Kotor city walls: longest defensive walls & fortifications in Mediterranean

What is Kotor city walls

The city walls of Kotor, Old town wall (or Stari Grandski Zid) is the defensive structure that was built primarily during 12th - 14th centuries. There are two parts of Kotor city wall. The lower part at the town level, and the upper part was built on a mountain, see picture above.

City walls in Kotor is one of the best attractions in the country and a reason people come to visit Montenegro.

It was originally built against cold weapons with narrow and 1.5 meters tall, vertical ramparts.

It was later strengthened by the Venetians with round and square-based towers (bastions) with walkways built at regular intervals, machicolations and arrow slits. It also had 4 gates (still well preserved).

The fortifications (military constructions designed for the defense of territories in warfare) are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor.”

Let’s learn some interesting facts, first.

A fragment of the upper part of Kotor  old walls

Interesting facts about Kotor city walls

More than a thousand steps hike to incredible views

The city walls of Kotor hike (the upper part) has 1,350 steps that lead up to the Fortress of St. John on top of a hill. People like to climb these steps for the challenge and the amazing views of the Bay of Kotor they get at the top.

This hike is one of the reasons some people choose to visit Kotor over Budva. 

Secret Tunnels and Passages

Inside the walls, there is a complex system of stairs, secret tunnels and passages that soldiers once used to move around unseen. Some of these tunnels even lead to hidden openings in the cliffs, which they used for sneaky escapes and surprise attacks. Exploring these tunnels is exciting and adds an element of mystery to visiting the city walls.

Well preserved 3-parts South Sea Gate

One of the interesting parts of the Kotor city walls is the unique design of the Southern Sea Gate (Gurdić Gate).

I practically liked the round arrow-slits there: they look bright blue because of the water you can see through them. I was fascinated with them and looked through them every day. 

Look at my video, aren't these arrow-slits look awesome? A scene right after the arrow slits shows the view you will see from the bastion above this gate. The view is also quite spectacular! The rest of the video explains other things you can do in Kotor, Montenegro. 

Friendly cats as your co-explorers

Since you’re in Kotor, you will find a group of friendly cats everywhere, including on the city walls. I had a furry friend co-explorer following me everywhere there. 

Kotor is popular wedding destination

The city walls are a popular spot for weddings because of the stunning Bay of Kotor they offer. Couples from around the world come to say their vows, surrounded by ancient walls that represent eternal love and commitment.

Now, let’s get familiar with the present fortifications.

A sketch by Giuseppe Rosaccio from 1598 shows how Kotor Fortress used to look. You can see many round towers that were all later replaced with rectangular shaped bastions (read below)

History of Kotor Fortifications (Kotorska Tvrdava)

History of Kotor fortifications are closely related to history of Kotor and Montenegro in general. 

According to prof. Ilija Lalošević, PhD, when the Venetian Republic took over Kotor and the southern part of the Boka Kotorska in 1420, they started reconstructing and transforming the old medieval systems into an efficient modern fortress adjusted to artillery use.

Architectural Characteristics of Kotor Fortress in Middle Ages

The Venetian military engineers enhanced Kotor Fortress (the whole fortification system) by constructing large round towers and bastions with turrets (guard houses). They added round Gurdić in 1470 and Citadela Bastion in 1520.

They also added escarpments, and buttresses, and improved walkway connections between bastions. Above pic was from my Kotor city walls walk, and the lower pic shows how the walkways look from beneath.

However, the Venetian Military architects later transitioned from a system of round bastions to polygonal ones, and Bembo Bastion was built in pentagonal shape. There are 2 round bastions left, read about them below.

Let’s look at all bastions built withing the Kotor Fortifications first.

Bastions of Kotor city walls

Here is a list of the all bastions of the lower city walls of Kotor structure:

•  Bastion Riva, near the River Gate ( see the picture with a guard tower with a round roof). It's attached to the mountain.

• North Curtain Wall (Severna Kortina, or Bastion Kambino or Courtine du Nord

• Grappler's Bastion, near the Sea Gate

•       Kampana Tower at the southwest corner

•       Korner Bastion (on the south side)

Below are 3 of the most important bastions of the lower city walls, not mentioned yet, I will talk about them in greater details.

Corner Bastion. BTW, you can see plaques with names of each bastion, placed there by the Kotor Board of Tourism 

Gurdic Bastion

Constructed in 1470, this round massive Gurdic Bastion is part of the integrated fortification system that protected the medieval town of Kotor.

It stands near the Gurdic Gate (South Gate) and has undergone modifications over time.

The bastion has thick walls and served as a defensive structure during many historical events, so it is a big contributor to Kotor’s history and military architecture.

