Visuć Fortress
Drvar · Visućica canyon
Preodac · Bosansko Grahovo · Medieval fortress · ruins
Momčilova Kula
Momčilova kula stands above Preodac in the Unac landscape; its building phases remain under study.
- Location
- Preodac · Bosansko Grahovo
- Local name
- Unac · Tičin grad · Momčilova kula
- Historical period
- Medieval fortress · ruins
The ruins above Preodac are commonly associated with medieval Unac. The municipal strategy recognizes the site, while a 2025 archaeological conference abstract notes unresolved building phases and possible earlier fabric. The name Momčilova kula belongs to local tradition; it does not establish that the epic hero built or occupied the fortress. Much less of the tower survives than older descriptions imply.
Explore the 3D modelHistory and context
Unac and the popular name
Bosansko Grahovo’s municipal strategy calls the site the medieval tower of Unac, popularly Momčilova kula. It also records deterioration of the masonry. This distinguishes the archaeological place from a literal biography of the hero whose name it now bears.
Could some masonry be older?
A 2025 Croatian Archaeological Society conference abstract by Emil Kmetič-Marceau notes architectural elements that may indicate an earlier, possibly late-antique phase. This is a research proposal, not an established date for the entire ruin. The distinction matters: a medieval fortress can contain earlier fabric without every visible wall belonging to that earlier period.
Why the surrounding landscape matters
Bosansko Grahovo’s municipal strategy places the Unac tower alongside stećak sites and other archaeological remains in a region between Bosnia, Dalmatia and Lika. This wider setting is useful when considering why an apparently remote ruin deserves attention: its history belongs to a populated landscape, not just an isolated hero’s tale. The strategy itself stresses limited archaeological investigation. Nearby ancient material therefore cannot automatically date the tower. Comparing the surrounding terrain and documented sites is a starting point for investigation, while a precise building sequence still requires evidence from the monument itself.
Through the centuries
Medieval period
Fortification documented in historical or archaeological references.
Surviving landscape
Ruins and topography preserve evidence of the defensive site.
Architecture & evidence
Broken rectangular tower
The published archaeological account describes a rectangular tower, while later photographs show substantial loss. This study leaves the shell broken instead of restoring four intact storeys.
Descending terraces
Four descending levels organize the narrow court in the archaeological description. Heights and retaining-wall survival are estimated.
Name and legend
Momčilova kula is a traditional name. It is not proof that the epic hero Momčilo built the fort; its archaeological phases remain under study.
Plan your visit
The directions pin identifies the historical site; confirm current access and the final walking approach locally.
Get directionsHistorical sources
- Historical or institutional site reference
- OpenStreetMap · actual mapped fort, © contributors / ODbL
- Grahovo field study · photos and archaeological description, pp. 24–25
- Croatian Archaeological Society · 2025 conference abstract on building phases
How to read this history
A first written mention is not necessarily a construction date. Fortresses were often altered over several centuries. Sections link to their supporting references; the 3D model is an interpretation, not evidence of every historical phase.