Mamula Island history. The fortress island of Mamula is a place that attracts tourists and investors. Description of Fort Mamula
There are a lot of interesting places in Montenegro, and there are simply countless ancient fortresses! We went to the fortress island of Mamula on a rented boat from the pier in Herceg Novi. But the beckoning fortress turned out to be almost impregnable, it was very stormy, and they never reached the beret. But in this report I will show it not only from the outside, but also from the inside, plus old photographs and excerpts from films that were filmed here.
Mamula is located between two peninsulas: on the Montenegro side - Lustica, on the Croatian side - Prevlaka. This is an uninhabited island in the Adriatic, the diameter of the fortress is 200 meters, its height is 16 m. The island is covered with low shrubby vegetation and some huge cacti. It is 6.3 km away from the city of Herceg Novi.
I’ll show you on Google Maps where it’s definitely located. Above is the city of Herceg Novi, on the right are Tivat, Kotor and other cities, and below the dot next to the phrase “Boka Kotorska” is the island of Mamula. Please note that the spit on the left is already Croatia, a visa country within “floating” accessibility.
Of course, we asked our skipper how the Croatian border guards were doing there, whether they were strictly guarding the borders, he assured that no - if you wish, you can safely come for a visit without a visa. And opposite the island there is a wonderful Zanice beach. This is an amazing place to relax with emerald water! This is where it is better to take a boat. The photo shows the Croatian Prevlaka peninsula with fortifications.
The fort appeared in 1853, it occupied about 90% of the surface area of the island, and the Austrian-Hungarian general Lazar Mamula ordered its construction, in honor of him the fortress acquired its name, and the island itself is called Swallow. Together with the fortifications on Prevlaka and Lustica, both of which were erected at the same time by the Austro-Hungarian general, Fort Mamula was necessary as a barrier to the enemy's entry into the Bay of Kotor.
To the left of the boat is an inaccessible shore and a sailboat
During World War II, from May 30, 1942, the fascists from Italy, on the orders of Mussolini, turned Mamula into a concentration camp. The fort became a place for brutal torture of prisoners. Now a memorial plaque reminds tourists of the prison.
And now a small digression - I’ll show you the places from which we sailed and through which we sailed. After all, the landscapes in Montenegro are breathtaking at every turn! From about this place in the photo we set sail from Herceg Novi, we found the boatman simply - we approached and asked, after all, in November they do not hunt for tourists, since there are almost no of them...
We sail on the sea and see how Boka goes towards Djenovici, Zelenika, Bijela, Kotor, Tivat...
We are all moving away from Herceg Novi, watching how gray clouds want to swallow the mountains.
Our goal is close! The sailboat is also suffering near the shore there :)
The island was the subject of a dispute between Montenegro and Croatia after the collapse of Yugoslavia. Although culturally and historically it belongs to Croatia, and until 1947 it was in the cadastre of Dubrovnik, but... closer to Montenegro, so the island now belongs to Montenegro. Over the years it began to collapse, although they talk about restoration, no one is investing money; spiral staircases, a bakery, a headquarters tower and loopholes have been preserved here.
Now I’ll show you some old photographs. Several shots of Mamula, taken in March 1919.
And the view from above. There was less vegetation then...
There is an Alcatraz fortress in the United States similar to Mamula; there was also a prison here for a long time, even Al Capone was imprisoned in it, and over time it became a museum. . And the Americans have preserved history, and they attract tourists, cultural experts, and the same historians in large numbers. And in Montenegro the authorities do not think about preserving cultural and historical values - they want to rent out the island for a hotel...
And now about the movie! The first film "Campo Mamula" was shot here in 1959 by Velimir Stojanovic. He talks about the events on the island during the 2nd World War, about how the fort was converted into a concentration camp. Here's a short excerpt.
