The medieval noble town of Sokolac, a category zero monument and symbol of Brinj, watches over its inhabitants from a small hill in the center of Brinj. That magnificent building it was built at the beginning of the 15th century od of the Frankopan princes of Krk, under whose walls the settlement developed. At that time, Sokolac was the center of political, economic and cultural life, the meeting place of exceptional historical figures, such as King Sigismund of Luxembourg and the Danish king Erich VII.
There are two theories about the origin of the name Sokolac, and both are associated with falcons. The first legend says that Sokolac was named after the falcon that Prince Nikola IV. sent as a gift to Venice on the eve of his wedding with his first wife Doroteja Gorjanski, as evidenced by the coats of arms of Frankopan and Gorjanski carved on the vaults of the chapel. According to another legend, after the fort was abandoned, falcons started nesting in the attic, so the people gave the fort the name - Sokolac.
Due to the invasion of the Turkish army, the Frankopans ceded possession to the king, who placed a military garrison in it as the first line of defense against the Turks. Although Brinje was attacked on several occasions, it was never conquered. After the successful defense and the abolition of the Military Frontier, the fort slowly fell into disrepair, and to this day the entrance tower and the two-storey burg chapel of St. Trinity, one of the most beautiful late Gothic sacral monuments in Croatia.
How grandmother Rajković defended Brinje
After the Turks invaded this area, the Frankopans left Sokolac to the army. The aristocratic court became a solid fortress of the Military Krajina, and the court chapel was turned into a defensive tower with loopholes. It was especially difficult in 1530, when all the villages around Brinje were set on fire and looted. Although they tried several times, the Turks never managed to conquer Brinje. Legend has it that Brinje defended "Baba Rajkovićka" by pouring hot soup on the Turks from the window of the tower on Sokolac.
In the chapel, the central space is occupied by an octagonal nave, to which on one side continues the sanctuary of the chapel, and on the other, equal in size, a space dedicated to Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows.
Permanent exhibition "Noble city of Sokolac"
In the 17th century, new Mannerist altars were installed in the chapel, incorporating Gothic statues of the Madonna and Child Jesus and the Pieta, from the beginning of the 15th century. On the Gothic vaults in the crypt and on the first floor, the coats of arms of Frankopan and Gorjanski are carved in stone. In June 2007, in the substructure of the chapel, a permanent exhibition called "The Noble Town of Sokolac" was set up, which offers visitors information about Sokolac and the role of the Krk princes in Croatian history.
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Many stories and legends have been told about Sokolac over time, apart from this one about the giant winter, there is the one about the wedding of the French king in the chapel, and also about the strange energy powers of the hill on which it was built. In this last one, see for yourself. The colorful palette of autumn colors will enchant you, and a walk through these landscapes with legends and stories is an idea for an interesting weekend in Lika.
The Giant Snake and the Italians
During World War II, when Italian soldiers were stationed in Sokolac, a legend about a giant snake arose. According to the legend, a young soldier fell asleep on watch and the commander imprisoned him in the basement of the chapel as punishment. After some time, the soldier started calling for help, but the officer ignored his cries because he thought the soldier was faking. When the commander finally went down to the basement, he found in the room a huge snake that had swallowed the unfortunate soldier.
Cover photo: source TZO Brinje / photo author Aleksandar Gospić
