Trsteno Arboretum
A centuries-old Mediterranean arboretum near Dubrovnik, Croatia
Trsteno Arboretum is a historic garden and plant collection on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, close to Dubrovnik. Founded in the late 1400s by a noble family, it features a Renaissance park, rare ancient plane trees, and a wide range of Mediterranean and exotic plants. Visitors explore landscaped grounds, old architecture, and living botanical history.
- Founded in the late 1400s by a noble family near Dubrovnik
- Features two Oriental plane trees over 500 years old
- Includes Croatia’s oldest Renaissance garden, designed in 1502
- Suffered major damage in 1991 and 2000 but key features survived
- Used as a filming location for Game of Thrones
What is Trsteno Arboretum?
Trsteno Arboretum stretches over 25 hectares along the Adriatic, blending formal gardens, wooded areas, and architectural features. The grounds include a Renaissance park built around a 15th-century summer house, a 19th-century landscaped section, and a network of paths shaded by mature trees. Among its highlights are two massive Oriental plane trees, each centuries old, with trunks several meters wide. The arboretum is known for its collection of Mediterranean and exotic plant species, water features, and historic aqueduct.
The history of Trsteno Arboretum
The arboretum began in the late 15th century, when the Gucetic-Gozze family established a garden at their summer estate in Trsteno. They asked sailors to bring back seeds and unusual plants from their voyages, helping the collection grow. An aqueduct built in 1492 brought water to the gardens, and the Renaissance park was laid out in 1502. Over time, the property expanded and changed hands, eventually being recognized as a protected landscape and natural rarity in the mid-20th century.
What there is to see
Visitors today can walk through different sections: the oldest Renaissance garden, the 19th-century park at Drvarica, and areas planted with both local and imported species. The original aqueduct still supplies water to the gardens. The arboretum is designed to showcase a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers, with paths leading past fountains, sculptures, and the remains of the noble family’s residence.
When to go
Trsteno Arboretum is open to the public and serves as a place for botanical study, recreation, and heritage tourism. It is best known for its historic landscape, rare trees, and as a filming location for television. The site is protected as a natural monument and is valued for both its plant collections and its role in Croatian garden history.
Parts and collections
The arboretum contains several distinct areas, including the Renaissance garden, the 19th-century park, and the central square with its ancient plane trees. The plantings reflect centuries of collecting, with Mediterranean species alongside exotics brought from abroad. The two Oriental planes are especially notable for their age and size.
Why Trsteno Arboretum matters
Trsteno Arboretum is recognized as the oldest Renaissance garden in Croatia and holds a special place in the region’s garden heritage. Its ancient plane trees are rare in Europe. The site gained international attention as a filming location for the television series Game of Thrones, where it appeared as the palace gardens in King's Landing.
Questions people ask about Trsteno Arboretum
Where is Trsteno Arboretum located?
Trsteno Arboretum is in the village of Trsteno, on Croatia’s southern coast, not far from the city of Dubrovnik.
How old is the arboretum?
The arboretum dates back to the late 15th century, with its Renaissance garden established in 1502 and an aqueduct built in 1492.
What is special about the trees at Trsteno?
Two Oriental plane trees in the arboretum are more than 500 years old, with massive trunks and impressive height, making them unique in Europe.
What happened to the arboretum during the war?
In 1991, the arboretum was damaged by fire and attacks during the Croatian War of Independence, and another fire in 2000 destroyed a large area, but the oldest trees survived.
Has Trsteno Arboretum appeared in popular culture?
Yes, it was used as the setting for the palace gardens in King's Landing in the television series Game of Thrones.
Good reading and sources
- Trsteno Arboretum on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Trsteno Arboretum", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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