Hvar – French fort (Napoljun)

Fortress Napoljun (Napoleon) was built on the hill of St. Nikola northeast of Hvar during the French administration, on the site of a former medieval church and observatory. It has a rectangular ground plan with a bastion on the northern rampart and towers at the corners. A larger square tower is located in the centre of the fortress. The entire population of the island worked on its construction for minimal compensation under the threat that French soldiers would move into their houses if they did not respond to the call to work. The fortress was used to monitor the waters around the town of Hvar, and today houses an astronomical observatory.