March the 18th, 2026 – There is an old Croatian defence tower on an island that defended it against marauding Ottomans, pirates and so on for centuries, until it doubled up as a disco club…

As Putni kofer writes, in one of the most charming old island towns in Croatia, Cres, the beauty of the colourful facades that have lined the coast for centuries is guarded by the watchful gaze of a steadfast stone guardian. It is referred to as the Cres Tower or the Forteca Tower, and it is located a little further away from the hustle and bustle of the waterfront and moored boats, high on a hill above the old town’s heart. This Croatian defence tower witnessed various dramatic events, from Ottoman threats to horribly bad dancing when it turned into a disco club!

Turning the clock back to the reign of the venetian empire…

First, let’s turn the clock all the way back. In ancient times, gorgeous old Cres looked completely different than it does today. It was surrounded by an extensive fortification system of mighty walls and towers that protected its inhabitants for countless centuries. The Forteca Tower is the only one that has remained totally preserved out of a total of five towers that once kept a vigilant watch over the settlement. Located at the highest point of the defensive walls, it was connected to the rest of the fortifications via what are now streets.

Owing to its excellent, elevated position, this old Croatian defence tower played an extremely important role long before it turned into a highly unusual disco club. It served not only to defend Cres, but also as a key point for observing the surrounding area and the open sea. It was constructed back in the early 16th century during the rule of the mighty Venetian Empire, along with the rest of the defensive system that once shaped the appearance of Cres. It was made from massive stone blocks, the same solid material from which the city walls were built, and extends over three floors. Over the many centuries, it has been renovated several times in order to preserve its stability and historical value.

the promenade – a living island history

This system of city walls and defensive towers protected Cres all the way up until the 18th century, when its decline and eventual demolition began. It was partially demolished at the end of the 19th century, and then again after World War II drew to a close. The rest was destroyed after World War II, and a large part of the material it was made from ended up in other buildings across Cres. In addition to this tower, several fragments of walls and three city gates remain. Two of them are located on the promenade, and one sits under the clock tower.

On the promenade sit Porta Bragadina, a gate built in 1581, and Porta Marcella, dating from the year 1588. They are decorated with the coats of arms of the prince-captain families whose names they bear and in whose era they were constructed. The third gate is the harbour gate, which was used to enter the heart of Cres from the harbour, and is called the gate of St. Nicholas (Sveti Nikola).

The Forteca tower offers a fantastic view of Cres and the Bay of Cres itself, but it is unfortunately not always open to the public outside of special events.

from mighty croatian defence tower to a most unusual disco club

In addition to its defensive and reconnaissance function, in more recent times, this Croatian defence tower has even served as a catering establishment and a disco club. It has also been listed as a protected cultural monument. In terms of its surface area, excluding the staircase and ground floor, it is 76 square metres, with another 34 square metres “hidden away” on the terrace.

Cres, as the second place with the longest tourist tradition in the entire Adriatic, is very well known for its Renaissance palaces. Of particular importance is the stunning Arsan, the oldest patrician palace on all of Cres, which is now home to the interesting Cres Museum. Cres is also home to the Petris-Moise Palace, which, at 1,800 square metres, is one of the largest palaces on any Croatian island.

Subscribe to our newsletter

the fields marked with * are required