I have been to ... the walls and defences of Dubrovnik: A photo-essay

During my recent trip to the Adriatic I was able to walk around parts of the ancient walls and defences of Dubrovnik. The following photo-essay shows what I saw.

Map showing the walls, the major fortresses, and some of the main buildings of Dubrovnik.

The outer entrance of the Pile Gate. The dry moat outside the walls is crossed by a stone bridge and drawbridge, and this is protected by this half-tower.

The walls looking from the Pile Gate towards the Bokar Fortress. The dry moat is now used as a park and gardens.

Another view of the tower shown in the centre of the previous photograph.

The Bokar Fortress. It commands a small inlet at the western end of Dubrovnik.

Across the narrow gap that forms the inlet is an outwork known as St Lawrence Fortress.

One of the bastions that protect the wall between the Pile Gate and the Minčeta Fortress.

The tower of the Minčeta Fortress as seen from the dry moat just below the bridge to the outer part of the Pile Gate.

A more detailed photograph of the tower of the Minčeta Fortress.

The inner part of the Pile Gate. It is reached from the outer part by a set of stairs and a slope.

The Old Harbour of Dubrovnik as seen from the walls near the Ploče Gate.

St John's Fortress as seen from the walls near the Ploče Gate. 

Another view of the Old Harbour as seen from the walls near the Ploče Gate.

A more detailed photograph of the bastion shown on the previous photograph.

An old (and somewhat damaged) cannon on the walls near the Ploče Gate.  

Another view of the old cannon on the walls near the Ploče Gate.

The outer part of the Ploče Gate, looking westwards. Like the Pile Gate, there is a stone bridge and drawbridge.

The inner part of the Ploče gate. The tower of the Dominican Monastery can be seen in the background.

The tower of the Dominican Monastery can be seen rising above this photograph of the northern part of Dubrovnik's Old Harbour. This photograph was taken from St John's Fortress.

Another photograph of the northern part of the Old Harbour. The Revelin Fortress can just be seen behind the trees.

St John's Fortress as seen from the waterfront of the Old Harbour.

The Revelin Fortress. Although not part of the walls of Dubrovnik, it protects the approaches to the Ploče gate and the northern part of the Old Harbour.

A general view of the Old Harbour. The photograph was taken from the foot of St John's Fortress, and the towers of the Dominican Monastery, the Minčeta Fortress, and the Sponza Palace can clearly be seen.

The tower of the Minčeta Fortress as seen from St John's Fortress.

Another photograph of the Revelin Fortress showing the stone bridge and outer part of the Ploče Gate.

The eastern seaward side of St John's Fortress.

The south eastern seaward side of St John's Fortress and the walls that form the southern defences of Dubrovnik.

Some photographs of the cannons situated outside the Maritime Museum that is located in St. John's Fortress.

The towers of the Minčeta Fortress and Sponza Palace as seen from St John's Fortress.