Walls of Ston

The Walls of Ston are the longest complete fortress system in Europe (and second in the world behind the Great Wall of China) and they are known colloquially as ‘The Great Wall of Croatia‘. Reaching over 7 kiometres originally, the walls protected and encircled the city of Stone in Croatia’s Republic of Ragusa and date back to the 14th century.

Fans of Game of Thrones may recognise the Walls of Ston as the fortifications protecting King’s Landing.

Walls of Ston history

The isolated wall system on the Peljesac Peninsula connects Ston with the neighbouring town of Mali (‘little’) Ston. The walls were built following 1358 and construction continued throughout the 14th and 15th centuries with two distinct purposes in mind.

Firstly, the walls would act as the first line of defence for Ston as well as the strategically vital port city of Dubrovnik, 60 kilometres south down the Dalmatian coast; secondly, the walls could safeguard the highly lucrative salt pans in the area which are still operational to this day. The salt produced in Ston is said to be the purest in the entire Mediterranean region.

Walls of Ston today

The limestone walls are shaped like an irregular pentagon and today measure a little over 5 kilometres in length. They were originally built with 40 towers and 5 fortresses although only 20 of the towers survive today. Within the walls, streets are laid out in a perpendicular design.

After almost 50 years of restoration projects (for authenticity, using the same or similar techniques as the original builders used), the walls reopened in 2009. They attract a growing number of tourists, partly to see some of the best defensive walls and fortresses in Europe and partly for arguably the most stunning views of the Adriatic Sea you’ll find along the Dalmatian coast.

You can also stop at a number of hillside restaurants serving what are claimed to be some of the best oysters in the world, eaten literally metres from where they are farmed.

Getting to the Walls of Ston

Ston can be easily reached by local buses from Dubrovnik, and take around an hour and 15 minutes. Otherwise you can get a bus from Zagreb Central Bus Station or Korcula Bus Station.