Lokrum Monastery
The lovely Lokrum Island, located just 10 minutes by boat from Dubrovnik, Croatia, is home to spectacular animals, including peacocks and rabbits, as well as a French fort and a Benedictine Monastery Abbey.
Lokrum Island has a long history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to prehistoric times. Richard the Lionheart is said to have been shipwrecked here in 1192 on his way back from the Crusades and swore to build a cathedral if he was rescued. Finally, the church was constructed in Dubrovnik.
Lokrum is a favorite day-trip destination for both inhabitants and visitors to Dubrovnik because it is so close to the Old Town. Today, visitors to the Lokrum Monastery Complex can see what is left in three categories. The earliest are the ruins of a Romanesque-Gothic basilica from the 12th to 13th centuries. The Gothic-Renaissance 15-16th century monastery and cloister garden, which was built to the south of the original Romanesque edifice, is another highlight. Finally, visitors may see a spectacular blend of neo-Romanesque, neo-Gothic, and neo-Renaissance architecture at Maximilian of Habsburg's 19th-century summer palace and gardens.
The neighboring Fort Royal, which was erected by the French after conquering Dubrovnik in 1806, and greatly expanded by the Austrian army in the 1830s, is also worth seeing.
The main way to get to the island is to take the Dubrovnik-Lokrum boat, which departs half-hourly from Porporela, Dubrovnik's Old Port, in the summer. The journey takes approximately 15 minutes and costs approximately 5 euros. A private kayak-guided journey to the island is available for the adventurous!
Location: Lokrum, Croatia