In the fall of 2013, a horror film was filmed on the fortress island!!! Filming lasted only 15 days :) Director from Serbia - Milan Todorovic. Here is the promotional poster for the thriller
The plot is banal, but the ending is amazing: Two American tourists come to Montenegro on vacation at the invitation of a friend. After resting for several days, they decide to go on a trip to the Mamula fortress, which is notorious. In the fortress they find a mysterious fisherman who is holding a beautiful girl captive. The tourists free her, but soon see that she is not a beautiful girl, but a siren who is not averse to tasting the blood of her liberators.
The premiere of "Mamula" is very soon - March 8 in Belgrade. The best gift for a girl on International Day is to take her to see a Serbian thriller :)
The Balkan-ethnostop, conducted under the leadership of A. Lebedev, also did not bypass Mamula. Its participants visited there inside. Watch from 1:15. But don’t pay attention to Artemy’s subjective opinion about Montenegro (in which there is nothing to do)
And this is my video taken from the boat that November day.
With a fascinating story. Once upon a time the Austrians were the owners here, and the island is named after General Lazar Mamula.
Lastavitsaor Mamula?
The island is a relatively small piece of land with a diameter of no more than 200 m, located southeast of the city of Igalo (it is possible to get around the whole thing in no more than 20-25 minutes). It blocks the entrance to the bay, so it was initially of extremely important strategic importance.
At a time when there was no fortress on the island, it was called Lastavica - “island of swallows”, later Lazar Mamula - one of the Austro-Hungarian generals gave the order to build a fortress here in order to be able to protect the entrance to the bay from the sea.
From that moment on, the island was named similarly to the fortress - Mamula (at present, nautical charts still call this landmass the Swallow).
The garrisons hiding behind the walls of the fort could perfectly repel all attacks by any enemy from the sea (the fortress occupied 90% of the entire area of the island).
However, according to the words of local residents, not a single shot was fired from the fort. Perhaps this is precisely what explains the fact that the fortress has reached our times in almost the same condition as it was (except for the effects of time on it).
It was an ideal fortpost: it had an exceptional view of both land and sea. Thanks to its favorable location between the two states, the fort almost completely blocks the entrance to the bay, which is why it was simply impossible to get there without passing the island with the fortress. And few people even tried to do this.
In addition to its strategic defensive function, the fortress was an excellent fortification during World Wars I and II. And during and after the Second Great Patriotic War, a concentration camp was set up here.
Alas, the walls of the fort did not always protect their people. It is believed that freedom fighters were once imprisoned and tortured here.
Mamula Island in cinema
In 2014, Serbia filmed a thriller about the island under the same name “Mamula” (the title was “Mermaid”). The plot of the “horror story” was a hunt for the guests of the island by a guardian who guarded the peace of the mermaid (in the film, her habitat was underground fortress caves).
An excellent film for those who want to tickle their nerves. At first, tourists eager to visit these places were directly invited to watch a film before visiting the island for some mystification of this amazing place.
Since it comes to horror stories, we cannot help but note the legend about the dead tourists on this island, who allegedly fell into wells located between the thickets, and from which there is no way out.
There is no direct evidence of this, but this story is always told to tourists and travelers in order to fuel the excitement and delight of visiting these places. Well, and awaken vigilance and attentiveness when moving around the territory!
Desert Island in the Modern Age
Now Mamula Island - no one lives there (except for animals and abundant vegetation). The spirit of the Middle Ages still reigns here. The headquarters tower and loopholes still stand, you can look at the bakery and walk along the spiral staircases.
The pier, alas, has been destroyed, but curious tourists and travelers are still happy to come here on excursions one day, because... the fortress is not closed to visitors. Artists also come here for creative inspiration.
The area is densely covered with ivy and agave. Passing cruise ships always dock at the island. Anyone who has ever been here will forever be fascinated by the rocky shores, stunningly beautiful pebbles and clear water of an incredible blue color.
It's also worth visiting for the annual and world-famous Mimosa Festival, which takes place throughout the entire winter month. This is truly an unforgettable sight!
