The village of Klana, embraced by mountains covered by thick forests, resisted historical changes for centuries. From ancient times, the springs of clear water from the mountain tops and lush forests drew people to Klana. Forever at the intersection of different cultures and rulers, throughout history Klana had to protect itself from enemies and the conquers. The original watchtower at the hilltop above the village later turned into a fortress that was extended and expanded over the centuries. Even though its masters and rulers changed, the fortress continued to protect this region. The fortress played a significant role during the 15th and 16th century when the western parts of Europe were under threat of the Ottoman conquerors. The safe walls of the fortress withstood all invaders, only to be destroyed by nature; a powerful earthquake in 1870 demolished the ancient fortress. However, the stone blocks from the ruined fortress served to rebuild the severely damaged Klana. The fortress was eventually saved from ruin and oblivion by the local heritage enthusiasts. In recent years, the ruins have been renovated. This time it is not to defend against enemies, but to receive and host well-intentioned visitors. We invite you to visit Klana and to experience the history echoing through the forests…

The archaeological site of Gradina is located at the top of a rugged hill just above the center of Klana. The highest point of the fortress is located at 629m above sea level. The outer contours of the walls are irregular in shape; 30m in width and 75m in length. The work of the Society for the History of Klana, led to archeological exploration and preservation of the remains of the fortress. The fortress also gained importance in 2008 when the access road was paved, which enabled easier access to the location. The Mountaineering Society Pliš from Klana started using the site for tourist purposes some fifteen years ago by including the fortress as one of the control points in its Mountaineering Trail for Klana. The Municipality of Klana has been working on popularizing and promoting the site since 2017 by hosting cultural programs on the remains of the fortress. Electrification and illumination of the access road and the location are necessary for the further planned development of cultural, social and tourist life in the municipality of Klana.

The implementation of the project will enable the maintenance of cultural programs. The illuminated fortress will also serve tourist purposes, since it will attract attention to the captivating site above the center Klana.