Fortress

Dubrovnik: Day 2

A beautiful sunny day saw us take the cable car from the Dubrovnik Old Town up to the top of Mt Srdj.  In addition to the lovely views and walks, and the excellent Panorama Restaurant where we had a coffee break and later lunch, there is also a Museum dedicated to the history of the siege of Dubrovnik in 1991.  

The Croats still feel very strongly about the war for independence.  In 1991 they voted to leave Yugoslavia and become an independent nation.  They were subsequently attacked by the Serbian led "Yugoslavian" army.  The shelling of Dubrovnik featured much on the news in 1991 and you can still see evidence of the damage caused today. 

There is clearly a suspicion amongst the Croats that the siege of Dubrovnik received as much international attention as it did because of the damage to the UNESCO Heritage status of the old walled city rather than the 190 civilians that were killed by the Serbian bombardment.

Manned by a largely volunteer force the ancient Napoleonic fort on Mt Srdj was key to the protection of the city.  Its dominant position and its thick walls and cellars enabled a small force of poorly armed Croats to fight off a larger more professional force of Serbs equipped with ships, tanks and airpower; as the very moving exhibition attests.

My extra is of a butterfly that I spotted while we were at the top of the mountain, I've not had the chance to check what it is yet...

After that rather emotionally draining trip, Cathy and I had a very relaxing wander around the Old Town complete with a pistachio ice cream in the sunshine.  It is lovely to be on holiday!