The 10 best castles and palaces in Croatia according to Google Maps ratings

10 castles and palaces from Croatia have been awarded the Golden Pin, an accolade presented by Google based on user reviews and ratings on Google Maps.

“After three successful years of running the Golden Pin project in Poland, we are proud to see it expand to other countries, including Croatia. Croatia boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage, with a treasure trove of hidden gems waiting to be discovered and explored. The Golden Pin award is something special Special because even though we as a company provide it, it is actually an appreciation from users and travelers who have visited these places.

Thanks to their interaction and reviews, we honored ten castles and palaces with golden pin statues. “I would like to extend my congratulations to all the winners once again, and I hope that more people will be inspired to visit these amazing sites and appreciate their history and beauty,” said Joško Mrendzi, Google Regional Director for the Adriatic.

The following are the castles and palaces granted by Croatia:

Diocletian’s Palace

Diocletian’s Palace

It was the imperial residence in Split and was built around the year 300 by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The historic Split complex with Diocletian’s Palace was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1979.

Eltz Manor

Eltz Manor (Photo: Stjepko Krihola/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Eltz Manor is a Baroque mansion in Vukovar. Vukovar City Museum is located in the Vukovar City Museum.

Trakosjan Castle

Trakošhan Castle

Located in northern Croatia, in Varazdin County, in the 14th century it was a small medieval castle. In the 19th century, the Draskovic family transformed the castle into a residential palace in the neo-Gothic style, the surrounding landscape into beautiful romantic gardens and the valley into a large, picturesque lake.

Great Castle Camp

(Image source: Tomislav.sebalj/CC BY-SA 4.0)

This castle is located in Zagorje near Desinić. This medieval and Renaissance castle was built in the 12th century, but its current appearance dates back to the 16th century. Its exhibition includes ancient vehicles, ethnographic items, swords and pottery, as well as a description of its most famous owners, the Ratkaj family.

Frankopan Castle – Krk

Frankopan Castle (Photo: Roberta F./CC BY-SA 3.0)

It was built by the noble Francopani family from Krk, and today it can be viewed in full by walking along the walls and viewing the interior of the castle.

Catel-Morosini-Grimani

It is located in the center of the picturesque town of Svetvinčent and has been a symbol of the center itself for centuries. Built in the 13th century, the current castle represents a form of late medieval construction with strongly distinct Renaissance characteristics.

Shepherd’s Palace

Sponza Palace (Image credit: Hedwig Storch/CC BY-SA 3.0)

The most representative building of public importance in Dubrovnik still today contains the most valuable archival material in the Dubrovnik region. The palace is particularly precious because it has been preserved in its original form from the time of its construction until today.

Old Town of Čakovec

Čaković (Image source: Silverije/CC BY-SA 4.0)

The most valuable cultural and historical monument of Međimurje. The old Renaissance palace was transformed into a huge Baroque castle, which today has become a symbol of the identity and traditions of Medmurje County.

Ozalj Castle

Ozalj Castle

The medieval city of Ozalj, located above the Cuba River, was first built in the 6th century, but was converted into a castle and given the shape we see today in the 18th century. The entrance to this beautiful castle is located over a bridge that once served as a guard house. Many noble families lived here, including the Zrinski and Frankopan families. The castle is now a museum of architecture and art from past centuries.

Trsat Castle

Gears

One of the most visited and recognizable icons of Rijeka. The castle has preserved the features of early medieval construction, and today it is rich in new contents and summer concerts and open-air theatrical performances are often held there.