The Legend of the Lokrum Curse Whosoever claims Lokrum for his own personal pleasure shall be damned! The legend is associated with the founding of the Benedictine monastery on the island of Lokrum. According to this legend, a great fire erupted in Dubrovnik somewhere around the year 1023.

The "cursed island" in Dubrovnik is Lokrum, a beautiful emerald isle located just a short 10-minute boat ride from the Old Town port. According to local legend, the curse dates back to the late 18th century when the French army ordered the Benedictine monks to leave the island. Distraught, the monks held a final mass and then circled the island three times in a somber procession, carrying inverted candles and dripping a trail of wax while chanting, "Whosoever claims Lokrum for his own personal pleasure shall be damned." Since then, many of the island’s subsequent owners—including members of the Austrian Habsburg family—met with tragic ends, including bankruptcy, illness, or assassination. Today, the curse is a popular piece of folklore that dictates no one is allowed to stay on the island overnight. Visitors are welcomed during the day to explore the botanical gardens and peacocks, but they must return to the mainland by the final ferry to avoid the "shadows" of the monks.