November 2013
There are a lot of interesting places in Montenegro, and there are simply no count of ancient fortresses! We went to the island-fortress of Mamula on a rented boat from the pier in Herceg Novi. But the alluring fortress turned out to be almost impregnable, it was very stormy, they didn’t get out on the beret :)
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Mamula is located between two peninsulas: from Montenegro - Lustica, from Croatia - Prevlaka. This is an uninhabited island in the Adriatic, the fortress is 200 meters in diameter, its height is 16 m. The island is covered with low shrub vegetation and some huge cacti. From the city of Herceg Novi removed 6.3 km.
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I'll show you on Google Maps de it's exactly located. Above - Herceg Novi, on the right - Tivat, Kotor and other cities, and below the dot near the phrase "Boka Kotorska" - this is the island of Mamula. Note that the spit on the left is already Croatia, a visa country in "floating" availability.
Of course, we asked our skipper how the Croatian border guards were doing there, whether they respected the borders very much, he assured that they didn’t - if you wish, you can safely visit without a visa. And opposite the island there is a wonderful beach Zhanice. This is an amazing place to relax with emerald water! This is the best place to take a boat from. The photo shows the Croatian peninsula of Prevlaka with fortifications.
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The fort appeared in 1853, it occupied about 90% of the surface area of the island, and it was ordered to be built by the general of Austria-Hungary - Lazar Mamula, in honor of him the fortress got 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 an Austro-Hungarian general, Mamula Fort was necessary as a barrier to the enemy from entering the Bay of Kotor.
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During the Second World War, on 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.
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And now a small digression - I will show the places where they sailed from and through which they sailed. After all, the landscapes in Montenegro are breathtaking at every turn! Approximately from this place in the photo we set off from Herceg Novi, we found a boatman corny - they approached and asked, after all, in November they do not hunt for tourists, since there are almost none ...
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We sail on the sea and see how Boka leaves towards Dzhenovichi, Zelenika, Biela, Kotor, Tivat ...
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We are all moving away from Herceg Novi, watching how gray clouds want to swallow the mountains.
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Our goal is near! The sailboat there is also tormented off the coast :)
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The island after the collapse of Yugoslavia was the subject of a dispute between Montenegro and Croatia. Although culturally and historically it belongs to Croatia, and until 1947 it was in the Dubrovnik cadastre, but ... closer to Montenegro, so the island now belongs to Montenegro. Over the years, it began to collapse, although they are talking about restoration, but no one is investing money, spiral staircases, a bakery, a headquarters tower and loopholes have been preserved here.
If you move from the Adriatic Sea towards the Bay of Kotor, then along the way you will meet a small town called Mamula. Administratively, it is part of Montenegro, and territorially located on the border of Montenegro and Croatia. For many years, the two states cannot divide this small island.
Mamul Island is uninhabited, which makes it especially attractive for tourists.
Mamul Island
Picturesque views from the island. On the one hand, the Croatian horizons are visible, on the other, the Adriatic Sea and the Bay of Kotor. On the territory of the island there is an ancient fortress built for defensive purposes. The initiator of its creation was General Lazar Mamul. Local residents report that not a single shot was ever fired from it, which is probably why it has survived to this day in its original state. During the World Wars, there was a camp for imprisoned soldiers in the fortress of Mamula.
Mamul Island is round, its diameter is about 200 meters. Despite the fact that sightseeing trips to the island are not organized, there are always a lot of curious tourists on it. Getting to it is very difficult if you do not have your own boat. Many tourists were able to visit this wonderful island by arranging to rent a boat from private individuals.
The island is really very small, you can go around it completely in twenty minutes. The island is uninhabited, not many animals live on it, but it is rich in vegetation. The most widespread plant of the island is ivy, which has filled all the other trees of the island. Among the animal inhabitants of Mamul Island, lizards and gulls are distinguished.
Despite its small size, the island has several beaches. One attracts with pebbles, the other with rocky mountains. Each of them is good in its own way: on a pebble beach you can sunbathe in the sun and swim in the sea, on a rocky one you can admire the beauty of mountain landscapes.
Visiting the uninhabited island of Mamul, you can feel like a real traveler, explorer or even Robinson Crusoe. It is often visited by couples in love who want to arrange a romantic getaway.
Mamula Island is represented by a small rocky island of a rounded shape, located next to the famous resort of the country of Herceg Novi. It was once called the Swallow, until in the middle of the 19th century, the governor of the Austro-Hungarian Dalmatia, General Lazar Mamula, built a defensive fortress on it in order to protect the Bay of Kotor from attack from the sea. Since then, the island has had such a name.
Although not large in size, it was of great importance due to its strategic location. The island seems to close the entrance to the bay with a lock, which was decided to be used during the hostilities. It began to function as a defensive fort.
And during both (both the 1st and 2nd) world wars, the fortress was used as a prison, and the glory of this place was unkind - there is evidence that the prisoner fighters for a free Montenegro held there were brutally tortured. The fortress has been well preserved to this day and is now under state protection as a cultural monument.
Today, the island is famous for its city park, which is home to a large number of tropical and subtropical plants, including some of the most unique varieties of mimosa. In the winter season, the world-famous Mimosa Festival is held here, which lasts a whole month.
A particularly beautiful view of the bay opens from the side of any vessel passing by. You can see that all the slopes of Boka Kotorska are cut by three tunnels for submarines. Once it was part of the fighting power of Yugoslavia. Submarines fell into the tunnels under water, and the enemy never knew whether they were inside the peninsula or had already gone to the open sea.
