa was abolished and incorporated into the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy and later into the Illyrian Provinces of France. In the early 19th to early 20th century, Dubrovnik was part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austrian Empire. Dubrovnik became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia immediately upon its creation, and it was incorporated into its Zeta Banovina in 1929, before becoming part of the Banovina of Croatia upon its creation in 1939. During World War II, it was part of the Axis puppet state Independent State of Croatia, before being reincorporated into Socialist Republic of Croatia in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

In 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence, Dubrovnik was besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling. After undergoing repair and restoration works in the 1990s and early 2000s, it re-emerged as one of the Mediterranean's top tourist destinations, as well as a popular filming location. According to Holidu, Dubrovnik was the most 'over-touristed' destination in Europe during 2023, with 27.42 tourists for each inhabitant.[8] Often called "The Queen of Adriatic"[9] Dubrovnik is considered one of the most popular destinations in the Adriatic and in Europe.

We’re often asked about the pricing of visiting the walls, with there being some confusion around whether or not the site can be visited for free — walking the Walls of Dubrovnik is not free. A visit will cost you around 250 Croatian Kuna, which is about £27 or $36.


My name is Eric Clark and I am a world traveler. I have been around the world a few times and decided to help fund my travels by sharing my videos and pictures. I have been to almost every country and would be glad to give tips and pointers. Drop me a note. = )