Lokrum has a long and colourful history. A Benedictine monastery was founded here in 1023, and legend tells that the monks laid a curse on the island when they were forced to leave. In 1859 Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg, later Emperor of Mexico, had a summer residence built here with exotic gardens, and the peacocks that still roam freely today are said to descend from birds he brought to the island. A botanical garden was founded on the island in 1959.
Shaded paths lead visitors through pine and oak woods to the monastery ruins, the cloister gardens and the botanical garden. On the southern side lies the Dead Sea, a small saltwater lake connected to the open sea through underground passages and popular for a gentle swim. A walk up to Fort Royal, begun by the French in 1806 on the island’s highest point, rewards you with views of Dubrovnik’s walls. Rocky coves around the shore are ideal for swimming.
Half a day on Lokrum is the perfect complement to sightseeing in Dubrovnik.
