Kastel Fortress, Banja Luka

Fortress Kastel is the oldest historical monument in the City of Banja Luka and one of the oldest buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The oldest traces of settlements on the territory of Banja Luka are the remains of Neolithic settlements that were exactly found on the territory of the city fortress Kastel. It is found in the central part of the city, which dominates over the left bank of the river Vrbas. 

The total area of the complex Kastel is 48.000 square meters, of which 26 610 square meters within the walls, and around 21,390 square meters outside of them. The ramparts are made out of nine bastions and two towers within the walls. There are several buildings on the inside, including the central camp with two towers and a small arsenal, the central armory, the so called stone building, and several different walls that divided and formed individual internal spaces.

In the Bosnian medieval country there was a city of Vrbas which was, based on an assumption, located in the place of the today's Kastel.  The fortress was very important during the period of Austrian-Hungarian-Turkish wars as an important geostrategic center. Today the Kastel fortress, with its rich history, is the most valuable monument of Banja Luka and a place where you can experience the spirit of the past times. In recent times a number of cultural and entertainment events are often organized on the Kastel fortress.