We can say with great certainty that the Vitunj fort, located on top of a conical hill 650 meters high, has always been Frankopan. It was mentioned for the first time in the division of the property between disagreeing brothers in 1449, when it belonged to Prince Stjepan III. Frankopan, and it is quite certain that it existed perhaps even a hundred years earlier.
Namely, the central tower, although square, has all the features of the so-called the keep of the tower: thick solid walls, on a hill and very high - for that time, of course. It is particularly interesting that it occupied the entire width of the ridge, so that it was also a kind of protective wall to the smaller plateau in the northeast direction. It is not excluded that this donjon tower was the original entrance to the fort, and that the front tower, on which large loopholes can still be seen, was later upgraded.
Such types of towers are abandoned in the constructions of the 15th century, so we can assume that Vitunj was built in the time of Prince Stephen II. of Krk, so around 1370. I say assume because his father is Prince Bartol VIII. spent a good part of his life in Hungary as the prefect of Somogy.
Prince Stephen II. Krčki married the Duchess of Padua, Katarina Cararra, with whom he had one daughter, Elizabeta. He was very rich, as confirmed by the record of 40.000 gold florins (about 140 kg of gold), which he intended as a dowry for his daughter engaged to Count Fridrik of Celje. After his brother Prince Stjepan died, Prince Ivan V asked his brother's widow, Princess Katarina, to leave Modruš to him, which she refused. Then Prince Ivan began an impossible mission - the siege of Tržan - which he knew was impregnable.
It was a kind of historical precedent when a Francopan army attacked a Francopan headquarters that was defended by another Francopan army. Everything, as it usually happens, ended with negotiations in which Prince Ivan undertook to pay Elizabeth's dowry and justly indemnify his bride. By the way, Princess Katarina Cararre Frankopan founded the Pauline monastery in Kamensko.
Duke Ivan V of Krk was succeeded by his son Nikola IV. the first of the name Frankopan and precisely in the division of his property his son Stjepan III. Frankopan, married to princess Ižota de Estee, inherited among other properties Modruš and Vitunj, which he left to his son Bernardin, and he to his grandson Stjepan IV.
///Modruš – the powerful seat of the Frankopan princes
It is interesting that the Vitunj estate did not pass into the hands of the Zrinskis like other estates after Prince Stjepan IV. because in 1575 it was already mentioned as abandoned.
The hike to Vitunj is very demanding, the path is steep, the ascent is long. If you don't have hiking experience, I strongly recommend that you get it somewhere before you decide to take the Budni div trail to the always Frankopan Vitunje.
We also bring you interesting sketches and floor plans from the pages varak.hu and the web Darko Antolković, the founder of the site In search of Francopan properties.
The penultimate house in Vitunje, where the path to the fort begins, also has an interesting feature. Two real and very friendly llamas in the yard of a very accommodating and kind-hearted host.
Photo source: Tomislav Beronić
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Order books FRANGERE PANE: Stories about Frankopans i Stella Aurea by Tomislav Beronić. The books are available at links