The Mamula fortress itself is now considered one of the largest fortifications of Austrian origin in the Adriatic. It is remembered for its monumentality, precisely thought-out forms, functionality and well-designed buildings.
The state protects it as a cultural monument. There are plans to increase the tourist influx here by creating a historical museum, a tourist complex or a mini-hotel, but for now this all remains in theoretical plans.
Not far from Herceg Novi, washed on all sides by the waters of the Adriatic Sea, is the island of Mamula. Almost its entire area is occupied by the fortress of the same name, created in the mid-19th century by General Lazar Mamula. 16 meters high and 200 meters in diameter - from the top of the fortress there is a wonderful view, both sea and land are clearly visible. The main purpose of the Austro-Hungarian fort was to prevent passage to the Bay of Boto-Kotor. During the Second World War, before the liberation of Montenegro, there was a concentration camp here, where those who had been drugged were brutally tortured. Now this is evidenced by a memorial plaque installed.
After the collapse of Yugoslavia, the ownership of the island was in question: it was claimed simultaneously by Croatia and Montenegro. Today this piece of land belongs to Montenegro. The island is round in shape. One bank was overgrown with cacti, agave bushes and aloe, while the other remained bare stone.
Despite the fact that the island is abandoned, it is quite clean and well maintained. At the entrance to the fortress there is a suspension bridge - it is through it that you can get inside. The citadel was built to perfection: the walls, gates, loopholes, basements and attics, as well as the courtyard, are well preserved. You can climb a steep spiral staircase to the observation deck, which offers stunning views of the sea, land and the fortress itself.
You can get to the island with a tour or on your own by ordering a boat or sea taxi. Since the fortress is well preserved, you can visit almost all the premises and touch the history. In fact, this place evokes quite strong feelings - the monumentality of the structure, the roughness of the stone and the silence. Even today, the citadel amazes with the clarity of its forms and the thoughtfulness of its buildings.
In addition to the fortress, the island has a park where many tropical and subtropical plants grow. Walking along the wild beaches, you are likely to meet lizards, perhaps even a black rabbit and many, many seagulls. Flying over the fortress, they create a very exciting picture.
Mamula Island has been declared a national monument of the country. Local authorities want to take over the island, build a hotel here or create beaches. But residents of the country are against using the island for commercial purposes.
What to see in Montenegro
Excursion "Canyons"
Adults (12+) – 40 euros
Children (4 - 11) - 20 euros
Children (0 - 3) with seat - 20 euros
If you want to see Montenegro, you should gofor this unique and most popular excursion in the country. During the tour you will see the largest lake in Europe - Skadar Lake, ancient Moraca monastery, amazing beauty mountains of Montenegro, Europe's largest canyon Tara River Canyon, famous Djurdzhevich Bridge, and also visit Durmitor National Park.
Excursion “Heart of Montenegro”
Adults (12+) – 50 euros
Children (4 - 11) - 25 euros
Children (0 - 3) without a seat - free
Children (0 - 3) with seat - 25 euros
During the excursion you will visit the ancient the capital of Montenegro – Cetinje and the Cetinje Monastery. In the village of Njegusi you try the famous one Prosciutto and homemade cheese, Here you can buy yourself some delicious souvenirs. Love from above enjoy the panoramic view Boka Kotorsk y bay. During the sightseeing tour, visit the cities of Kotor and Perast. You will sail on a yacht along the Bay of Kotor.
Excursion
"Monasteries Ostrog and Cetinje"
Adults (12+) – 25 euros
Children (4 - 11) - 12.5 euros
Children (0 - 3) without a seat - free
Children (0 - 3) with seat - 12.5 euro
During this wonderful excursion you will see the two main shrines of Montenegro - the Ostrog Monastery and the Cetinje Monastery. Prisonis the third most visited monastery in the world after Jerusalem and Mount Athos in Greece. In the monastery xthe relics of the Great Basil of Ostrog the Wonderworker are wounded, this is the most revered saint in the Balkans.Cetinje Monastery is famous all over the world for storing The right hand of Saint John the Baptist, the man who baptized Jesus Christ. Anyone can venerate the relics.
