Lokrum Island, located just off the coast of Dubrovnik, is shrouded in a dark and fascinating legend known as the "Curse of Lokrum." According to history, Benedictine monks founded an abbey there in 1023, but they were eventually expelled by French Napoleonic forces in the early 19th century. Enraged by their forced removal, the monks reportedly circumnavigated the island three times in a midnight procession, holding candles upside down to leave a trail of wax and chanting, "Whosoever claims Lokrum for his own personal pleasure shall be damned!" The legend grew as subsequent owners—including the Austrian Archduke Maximilian (later the ill-fated Emperor of Mexico) and Crown Prince Rudolf—suffered tragic, unnatural deaths. Today, local lore advises visitors never to stay on the island overnight and to leave nothing behind, as the curse is said to still haunt those who try to possess it for themselves.
Of course! The story of Lokrum Island is a captivating blend of legend, royal tragedy, monastic curses, botanical beauty, and modern literary inspiration. Located just 600 meters off the coast of Dubrovnik, Croatia, its serene appearance belies a dramatic history.
Here is the story of Lokrum Island, broken down into its key chapters:
The island’s recorded history begins in 1023 with the founding of a Benedictine monastery. According to the most famous legend, in 1192, Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was shipwrecked on Lokrum while returning from the Crusades. In gratitude for his salvation, he vowed to build a church on the island. At the request of Dubrovnik’s citizens, he instead funded the construction of the city’s cathedral.
The monastery thrived for centuries until 1808, when Napoleon’s French forces dissolved the monastery. As the last monks were forced to leave, the story goes that they performed a solemn ritual curse on the island. Dressed in their hooded robes, they walked backwards around the island three times, holding candles upside down, dripping wax on the ground. They proclaimed that misfortune would befall any future private owner of Lokrum. This curse is a central pillar of the island’s folklore.
In the 19th century, Lokrum caught the eye of Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg (later the ill-fated Emperor of Mexico). Before his departure for Mexico, he purchased the island in 1859 with his wife, Charlotte. They built a summer residence (the “Maximilian’s Castle”) and, inspired by their travels, began transforming the island’s landscape. They introduced exotic plants from around the world, founding the island’s magnificent botanical garden. Many of these species, like eucalyptus and agave, thrive there today.
The “monks’ curse” is said to have manifested in the tragic fates of subsequent owners: Maximilian was executed by firing squad in Mexico in 1867. The next owner, Captain Tomašević from Dubrovnik, went