Zadar's Betrayal — Uncover Dandolo's Crusade Conspiracy
Decode the Venetian Doge's treachery: how Enrico Dandolo diverted the Fourth Crusade to sack Christian Zadar in 1202. Uncover the hidden conspiracy that changed history.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1202, the Fourth Crusade arrived in Zadar—a Christian city—under the command of the elderly Venetian Doge Enrico Dandolo
Zadar's Betrayal — Uncover Dandolo's Crusade Conspiracy
You are a Venetian archivist, commissioned in 1202 by Doge Enrico Dandolo, to hide evidence of the conspiracy that would besiege Zadar.
Your mission begins at Foša Old
Delve into Zadar's medieval ramparts, where the Fourth Crusade's betrayal sealed the fate of a Dalmatian city and Venice's rise.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
« Never cease fighting for freedom »— Historical motto of the city of Zadar
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins at Foša Old Port in Zadar, a medieval fortified harbor dug in 1574 by the Venetians to protect the city from Ottoman attacks. It was here, on these waters, that Venetian Crusaders led by Doge Enrico Dandolo besieged and conquered Zadar in 1202, during the Fourth Crusade. The bastioned ramparts, approximately 300 meters long, bear witness to 16th-century Venetian architecture. Zadar was then a strategic point for Dalmatian trade, rivaling Venice, which led to its sacking in November 1202. You must find traces of this historical diversion before they are permanently erased.
Continue towards the Monastery and Church of St. Mary, a monastic site founded in the 11th century. The Romanesque church was rebuilt in 1564 by Benedictine nuns, under Venetian rule. This complex, adjacent to the ramparts, houses a pinacotheca with 16th-century works linked to the Republic of Venice. Its 45-meter bell tower, added in 1507, served as a watchtower against Ottoman threats. This site, active since 1091, was a silent witness to the Franciscan and Benedictine presence in medieval Zadar, and may hold compromising documents about the 1202 betrayal.
The Cathedral of St. Anastasia (Katedrala sv. Stošije), built between 1091 and 1166 in Romanesque style, is your next stop. Its facade adorned with 12th-century sculpted portals may conceal coded messages. The main edifice of the Diocese of Zadar since the 11th century, it was damaged during medieval conflicts, including the post-1202 Venetian period. Its 27-meter Romanesque bell tower, completed in 1452, offers views of Foša Old Port and the fortifications. This site is intrinsically linked to Dalmatian ecclesiastical history under Venetian domination, and archives revealing the Doge's profound motivations might be hidden there.
Next, head to the Five Wells Square (Trg pet bunara), built in 1574 by the Venetians. Its five Renaissance wells, each about 13 meters deep, were part of the essential water supply system during Venetian sieges, particularly after the 1202 conquest. Surrounded by 16th-century Venetian palaces, in the heart of the fortified quarter visible from Foša, this square was a crucial hub. The wells, decorated with stone balustrades, with an estimated total capacity of 2000 m³ of rainwater, supplied the besieged city and its occupants, whether Venetian or Crusader. The secrets of a resilient city are buried here.
Finally, your journey will lead you to the Provveditore's Palace (Palača Providurova), a 16th-century Venetian palace. Built around 1560, with its Renaissance loggia and Venetian coat of arms, this residence of the Provveditori of the Republic of Venice in Zadar, less than 500m from Foša, is a symbol of reaffirmed Venetian domination after the 1202 crusade. Its 20-meter wide facade, restored in 2005, preserves Gothic-Renaissance elements. By exploring these historical sites of Zadar, from St. Chrysogonus Church to the Archaeological Museum of Zadar, you piece together the puzzle of Dandolo's betrayal, understanding how the city fought for its freedom, a motto still relevant for Zadar.
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Spy Messages
Intercept coded messages from Venetian spies, hidden in walls or monuments, to thwart their plans.
Venetian Cryptogram
Decipher an ancient Venetian code to reveal Doge Dandolo's secrets and his ambitions of conquest.
Judgment of History
Evaluate the motivations of different actors and the betrayals of the era to understand the political stakes.
Ambition has no limits, nor faith.
Thwart the machinations of Doge Dandolo and protect the innocent.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play la trahison de dandolo? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Delve into Zadar's medieval ramparts, where the Fourth Crusade's betrayal sealed the fate of a Dalmatian city and Venice's rise.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in Zadar Old Town
See all games in Zadar Old Town→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
Zadar Old Town — Red Gold Conspiracy
Uncover the Venetian conspiracy behind Zadar's stolen Red Gold: the Maraschino recipe vanished from merchant vaults. Decode ledgers, decipher symbols on ancient stones to reclaim the secret formula.
Zadar Old Town — The Relics of Zadar
Uncover the secret trail of sacred relics hidden across Zadar’s Old Town after a broken crusader oath triggers a centuries‑old curse.
Other escape games in Croatie
View Croatie→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
Explore other cities in Croatie
Sibenik
Between medieval fortresses and the Adriatic Sea
Senj
City of Uskoks and Adriatic fortress
Krk
Adriatic gem, where ancient history meets turquoise waters.
Split
Diocletian's Palace, the beating heart of a millennial city
Pula
Pula: Tracing the Roman Empire's legacy in Istria
Omis
Pirate city, between sea and canyon