About 10km (6 miles) inland from Split, Klis is a modest-looking village that spills down the hill beneath Kastel Klis, a fortress (Tvrdava) that has a long history as one of Croatia's most important defensive positions. Records first mention the fortress in the 7th century and go on to enumerate its long list of occupiers, starting with the invading medieval Avars and ending with Italian and German Axis forces in World War II. Today the once-imposing fortress still affords a spectacular view of the three roads that lead into Klis, but the interior, while impressive in scope and design, is essentially devoid of artifacts.