Badanj fort

In the immediate vicinity of Crikvenica, alongside the stream of Dubračina, is the rather small yet strategically very well positioned fort of Badanj, the oldest remnant of medieval fortification architecture in the Vinodol region. The original name of this hilltop fort, which was abandoned after a big earthquake in the 14th century, remains unknown. Connected to the history of Badanj is the legend of a buried treasure trove that is protected by a large snake. The first Croatian settlers to this area heard about this legend from the indigenous people who lived here before they arrived. The snake is an Old Mediterranean divinity symbol, and legends of buried treasure are quite common in the areas of Crikvenica Riviera and Vinodol.