Municipality of Ražanac: Velebit Channel and history in Ljubač

The Municipality of Ražanac lies on the Velebit Channel. One particularly tangible way to explore the municipality’s history leads to Ljubač: there, the former Kastrum Ljuba, the Gothic Church of St. Marcela preserved within its walls, and the historic town center come together. This brings the area’s geographic setting into focus alongside its medieval heritage and settlement structure.

Fortress, church, and historic town center

In the Middle Ages, Kastrum Ljuba was an important fortress in the wider Zadar area. The Gothic Church of St. Marcela is preserved within its walls. These two details give the place a clear historical focus: the fortress situates Ljubač within the history of the wider Zadar area, while the church points to a specific Gothic building within the complex.

Ljubač’s historic town center has narrow lanes and closely spaced houses. This compact settlement pattern adds the structure of the town itself to the picture of the fortress and church. Those interested in historic townscapes will find a different scale here than that of a single church or fortification: the network of lanes and houses is also part of the town center’s character.

In the Middle Ages, Ljubač was surrounded by a defensive wall; remains of this fortification survive in Šekuće. The wall describes the town’s former enclosure, while the surviving remains are specifically associated with Šekuće. These traces of fortification thus add another aspect of local history to the story of Kastrum and the church.

A festival of traditional crafts in 2024

The first festival of traditional crafts in the Municipality of Ražanac took place on the main square on August 31 and September 1, 2024. Traditional crafts such as cold forging, engraving, and calligraphy were demonstrated; there were also interactive medieval games. The two festival days combined craft demonstrations with playful medieval themes. As the inaugural edition, the festival was a clearly defined event in 2024.

Pašman and the wider context of Zadar County

The wider destination of Pašman broadens the view to Zadar County. Among the Adriatic counties, it has the longest coastline: 1,300 kilometers. Its landscape combines a deeply indented coastline and numerous islands with fertile plains, karst and mountain landscapes, and abundant water and forest resources. These features describe the broader regional context; the Municipality of Ražanac’s local geographic setting remains the Velebit Channel.

Protected landscapes are also part of this wider regional picture. Paklenica National Park lies mostly within Zadar County and includes the Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica canyons, as well as more than 150 kilometers of hiking trails. Vransko jezero Nature Park is also in the county; it is an ornithological reserve for 251 bird species. Part of Velebit Nature Park lies within Zadar County.

The wider region’s cultural history can also be explored through routes. The cultural route “Na ruti liburnskog, rimskog i hrvatskog nasljeđa,” published on June 23, 2026, connects Zadar, Benkovac, Asseria, Nin, and Pag in a shared experience of history, culture, and tradition. The “Zadar – Grad utvrda” route leads through the historic layers of the city of Zadar and its significant fortification heritage. As tourism authorities may update route details, it is advisable to check their latest information before planning.

Discover more destinations: Rtina, Razanac, Ljubač, Radovin, Jovići, Municipality of Sukošan, Municipality of Starigrad, Municipality of Stankovci.

For the broader travel overview: Zadar County.