Today, of course, everything looks abandoned and orphaned, although, according to some reports, Montenegro has its own submarine fleet. Boka Kotorska also owns a shipyard.
Now, one-day excursions for tourists, travelers and artists are organized to the island and Mamula Fort, cruise ships passing by stop here without fail. Everyone who comes here is fascinated by its natural beauty, steep rocky shores, and the northern side of the island offers a beautiful secluded beach.
In the Adriatic Sea basin there is an uninhabited island of Mamula (Mamula island) of a rounded shape. It is covered with bushes 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 possession of Montenegro.
Almost the entire territory of Mamula Island (about 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. In honor of the latter, the fort got its name. From the fortress, both the coast and the sea are perfectly visible. The main purpose of the citadel was to block the way to the Bay of Kotor.
Mamula Fortress was one of the fundamental and large structures of that time. Its distinguishing feature is considered to be the 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. In the period from 1942 to 1943, a concentration camp was established in the fortress on the orders of Benito Mussolini, in which prisoners were brutally tortured. Now a memorial plaque reminds of this.
At present, Mamula is designated on sea charts as Lastovitsa, which translates as “Swallow Island”.
Description of Fort Mamula
The fortress is 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 to restore it.
A drawbridge was laid to the main entrance of the fort across a deep ditch. The following structures survived completely:
- external walls;
- gates;
- loopholes;
- dry well;
- cellars and attics;
- courtyard paved with stone slabs with various buildings.
An observation deck was also made to last, to which a spiral staircase, consisting of 56 steps, leads. From here you have a stunning view of the bay, the nearest 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, the world-famous festival dedicated to this plant is held here, which lasts about a month.
Mamula can be walked around in 20 minutes to take beautiful photos against the backdrop of a picturesque, but at the same time diverse landscape (pebble and rocky shores). Black rabbits, lizards and a large number of gulls live here.
The amazing island is very much loved by local cinemas. 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 or on a cruise ship, which always stops at the island. Mamula is located between 2 peninsulas: Prevlaka and Lustica. From the mainland to the island, it is most convenient to get on a boat rented from local residents, or on a boat from (the distance is about 7 km).
Mamula Island attracts travelers with its secluded beaches, rocky steep coasts, natural beauty and unique architecture.
Lying lazily on the beach for hours is not for you - then an excursion to the island-fortress of Mamula is a great way to diversify your vacation in Montenegro. The local walls are saturated with stories and legends, and the harsh landscape excites even the most daring.
Mamula Island (Montenegro) - a small piece of land with a rich history
Montenegro is a vivid example of how one small state can contain many natural and man-made wonders. There are places in this mountainous country that are both architectural objects and natural sights of interest to tourists. Among them is the island of Mamula (Montenegro). This is a small island in the Adriatic with an area of only 200 square meters. m. with steep rocky shores. Almost the entire surface of the island (90% of the total area) is occupied by an ancient fort. The island fortress of Mamula looks a little gloomy compared to the surrounding buildings of the resort towns. And from the plants here, only in places are visible bushes with thorns. But despite this, tourists come here from all over the world.
Location
That Mamula Island was to become a fort becomes clear by looking at its location on the map. It guards the approaches to two peninsulas at once: Lustica (Montenegro) and Prevlaka (Croatia). Some sea excursions involve a walk in both countries, keep in mind that only Montenegro is a visa-free country for Russians. Although locals and tourists often look at Croatian beaches, there is no strict control here. The nearest settlement is the town of Herceg Novi in Montenegro; 6.5 km to it. And the nearest beach is Zhanice. From here it is most convenient to take a boat for an excursion to the island.
Story
For a long time, the island of Mamula was part of the Venetian Republic. But the fortress appeared later - during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. By order of General Lazar Mamula, who is responsible for the security of the coastal zone of the Bay of Kotor. The island still bears his name. The date of completion of construction - 1853 - has survived to this day. The island became part of a complex of fortifications protecting the borders of the empire. Mamula also had dark pages of history. On May 30, 1942, when the horrors of World War II rolled across Europe, the Adriatic came under the influence of Italy. By personal order of Benito Mussolini, the fortress was turned into a concentration camp.
Mamula in popular culture
A place with such an unusual location and rich history could not be ignored by directors and clip makers. The island is often featured in movies, TV shows and videos. The most famous is the 1959 feature film Campo Mamula. The picture shows from the inside the difficult life of the prisoners of the concentration camp. The second famous film was released in 2003. This is horror from a young Serbian director of the same name "Mamula". According to the plot of the film, two young American women come to Montenegro at the invitation of a friend. They decide to visit a mysterious island-fortress, where a terrible story happens to the girls. After viewing these pictures, it is a bit scary to look around the fort.
Mamula today
Whatever the Mamula fortress did not have to visit during its long history: a fortification, a concentration camp, a film set, an architectural monument. Today, the island continues to be actively used - it was converted into an elite hotel. The first guests moved in here in 2016. In such an impregnable building, you can not worry that someone will disturb your peace. During the daytime, the island-fortress of Mamula is open for tours. Here you can also have a bite to eat. Or take some interesting photos. The architects tried to preserve the original appearance of the fort.
This place will undoubtedly appeal to tourists interested in historical sites, and those who like to visit filming locations. In general, Mamula Island is a good example of how not to destroy ancient sights, but to use their potential to the maximum.
