Above the villages of Dolac and Brestovac lies Dolački grad: a medieval defensive site and one of the checkpoints on a hiking route. Nearby, the ruins of a Romanesque church, fortified sites and pottery finds add to the historical picture. When planning your trip, you can choose a focus: the history of fortifications at Dolački grad, archaeological traces around Dolac, or the site’s place on the hiking route.

Dolački grad: defensive history in the Požega Valley

Dolački stari grad near Brestovac consists of the remains of a medieval tower and fortification. The site was built in the 14th century to defend the entrance to the Požega Valley during Ottoman incursions. Only the southern half of the defensive tower remains. Its structure, date and purpose are linked: the tower’s remains point to a fortification whose function was connected with protecting access to the valley.

Church ruins and archaeological sites

The remains of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian lie in the Kuzma Forest near Dolac; they are Romanesque. Kuzma-Gradina is about 500 metres from the church ruins. There are two concentric ramparts there, and pottery fragments from the Late Middle Ages and prehistoric times have been found. The roughly 500 metres between the sites provide a concrete point of reference: church architecture stands alongside a fortification with finds from different periods.

Šašnice and Katunišća near Dolac have also been identified as medieval settlement sites. Medieval pottery fragments form part of their archaeological classification; the site has preventive protection status.

The chronological perspective also distinguishes the sites. The fortification at Dolački grad was built in the 14th century; the pottery finds from Kuzma-Gradina include traces from prehistoric times and the Late Middle Ages. There is also a Romanesque church, as well as Šašnice and Katunišća, identified as medieval settlement sites. A comparison therefore brings together not only different dates, but also different types of evidence: defensive architecture, religious buildings and settlement finds.

On foot and as part of the hiking route

The “Pet fortresses of Požeška Gora” hiking circuit includes Dolački grad as one of its five checkpoints. On the route, the site is listed as checkpoint 4 at an elevation of 367 metres. From Dolac, a faintly marked path leads to Dolački grad in about 45 minutes on foot. The markings may change; check the route on site before setting off. A gravel forest road also leads to Dolački stari grad.

The footpath and the circuit help with two different decisions: the roughly 45-minute walking time describes access from Dolac, while the checkpoint number locates Dolački grad among the five points. You can therefore consider the site as a standalone destination on the footpath or as part of the themed circuit.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Novo Zvečevo, Brestovac, Pavlovci

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