Visit Bizantinski Kastrum, Brijuni National Park, Croatia

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Byzantine castrum is the name of an archaeological site in Veli Brijun (Brijuni). The name is not entirely appropriate because this is not a military, but a civilian settlement that only partially served military purposes. The late antique settlement was surrounded by thick walls , except on the sea side, where they are much weaker, and the main, eastern gate was completely protected. Within the walls, after the 5th century, a settlement developed from many small residential units, which were not organically planned and were probably an adaptation of an older Roman farm building , with pressesand storages for oil and wine. With the decline of the economy of the classic Roman country villa , it was gradually transformed into a series of smaller residential spaces, which, with the arrival of new residents, spread to the surrounding area until the entire area in the 6th century. century it was not surrounded by walls. Instead of the former large presses, the inhabitants of late antique settlements used small home presses for their needs. The settlement flourished between the 6th and 8th centuries , and then probably gradually declined. The large defensive building in Madona Bay is also characterized by a proper floor plan. The remains of buildings found inside the walls bear witness to life until the 16th century . Nearby are the remains of the three-nave basilica of St. Mary from VI. century. In the narthex of the basilica and around it was an early Christian cemetery of monolithic sarcophagi , the remains of which are found in the surrounding meadows. Very early on , the Benedictines built their own abbey next to the basilica , the remains of which have been preserved to this day. It was abandoned in 1312 due to the plagueand the first collapse occurred. It was renovated and rebuilt in the 16th century and was in use until the end of the 18th century . Above the basilica are the remains of the church of St. Peter from VI. century. The quadrangular three-story defensive tower of residential and defensive significance dates from the XIII century. century , and the castle building and another profane building from the beginning of the 16th century.

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