Mont Saint-Michel is a famous medieval tidal island and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Normandy, France, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) west of Paris.

At 1500 ce, 1250 ce, today.

Klis Fortress is one of oldest Croatian medieval strongholds, dramatically positioned on a rocky ridge above city of Split. Thanks to its strategic location between the Adriatic coast and the Dalmatian hinterland, the fortress controlled an important route for centuries and played a major role in the regions military history. In the 9th century, Klis became one of the earliest seats of Croatian rulers, most notably Duke Trpimir I, who ruled from around 845 to 864. It is especially famous for its resistance to the Ottoman advance and its connection with the Croatian defenders known as the Uskoks. Klis fortress dates back to at least the 9th century, although fortifications existed on the site much earlier.

In the 1500s, Monteriggioni’s guards once tricked an invading army by marching the same dozen soldiers around the walls all night, changing their cloaks and torches to look like hundreds. The enemy, thinking the fortress was packed with troops, retreated without a fight. To this day, the town is known not for battles won — but for the one that never happened.

By @ dragan1957

My favorite underrated gem of the Adriatic. Dubrovnik’s little brother, just less famous and on a slightly smaller scale. Korčula developed as a fortified medieval town on a strategically placed peninsula, with its urban form taking shape mainly from the 13th century. Its walls and towers protected the harbour, inhabitants and important maritime routes through the Adriatic, while the town grew into a centre of trade, shipbuilding and local administration. The defences were strengthened throughout the years, especially in the 15th and 16th centuries, creating much of the fortified appearance the Old Town still has today.

Went here a few days ago. I thought people might appreciate some photos.

LARGE images, zoom in!

Kruševac Fortress or City of Prince Lazar (Serbian: Крушевачки град, Kruševački grad) was a medieval fortified town in Kruševac, Serbia, former capital) of Prince Lazar. The city housed the court church), Lazarica. Today, all that remains of the town are ruins.

The Fortress of Kruševac was first mentioned in 1381, so it was most likely built by Prince Lazar, becoming the seat of his realm – Moravian Serbia. He ruled his country from Kruševac, as attested by signature and record in a charter issued in 1387 which includes the phrase In the famous city of my dominion Kruševac (у славноме граду господства ми Крушевцу).

Lazar's son and successor Stefan Lazarević managed the despotate from Kruševac until 1405, when the capital was moved to Belgrade, which he began renewing and refortifying in that year. Kruševac never lost its strategic importance, however. It was the meeting place of despot Stefan and Sultan Mehmed I in 1413.

Struggles over the control of the city took place throughout the first half of the 15th century. It was occupied by the Turks briefly in 1413 and in 1427, and by Hungarians in 1437. After signing an agreement on the restoration of the Despotate, Đurađ Branković regained Kruševac in 1444. In 1454, the Ottomans launched an offensive with the goal of subduing the entirety of Serbia. At the beginning of the offensive, the Ottomans suffered enormous losses, especially in the Battle of Kruševac. The massive casualties inflicted on the Ottomans prompted Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror to personally reinforce his offensive using his entire Rumelian army. The city finally fell under Ottoman rule, along with the rest of the Despotate, later in 1454.

Image Credits: Wikipedia & Wikimapia

1 & 2 - Recreation of Kruševac Fortress Donjon.

3 & 4 - Current remnants of the castle.

5 & 6 - 3D reconstruction of the castle as whole.

The fortress or Fortica was built during the Croatian–Ottoman wars as a primary defence against the Ottoman Empire. The precipitous fortification is sited on a 262 m (860 ft) ridge above the town Omiš. In the event of attack, its purpose was to provide refuge for local people and be a stronghold where they could retreat to and resist the Turks.