Zdunić tower

The Zdunić Tower is a small stone tower in Lovinac, a village in the Lika region of central Croatia, in the wide karst field known as Ličko Polje, between the Velebit mountains and the plateau of the interior. Very little has been published about this particular structure, and the honest approach is to describe the kind of building it is and the landscape in which it stands, rather than to state dates and owners that cannot be confirmed. It is listed here as one of several modest historic sights in and around the village.

Lika was a borderland for centuries. From the late Middle Ages through the early modern period, it lay on the frontier between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy, and the population lived with the constant threat of raids and warfare. Under the Habsburgs, the area became part of the Military Frontier, a belt of territory in which farmers also served as soldiers, and the landscape was dotted with watchtowers, fortified houses and refuges. A stone tower in a village like Lovinac would most likely have been built for lookout and defence, a place where the family or the village could take shelter and from which approaching riders could be seen across the open plain. Its thick walls, small openings and plain, functional design would fit that purpose.

The tower is not equipped as a visitor attraction, and there are no formal facilities, no staff and no admission fee. It is something to see on a walk through the village, where it adds a historical accent to the rural scenery of old houses, barns and fields. The setting is more interesting than the building itself. The Ličko Polje is a broad, flat basin surrounded by hills, with fertile fields, meadows and small streams, and the horizon is wide and open. In the cool of the morning or late afternoon, with the light low across the fields, the old stone has a quiet presence.

Other places nearby give the area more depth. A reconstructed section of a Roman road, a hillfort of the Iron Age people known as the Japodi, called Cvituša, a historic watermill known as Travić mill and a cycling route called the Ličko Polje trail are all listed in this guide, and together they form a small network of heritage sights around Lovinac. A visit can be built around them, using a bicycle or a car.

Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, since there are few services. Ask locally about access, as the tower may be on private land. The site suits those who like off-the-beaten-path history and rural landscapes. Allow fifteen minutes for the tower, and a half day for the wider area.