Excursion Boka Kotor Bay
Adults (12+) – 25 euros
Children (4 - 11) - 12.5 euros
Children (0 - 3) without a seat - free
Children (0 - 3) with seat - 12.5 euro
During this excursion you will visit the ancient city of Kotor. The guide will introduce you to history and culture this stunning city on the shores of the Bay of Kotor. Here you will see the Church of St. Tryphon (1166) - the oldest temple of the Adriatic, and you will visit the Church of St. Luke, which has been preserved since 1195 in its original appearance. Further in Kotor, all excursionists transfer to yacht and set sail throughout the Bay of Kotor. You see one of the oldest and most beautiful cities on the coast - Perast. If you wish, you can visit the Blue Cave - one of the most beautiful places in Montenegro.
Excursion Skadar Lake + Crnojevica River
Adults (12+) – 40 euros
Children (4 - 11) - 20 euros
Children (0 - 3) without a seat - free
Children (0 - 3) with seat - 20 euros
WITH Lake Kadar is part ofnational park. More than 200 species of birds live here. The lake is rich in fish, but a license is required for fishing. If you wish, you can separately order an organized. During excursions you will swim on a boat on the lake, also everyone can swim in Lake Skadar itself. From small village Virpazar the excursion group will go by boat to the Crnojevica River. The boat and lunch are included in the excursion price. During the sightseeing tour you will get acquainted with the history and traditions of Montenegro. Visit the former capital of Cetinje and the Cetinje Monastery, which houses the Hand of St. John the Baptist - the three fingers of the right hand with which he baptized Jesus Christ. In the village of Njeguši you will taste prosciutto (smoked pork ham), delicious Njeguši cheese and local mead, and, if desired, rakia. On the way to Lovcen you will see Boka Kotor Bay from above. In the Lovcen National Park, on the second highest mountain range in Montenegro (1650 m), there is the mausoleum of Peter II Petrovic Njegos, the ruler of Montenegro. From the observation deck near the mausoleum a beautiful panorama of Montenegro opens.
Citizens of Russia and Ukraine do not require a visa to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first stop is the Kravice National Park, where you will see beautiful waterfalls. You will have 1.5 hours to swim. Here you can jump into the lake and stand under the falling streams of the waterfall. The city of Mostar is a beautiful and ancient city, which is under UNESCO protection. You will have a guided walk through the old part of the city and free time. The main attraction in Mostar is the bridge over the Neretva River, built in the 15th century.
In the Adriatic Sea basin there is an uninhabited island of Mamula (Mamula island) of a round shape. It is covered with shrubs of cacti, agave and aloe.
Basic information
The island has long been the subject of a dispute between Croatia and Montenegro. Historically, it belongs to the first country, but is located closer to the second, so in 1947 it was transferred to the ownership of Montenegro.
Almost the entire territory of Mamula Island (approximately 90%) is occupied by the defensive fortress of the same name. Its height is 16 m, diameter - 200 m. It was erected in 1853 by order of the Austro-Hungarian general Lazar Mamul. The fort got its name in honor of the latter. From the fortress you can clearly see both the coast and the sea. The main purpose of the citadel was to block the path to the Bay of Kotor.
The Mamula fortress was one of the fundamental and large structures of that time. Its distinctive feature is considered to be remarkable functionality and precision of forms, which even today look the most impressive and reliable in the region.
The citadel was used for its intended purpose during two world wars in the twentieth century, and was occupied several times. Between 1942 and 1943, a concentration camp was created in the fortress, on the orders of Benito Mussolini, in which prisoners were brutally tortured. Now a memorial plaque reminds of this.
Currently, on nautical charts Mamula is designated as Lastovitsa, which translates as “Swallow Island”.
