Kaštel fortress, Pula

Out of many fortifications in Pula and its surroundings the oldest and the most important is definitely the big bastion fortress on Kaštel. It was built on the most important strategic place of the Pula cove, on a hill where the Histri had had their hill fort, the Romans their castrum and feudal masters their medieval castle.    

The fortress, in its today’s form of a square fort with highlighted pointed corner bastions, was built by Venetian’s Republic in 1630 and projected by the French military architect Antoin De Ville. 

It was a part of the defence system of Pula in the 17th c., which still didn’t include the fortress on the island of St Andrew and two defence lines; one approximately along today’s Castropola Street, and the other along the perimeter of ancient and medieval walls which were restored and filled in to adapt to the then war tactics of defence and arms power.

Since the importance of the Pula harbour for safe navigation on the main water way towards the east was really great, the fortress had to protect the harbour and the town itself with its forts and artillery.

The central court of Kaštel is today a frequent summer stage for theatrical, musical and film events in Pula, and Kaštel today hosts the Historical museum of Istria.