Kastel Fortress
Тврђава Кастел
An Ottoman-era stone fortress on the banks of the Vrbas River, with grassy riverbank beneath its walls, the starting point of Banja Luka.
Kastel Fortress stands on the left bank of the Vrbas River, south of the old town. Its origins go back to a Roman camp, but the surviving walls, towers and gun emplacements were mainly built during the Ottoman period, making it one of the better-preserved lowland fortresses in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The interior has free-to-enter lawns and paths, and you can climb the walls for river views. In summer, it hosts music festivals, open-air cinema and markets. Outside the walls, the riverbank has cafés and a small boat dock. It is open all day and admission is free. It is about a 10-minute walk from the city centre.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Ferhat Pasha Mosque (Ferhadija)
- Museum of Republika Srpska
- Gospodska Street
- Museum of Contemporary Art of Republika Srpska
- Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
- Banski Dvor
- Arnaudija Mosque
- Banj Brdo