Description of Fort Mamula
The fortress has been well preserved and is now under government protection as a historical monument of the country. Today the building looks abandoned, but the state is actively developing a project for its restoration.
A drawbridge was built across a deep ditch to the main entrance of the fort. The following structures have survived completely:
- external walls;
- gates;
- loopholes;
- dried up well;
- basements and attics;
- courtyard paved with stone slabs with various buildings.
The observation deck, to which a spiral staircase consisting of 56 steps leads, was also made conscientiously. From here you have a stunning view of the bay, the nearby islands and the citadel itself.
What else is the island famous for?
The island has a city park where many tropical and subtropical plants grow, as well as unique varieties of mimosa. In winter, a world-famous festival dedicated to this plant is held here, which lasts about a month.
You can walk around Mamula in 20 minutes to take beautiful photos against the backdrop of a picturesque but varied landscape (pebble and rocky shores). Black rabbits, lizards and a large number of seagulls live here.
Local cinematographers love this amazing island. In 1959, the war film “Campo Mamula” was filmed here by Velimir Stojanovic. It tells about the tragic events on the island during the Second World War. In 2013, Milan Todorovic filmed the thriller “Mamula” in the fortress.
How to get to the island?
You can come here for one day as part of an organized tour or on a cruise ship, which always stops at the island. Mamula is located between 2 peninsulas: Prevlaka and Lustica. The most convenient way to get to the island from the mainland is by boat rented from local residents, or by boat from (the distance is approximately 7 km).
Mamula Island attracts travelers with its secluded beaches, rocky steep coastlines, natural beauty and unique architecture.
On one of the beautiful sunny holiday days in Montenegro, in Herceg Novi, I decided to go on a boat trip to Zanice beach. The excursion program, in addition to contemplating the wonderful Montenegrin landscapes, included a visit to the famous blue cave and Fort Mamula.
I went on a boat trip quite spontaneously. I saw a boat on the pier that went to Zhanitsa beach (the round trip cost 5 euros), I thought, why don’t I go there, it’s still fun!
If you are planning to go, it is better to arrive a little early before departure, around 9:45. About 40-50 people were crowded into small boats, and if you arrive early you have a chance to get good seats.
How to find a pier, from where boats leave for Zhanitsa beach (with a visit to the Blue Cave, Fort Mamula): in Igalo there are 2 piers: near the Obala restaurant, and near the La Bamba beach. From Herzig Novi, boats depart from the pier near Skver beach and from the central pier. There are quite a lot of boats, they depart as they are full. The excursion starts at 10 (and some even from 9-30), returning at 16. The time for departure back is different for everyone (from 16 to 18). That is, you will return on the same boat on which you sailed there.
By the way, you can visit the blue cave and Fort Mamula as a separate boat trip from Herceg Novi. But the price will be higher than when departing from Zhanitsa beach.
Having paid the coveted 5 euros, I sat comfortably in the boat, watching the sea views. The beautiful mountains of the Bay of Kotor and coastal towns floated past, and Croatia was visible in the distance. Having rounded the Lustica peninsula, we sailed past beautiful rocks and small islands on which formidable fortresses and monasteries were located. From Herceg Novi to Zhanitsa beach it takes about 20 minutes to sail by sea.
During the trip, the captain immediately tries to sell a trip to the blue cave and Fort Mamula (for an additional 5 euros). Usually it happens like this: the captain will drop off all passengers on Zhanitsa beach, and those who paid extra will be transported further. Imagine: you’ve been sailing on a boat for 20-30 minutes, you’re hot, you want to swim (by the way, you might get a little seasick), and then they’ll take you around for about another hour to see other attractions. Therefore, there is no need to rush: immediately after a sea voyage it is better to relax on the beach. And after a couple of hours, go for additional impressions.
Boats from Žanjica beach depart along this route every half hour.
I visited Zanice beach on the peninsula of Lustica twice. One time was not very successful (as there was a storm and we had to quickly return to Herceg Novi), but the second trip was a great success. You can read more about Zhanitsa beach here.
