When you are traveling to Senj, regardless of the direction you are coming from, one construction you can not miss, and that is Nehaj Fortress. The Nehaj fortress, the symbol of Senj, was built in 1558. Under the supervision of the captain and the general of the Croatian military area Ivan Lenković and the captain Herbart the 8th. It is built of the material of the ruined churches, monasteries and houses which were situated out of the city walls.
It is of square shape and its angles point to each side of the world. The fortress is 18 meters high and 23 metres wide. You could enter it by the steps and over the wooden bridge through the narrow double-doors. The walls are 2 - 3,30 meters thick. Toward the top they become narrower and narrower, and they end with the crown on which corners there are five little towers. There are about hundred loop-holesand eleven big cannon openings in the walls.
When you are in Senj you must visit the City Museum. The City Museum and the exhibition of Sacral Art will reveal you many secrets from the long history of Senj starting from the Paleolithic up to the recent war.
The Summer Carnival
Apart from “Bura”, numerous cultural sites, beautiful nature and long history Senj is famous for its summer carnival, the oldest and the biggest event of that kind in the Republic of Croatia.
The summer carnival lasts for four days in the middle of august (second weekend) The culmination of the festival is a big parade with several thousands of masks from Croatia and neighboring countries.
The biggest contribution is from local masks who prepare themselves for months for the big parade. Thousands of masks led by “meštar” of the carnival, allegorical carts, colors,music and laughter, are what make this carnival so different from others.
Traditional slogan of the Senj summer carnival is “Karneval biži ki ča uvati nek drži!” – “The carnival is running away, if you catch anything, hold on to it”
To Zagreb you are only 165km away, 90km from Plitvice lakes, 154km from Zadar. Islands Krk, Rab and other are just in front of you.
