Municipality of Ražanac on the Velebit Channel: Ljubač’s medieval heritage

• The municipality lies on the Velebit Channel.
• Kastrum Ljuba was an important medieval fortress in the wider Zadar area.
• The first edition of the Festival of Traditional Crafts took place on August 31 and September 1, 2024.

The former Kastrum Ljuba was an important medieval fortress in the wider Zadar area. The Gothic Church of St. Marcela has been preserved within its walls. The historic center of Ljubač can also be characterized by its narrow streets and closely spaced houses.

Another trace of the fortifications can be found in Šekuće: remnants of the medieval defensive wall that once surrounded Ljubač have been preserved there. The surviving features thus differ in both location and type: the church within the walls of the former Kastrum Ljuba, and wall remnants in Šekuće. Together with the layout of the historic center, they give the historic part of Ljubač a distinctive character.

At the first edition of the festival in the Municipality of Ražanac, held on August 31 and September 1, 2024, traditional crafts were demonstrated in the main square. These included cold forging, engraving, and calligraphy; there were also interactive medieval games. The dates and program details refer to the 2024 edition.

The broader destination of Pasman also extends into Zadar County. Among the Adriatic counties, it has the longest coastline, measuring 1,300 kilometers. The county’s landscape includes a deeply indented coastline, numerous islands, fertile plains, karst and mountain landscapes, and abundant water and forest resources.

Protected areas also illustrate the breadth of this regional context: Paklenica National Park lies mostly within Zadar County, and part of Velebit Nature Park is also within the county. Vransko jezero Nature Park is located in the county and is an ornithological reserve for 251 bird species. Paklenica National Park has more than 150 kilometers of hiking trails and includes the Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica canyons.

A cultural route called “Na ruti liburnskog, rimskog i hrvatskog nasljeđa” connects Zadar, Benkovac, Asseria, Nin, and Pag in a shared experience of history, culture, and tradition. It was published on June 23, 2026; route details may be updated by tourism authorities.

In Zadar County, visitors can try rowing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and similar water sports. The islands of the Zadar Archipelago can also be explored by kayak, offering a new perspective on the inhabited islands. For those interested in diving, shipwrecks and underwater archaeological sites are among the regional options.

On Pag, young lamb and hard sheep’s cheese are among the featured specialties. Visitors can learn to prepare peka on a gastronomic tour of the island. Pag lace is a centuries-old craft that only a few women still practice today. In Kolan on Pag, guided tours of the Gligora cheese factory include a look at the production gallery, a visit to the aging rooms, and a tasting.

If you want to narrow down your search for a place to stay within the municipality, the individual town and village pages can help you find your way around. Get a closer look with pages for Rtina and Ražanac; you can also compare Radovin and Jovići.

Discover more destinations: Municipality of Biograd na Moru, Municipality of Poličnik, Municipality of Benkovac.

Where is the Municipality of Ražanac?

The municipality lies on the Velebit Channel.

What medieval traces have been preserved in Ljubač?

The Gothic Church of St. Marcela has been preserved within the walls of the former Kastrum Ljuba. Remnants of Ljubač’s medieval defensive wall can also be found in Šekuće.

What was featured at the 2024 Festival of Traditional Crafts?

At the first edition, on August 31 and September 1, 2024, cold forging, engraving, and calligraphy were demonstrated. The program also included interactive medieval games.

For the broader travel overview: Zadar County.