On a short ferry ride from Dubrovnik Port, Lokrum is an island that boggles the mind with its rich and sometimes even scary history. Its name comes from the Latin name for the sour fruit “acrumen’ as Lokrum has a long tradition of cultivating exotic plants since the arrival of the Benedictine church order on the island. Lokrum houses a monastery and a botanical park from the era od Austrian archduke Maximilan who once had a holiday home on this island. Legend has it King Richard the Lionheart was saved and cast ashore on Lokrum after a shipwreck on his way back home from The Third Crusade and consequently built a church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubrovnik.
Among the numerous legends being told about the island of Lokrum, there is one particular that will make your blood run cold: the Benedictine monks were ordered off the island since the French army led by Napoleon occupied the former Republic of Dubrovnik. On a last day before their departure, the monks put a curse on the island while circling the island three times in a mysterious procession. Hidden under the hoods with their candles lit and turned upside down, the monks were murmuring the following words: “Whosoever claims Lokrum for his own personal pleasure shall be damned!” Since history showed this curse had fulfilled its promise with each former owner deceasing suspiciously, even today no one wants to claim the island of Lokrum.
Rumour has it that even if you stay there overnight, you will not see the light of dawn.
Last ferry leaves the island at 8 p.m. so make sure to catch it. Just sayin’.