You can easily spend a whole day on Zanjice. On the beach there are numerous cafes, an olive grove, and an old church. If you go up the path from the pier, you will see stunning views of the bay. But in my opinion, the best time to send back is 16-00. Since after 16 the temperature drops and swimming is no longer very comfortable.
Having arrived by boat to Zhanitsa, I had a good rest and swam. And then, when I got bored, I went on a boat trip to see the sights.
There are several notable islands right next to Žanjica beach. The closest one is the ancient monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A little further away there are two Forts, one of which is Mamula.
But first, our captain took us to the blue cave.
Blue Cave (Plava ?pilja, Blue Grotto) in Montenegro
The Blue Cave (Plava Shpilya in Montenegrin) is a natural attraction of Montenegro. This is a large grotto, approximately 300 square meters in area. The height of the vaults is 25 meters. The Blue Cave has 2 entrances through which boats constantly arrive.
The Blue Cave is called because on clear sunny days the sun's rays are refracted and the water appears blue. Water, reflected on the walls of the cave, also paints them in unusual shades. The attraction of visiting the grotto includes swimming.
My opinion is that the cave is certainly beautiful, but it’s definitely not worth going specifically for the grotto. Swimming in blue waters is exotic. But the sea here is absolutely the same as on the entire Montenegrin coast. In addition, when 5 boats swim into the grotto at the same time, it becomes impossible to breathe there.
How to get to the blue cave. The Blue Cave is located on the Lustica peninsula between the Golden Harbor and Mala Gora Bay at a distance of 6 nautical miles from Herceg Novi. There is no way to get to the Blue Cave except by boat or yacht. Boats and speedboats depart from the beach of Zhanica or Mirista, the sailing time is about 10 minutes.
Fort Mamula on the island (FortMamula)
Fort Mamula does not make much of an impression from the sea. “What is this concrete box?” I thought as we sailed past. However, upon landing on the shore, the fortress made a great impression on me, due to the scale and stunning views that open from the very top of the fortress. The captain dropped us off on the island and gave us almost 40 minutes of time to explore. Entrance to the fortress is free, there is no security. But despite this, Fort Mamula is maintained in good condition. It's quite clean and beautiful there.
The fortress, known as Mamula, was built in 1853 by the Austro-Hungarian general Lazar Mamula. The fort is located on the rocky island of Lastavica, with a diameter of only 200 meters. By the way, the fortress occupies almost 90% of the island’s surface. Mamula is located right at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, 3.5 miles from the city of Herceg Novi.
During the time of the Venetians, the island was called Rondina.
Today, Fort Mamula is the best preserved fort founded by the Austrians on the Adriatic. Mamula is a truly monumental structure; due to its location, it was used as a defensive fortification. And during the First and Second World Wars there was a prison and concentration camp here. The prisoners left numerous inscriptions on the walls, many of which are still preserved today. Our compatriots, as always, distinguished themselves. Especially "Olesya, who didn't go."
The fortress is very large, you can walk around it in 10 minutes. I really liked that there were many rooms, stairs and tiers.
The view from the top floor of Mamula is stunning.
Slowly, I descended from the fortress and walked to the pier. Walking along the ancient walls, I didn’t notice how time flew by, and I was left completely alone. More precisely, the captain called the time in Serbian, it sounded like “two-fifteen.” It turned out that this meant 15 minutes to two. I, like a real blonde, thought it was two to fifteen.
There were a lot of people on the shore. My boat had already sailed about 20 meters. I had to jump very high and wave my hat. The captain saw me, the boat again landed on the shore. My salvation is complete!!! Although in my heart, I was even glad that I would stay there for another couple of hours.
After such a wonderful boat trip, we returned to Zhanitsa beach, where the hospitable Adriatic Sea awaited me, as well as a delicious lunch at a restaurant on the embankment.
To be continued...