Benkovac

Not far from Zadar and Biograd na Moru is the town of Benkovac. The place is dominated by the cultural and historical monument Kaštel Benković, a 15th-century fortress that was named after Croatian nobles. The south side of the fortress was fortified with two round towers during the Ottoman rule. Long before the arrival of the Croats, ancient peoples built their settlements here and erected monuments. The most famous site is certainly Asseria - the remains of a Liburnian settlement near Podgrađe. Benkovac itself features the Catholic Church of St. Anthony from the 18th century and the Orthodox Church of St. John that was built in 1885 on the foundations of an older church. A forest path leads from Benkovac to the nearby early Croatian fortress Kličevica from the 15th century, where you can see a bronze cannon that was designed by the famous Leonardo da Vinci and is considered the only known existing example in the world. If you find yourself in the vicinity of Benkovac, be sure to visit the Benkovac Fair, which has been held every 10th of the month for over a hundred years. The fair is not only a place of trade, but also a kind of attraction in this area as it still nurtures the customs and traditional ways of trading. The fair offers various agricultural tools, small items for the house and useful souvenirs. The Benkovac Fair is also known for its rich gastronomic offer of local specialties such as roast lamb, suckling pig and various dishes made under the baking lid “peka”. Whatever dish you choose, be sure to accompany it with a glass of the famous wine from the Benkovac area. Benkovac offers a variety of accommodation options, from houses and apartments to small family-run farms. Those interested in a more active type of vacation can try various activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, jeep safari and canoeing. Nature lovers will enjoy the abundance of natural beauty in the nearby national parks: Krka, Kornati, Paklenica and Vrana Lake Nature Park. The sea and the white beaches of the Biograd Riviera are only a 15-minute drive away from Benkovac. Get to know the charms of rural Dalmatia and visit Benkovac.