Prvi put se spominje 1280. godine i pripadala je knezovima Babonićima Blagajskim , a kasnije plemićima Kladuškim i Frankopanima Slunjskim. Godine 1563. grad nije imao nikakvu odbranu, pa je Ivan Leković predlagao da se u njega postavi posada od 20 vojnika. Dvije godine kasnije, 1565, Velika Kladuša je pretrpjela veliku osmansku opasadu, ali nije zauzeta. Po ugovoru iz 1577. godine ostala je pusta do 1633. godine.

Središnji dio grada opasan je visokim i tvrdim okruglim bedemom. Unutrašnjost iza bedema bila je gotovo do vrha ispunjena zemljanim nasipom i tako je ovo utvrđenje ličilo na veliku i prostranu tabiju, kojoj tadašnji topovi nisu mogli ništa nauditi. Na strani  okrenutoj prema proplanku gradske kose uzidana je okrugla kula, čiji  zid ima samo jedan oštar ćošak. Ovaj ćošak okrenut je prema mogućem napadu neprijatelja i kosina zidova kule ublažila bi udare  topovske đuladi. 

Od 1633. godine osmanske vlasti su opravile kladušku tvrđavu i u nju m smjestile stalnu posadu,  koja je bila podređena ostrožačkom kapetanu. Osmanski dio grada sastoji se od bedema, koji je gotovo paralelno opasao staru tvrđavu. Uz ovaj bedem postojala je džamija, a s njene desne strane kapija s malehnim predvorjem. Sredinom XVIII stoljeća posada je brojala 60 graničara, a tvrđava je imala 1 veći i 1 manji top.  Poslije pada Cetingrada 1791. godine, posada je postala brojnija za cjelokupnu posadu iz ove tvrđave. 

For the first time Velika Kladuša was mentioned in 1280 when it belonged to Babonics of Blagaj and later to nobles of Kladuša and Frankopans of Slunj. In 1563 the town had no defense and Ivan Lenković suggested setting of a crew of 20 soldiers. Two years later Velika Kladuša went trough great siege of Turks but wasnt taken. By the agreement from 1577 it was deserted till 1633.

The center of the town was encircled with high tought rounded rampart. Space inside rampart was filled with ground and because of that it was indestructible for cannons. On one side of rampart was rounded tower with one angle. That angle was on th e side where enemy attacks were most probable. 

In  1633 Turkish authorities restored Kladuša fortress and posted premanet military crew under command of the Captain of Ostrožac. They made ramparts around the old fortress. Next to the trench stood mask, and on  its right side gates of the town. In the end of the 18th century the crew included 60 border guards. The fortress had  1 bigger and 1 smaller cannon. After siege of Cetingrad in 1791 its crew joined to crew of Velika Kladuša.