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History

Old city Ljubač, home of the Templars

The story behind the ruins on the hill, and our knight Sir Ljubo.

The Knights Templar were a religious military order founded in the 12th century, known for their discipline and for protecting pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land.

Ljubač was one of their strongholds in the region. They built a fortress on the hill with a commanding view over the bay, and although much of it is in ruins today, its walls are still a powerful reminder of that time.

The village is also linked to the Church of St. John the Baptist and to the small Romanesque St. Martin’s Church, where, according to local tradition, the knights gathered before setting out.

Walk up to the fortress at sunset: you will see the whole bay, the island of Pag and Velebit at once.

The Templars

Questions, answered

All questions →
Were the Templars really in Ljubač?

Yes. From the 12th century Ljubač was a stronghold of the Knights Templar, and their fortress, Castrum Liube, sat on the hill above the bay.

Can we visit the ruins?

Yes, they are free to visit and about 1.9 km from the camp. Come at sunset: the walls look straight over the bay.

Who is Sir Ljubo?

Our clay Templar and the guardian of this site. Spin his island, click him to say hi, and watch him patrol the walls.

Is the 3D fortress what it really looked like?

It is an artistic reconstruction to spark the imagination, not an archaeological plan.

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