Possert fortress

We learned about this fortress a few years ago from a documentary describing a praiseworthy project to reconstruct and conserve several medieval castles in Istria. We have already written about Pietrapelosa, which was part of that initiative. It is one of the best-kept fortresses in Croatia. At Possert you notice similarities in the way it has been “brought back into use”, but it is nowhere near as comprehensive a project as Pietrapelosa.

Possert lies much further south, in the triangle between Pazin, Hum and Lovran. Although it stands in a prominent position with an open view to the south and west, unlike most other fortresses this one is not on a hilltop – you walk down to it along a path through the forest. The site is screened by greenery and makes for an exceptionally pleasant setting.

On the way down to the castle you pass the church of St. Martin. You can drive almost all the way to the fortress itself.

The excellently designed information boards are a praiseworthy detail in the way the fortress has been presented

The castle is dominated by a defensive tower, against which leans a rather less well preserved Gothic palas. Metal stairs installed as part of the conservation project allow you to climb to a considerable height, which certainly adds to the appeal of the fortress. The defensive tower is around 16 m high.

The name Possert is first mentioned in the 14th century, but the fortress goes back much further. Possert formerly bore a different name – the fortress of St. Martin. A reference to it dates as far back as a charter of Emperor Henry IV from 1064, and from the 16th century Possert has also been known as Šabec (Schabez).