Name and Location

The Svjetionik Rt Oštro (Cape Oštro Lighthouse) is located in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia, on the western side of the Kvarner Gulf. Its precise address is Šetalište Vladimira Nazora 1, 51262 Kraljevica, Croatia, and its coordinates are 45°16′22.94″ N, 14°33′37.43″ E (decimal: 45.2730399, 14.5603961).

2. Construction and History

The lighthouse was commissioned in 1872 during the Austro-Hungarian period to improve safety for merchant and passenger vessels navigating into the Bay of Bakar and the northern Adriatic corridors. It has operated continuously since construction, adapting over time from oil-based lamps to electric illumination and full automation.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse consists of a short cylindrical tower (approximately 7-8 m tall) surmounted by a modest lantern, standing on a natural rock plinth. The structure is made of traditional local masonry (stone and brick) with a whitewashed finish. Its style is functional 19th-century maritime architecture, austere and utilitarian in form.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse operates fully automated and remotely monitored by Plovput's control center. Although the light characteristic and nominal range are not publicly disclosed, it is likely that the light flashes white every 5-10 seconds with a nominal range of 10-12 nautical miles typical for coastal Adriatic lights.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can access the lighthouse exterior along the shoreline promenade. However, interior access is not open to the general public; there are no visitor center or museum facilities on site. To reach the lighthouse, follow Šetalište Vladimira Nazora westwards on foot or by car to reach the promontory parking area, then a short path leads to the lighthouse.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers sweeping views across Kvarner Bay toward the Učka Mountain, the islands of Krk and Cres, and the port of Rijeka to the northeast. The surrounding environment is characterized by a rocky coastline with sparse Mediterranean scrub, popular for coastal walks, swimming, and small-boat anchorage in calm weather.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

There are no notable anecdotes or folklore associated with this lighthouse.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse's technical specifications include being fully automated and remotely monitored by Plovput's control center, with a focal plane approximately 10 m above sea level.

9. Further Information

For more information, visit the official entry on the Plovput website at https://www.plovput.hr/pomorska-signalizacija/svjetionici/svjetionik/a/view/id/24 or consult the Croatian Hydrographic Institute series for the Kvarner Gulf (chart no. 67).