Talk:Fortress of Klis/Archive 1

Layout
Made some changes to the layout of the Architecture section. Feel free to revert if this is less than optimal. GregorB (talk) 10:27, 25 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Well, it is better to have a text as a part of an image. But I was thinking to implement text from section: Interesting Notes into article. So, that section would become redundant, which would make a mess in layout. I guess we will see...Regards, Kebeta (talk) 14:41, 25 March 2010 (UTC)
 * My thoughts also - Interesting Notes looks like a trivia section, something reviewers probably won't like. In that case layout will have to change - hopefully not for the worse... GregorB (talk) 16:12, 25 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Take a look, it is the best I can do...for now..Kebeta (talk) 18:10, 25 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Very good, in fact... GregorB (talk) 19:10, 25 March 2010 (UTC)

Fortress outskirts
The city-fortress Klis rises on a bare cliff. It is divided into two parts. The first, lower part is on the west and it is out top by Mount Greben from the north. The second, higher part is on the east, and includes the tower "Oprah", whose name most likely refers to a specific part in the defense. In this, section which was not topped by any side, was located the flat of the Commander. The only entrance into the fortress is from the western side. On the southwest side of the fortress, and bellow it was a resort called "Borgo, suburbium", surrounded by double walls with 100-200 towers. A similar but smaller resort existed below Mount Greben on a plateau called Megdan. This included lazarettoes and quarantines which were in Turkish times called "nazanama". There were also many inns for travellers. They were used for isolation during epidemics. Thus, the coastal towns, primarily the town of Split was protected from epidemics that came from Bosnia. Near the fortress, there were several sources of drinking water, and the closest was the "Holy Biblical Magi" whose importance was invaluable during long sieges.

The first fort
From the earliest known fort, which was located on the highest eastern side, so far no remains were found. This oldest fort (roman castrum), was still there after the Fall of the Roman Empire, and used by Croatian dux Trpimir, which is known from the discovery of a stone fragment on a gable arch from an altar screen, inscribed with the prince's name and title.

The first defensive line
Today many building mostly from the Venetian and Austrian period of the fortress of Klis are partially or entirely are preserved. The fort actually consists of three parts, enclosed by walls with separate entrances. The first main entrance was built by the Austrians in the early 19th century, on the place of old Venetian entrance. Left of the entrance there is a fortification erected by the Venetians in the early 18th century. Also near the main entrance there is a "position Avanzato" built in 1648, which was also repeatedly renewed afterwards. On the ground floor of the fortification there is a narrow over-vaulted corridor, which is called a Casemate.

The second defensive line
The second entrance leads to the former medieval part of the fortress previously ruled by Croatian nobility, and was significantly damaged in the siege of 1648. Venetians fully restored the second entrance, but its current aspect was made by Austrians during the early 19th century. Near the second entrance, along the northern wall there is fortress-tower called "Oprah", the most important medieval fortification of the western part of the fortress. It was mentioned for the first time in 1355, but later the Venetians made the lower crown on it. Nearby of the entrance are artillery barracks, built by the Austrians in the first half of the 19th century. In 1931 its upper floor was ruined, so now only the ground floor remains.

The third defensive line
The second entrance leads to the former medieval part build in the early Middle Ages. The Venetians renewed it several times after conquest, and the last upgrade was in 1763. Within this part there is the side tower, built during the 18th century, and completed in 1763. Following is a repository of weapons built in the mid-17th century and old powder magazine from 18th century. House of Dux or later called governor’s residence was built in the mid-17th century. It was built on the foundations of the oldest buildings from the period of Croatian kings.

Austrians repaired this building, and there were placed commandments unity of the fortress and Engineering. On the top point of the fortress was "New gun powder storage", built in the early 19th century.

The third defense line was also almost entirely self-preserved church of St. Vida. Built by the Turks after the conquest of Klis in 1537 as a mosque on a site of an Old Croatian Catholic church. It was square-shaped with the dome and minaret. Immediately after liberation in 1648, the Venetians converted it into a Roman Catholic church and dedicated it to St. Vida. It is simple constructed square with the octagonal stone roof. There used to be three Altars, dedicated to St. Vid, Virgin Mary and St. Barbara, but today the church has no inventory. In the he church there is a Baroque stone sink from the 17th century, which served as a baptistery where ther is engraved the year 1658. West of the church is the bastion of Bembo, the largest artillery position in the third defense line and in the whole fortress. In has wide holes for guns, and was built on half of 17th century on the site of former Kružić's tower and the defensive positions of Speranza.

'This is expended architecture section which I am going to correct (copyedited) and that implement into the article. It is full of grammar errors, and written with very bad prose. If somebody with better English is willing to help, that would be great.' Regards, Kebeta (talk) 22:23, 30 April 2010 (UTC)