Church of St. Lucy

The Church of St. Lucy in Jurandvor is a Romanesque Catholic church from around 1100, set on the island of Krk in Croatia, close to the town of Baška. It is best known as the place where the Baška tablet was found, one of the most important monuments of Croatian literacy.

Why visit the Church of St. Lucy?

The building is small, but its significance for Croatian cultural history is huge. In the middle of the 19th century a stone slab carrying one of the oldest known texts in the Croatian language, written in the Glagolitic script, came to light here. For anyone interested in history, language or early writing systems, it is one of the most rewarding stops on the island.

What is the history of the church?

The church is dated to around 1100 and belongs to the Romanesque tradition. Excavations confirmed that it stands on the site of an earlier church from the 6th century. A carving on the bell tower is suspected to be one of the earliest depictions of the Croatian coat of arms. Art historian Pavuša Vežić disputes the usual dating of that carving, arguing that it was added later, in the late Romanesque period.

What is the Baška tablet?

The Baška tablet is a slab of white limestone measuring roughly 199 x 99.5 x 9 cm, dating from about 1100. It is regarded as the oldest monument with text in the Croatian language and the Glagolitic script. The inscription runs to thirteen lines and nearly 100 words, and it records a land grant made by King Zvonimir to the church.

When and how was the tablet discovered?

Petar Dorčić found it on 15 September 1851 while the church floor was being paved. Before that, the slab had served as part of the altar rail and was later built into the floor, which severely damaged it. Since 1934 the original has been kept at the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb.

Can you see the tablet in the church?

The original is not in Jurandvor, but a copy is displayed inside the church. It lets you see the inscription in the very place where it was discovered.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Church of St. Lucy? In Jurandvor, near Baška on the island of Krk, Croatia.

How old is the church? It dates to around 1100, and it was built over the remains of a 6th-century church.

Is the original Baška tablet in the church? No. The original has been in Zagreb since 1934; the church displays a copy.

What does the inscription say? It records King Zvonimir's grant of land to the church, written in Croatian in Glagolitic script.

Who is this place for? History lovers, fans of Romanesque architecture and anyone interested in Slavic written heritage. A visit does not take long, so it combines easily with exploring nearby Baška and its beaches.