This is where I started my lower city walls walk, so this was the very first bastion I explored. I was blown away by the wonderful views of the marina and the Bay of Kotor.

Scurda river under Bastion Bembo with a very intense green color due to some seaweeds growing there. Pentagonal Bembo Bastion protected ships that were entering Kotor Fortifications. 

Bembo Bastion

Built in 1540, by the Venetians and is named after the Venetian governor, Bembo Bastion was an important part of the Venetian-style defenses component of Kotor’s fortifications, because it allowed ships to enter inside the fortress. It played a crucial role in defending the city from attacks by land and sea on many occasions.

The largest bastion in Kotor in the upper part of the northern curtain wall, it is located near the River Gate (North Gate) on Scurda river.

You can recognize it by a distinctive pentagonal shape that the Venetians started implementing moving away from the round shaped bastions. 

Bastion Bembo plaque and a mam of entire Kotor fortifications. It's very useful, check it out when there!

You can see pretty views of the mountains, the old town and the river below from Bembo Bastion, and it is connected to a network of ramparts and buildings with other parts of Kotor fortifications.

Above is a picture of a plaque I saw on Bembo Bastion wall with some historical facts and the entire map of Kotor Fortifications.

Citadella Bastion

Bastion Cittadella (also known as Bastion Citadela or Bastion Cittadella), is a round structure built in 1520 at the point where the Skurda River meets the bay.

The Citadel served as a defensive stronghold for the medieval town of Kotor on the northern part, next to Bembo bastion. It has ramparts, towers, and other military architecture.

Valier bastion

Valier Bastion

Valier bastion is located between Citadella Bastion and Corner Bastion in Kotor, Montenegro.

According to the plaque by Kotor Tourism Board I found on Kotor city wall, Valier Bastion was built in the 17th century. It happened during the complete reconstruction of the section of the town’s wall stretching from Citadella Bastion to Corner Bastion, that has been damaged in the great earthquake of 1667.

Inside Bastion Valijer, there was a medieval tower with the gate facing the sea. Facing the town there is a large arched opening with a guard room above the gate.

This guard room is not in the best condition right how, it can stand a bit straighter. :) You can also see one of the passages to move between bastion and down to the town level. 

Right next to Bastion of Valier is the Town Gard Tower and the Main Gate.

There are many more fortifications, mostly emplacements on the upper Kotor city walls on the way to St. John Fortress. The list  of all emplacements is long and you probably don’t need to know the names, so I posted at the end of my post, or you can access it here.

St. John Fortress

St. John Fortress (also Kotor Castle, Kaštel Sv. Ivan or Citadelle Saint Jean) is an old fortress on San Giovanni Hill in Kotor, Montenegro, sometimes called Kotor Castle. It was originally built by the Byzantine Empire in 532 and later strengthened by the Republic of Venice in the 16th century to defend against Ottoman attacks.

Due to its strategic location, the Kotor Fortress (the entire fortification) was important to the Venetians for testing new military architecture techniques. They combined the bastion defense system from Italy with artillery platforms overlooking the medieval Kotor Old Town and Bay of Kotor, and a defense system facing the hill.

A hike to the Fortress of St. John with some upper city walls and towers you will see.

The map of all Kotor fortifications

If you are interested in hiking to there, here is a map of all the roads and fortifications leading to there. I explained how to get there by different routes in my post about what to do in Kotor, Montenegro.

Half destroyed with time Kotor fortress

Keep in mind, Kotor Fortress building itself is not in a great condition.

In fact, I’ve heard some people complaining that they have claimed the mountain to see a half-destroyed building. I knew what I will see before my hike, so I wasn’t disappointed, especially because the views from there were completely worth my efforts. But if someone came for “Kotor Castle”, they might be if they don’t know in advance.

Besides bastions and battlements, city wall gates were also an important part of Kotor city wall fortifications.

Main Sea Gates with city walls and Duke's / Proveditor's Palace over it

Gates

1. River Gate, also known as the North Gate, is the river entrance to the city. Built in the 16th century and served as the main river access point from the northern side of Kotor.

2. Sea Gate (Main Gate): Located near Valier Bastion, this gate provided main access point to the city from the waterfront and played a crucial role in maritime operations.

This is the gate where you will most likely enter Kotor old town for the first time. At least, I entered here.

3. Salita Gate: Constructed in the 16th century, this gate was primarily used for military purposes and offered a strategic entrance for troops and supplies to enter the fortified city. It’s also called “garbage gate”.

4. South Gates of Kotor's city walls. This is the oldest gate in Kotor, and it consist of a few parts, built at different times, starting from the 13th century, and an outer gate with a chain bridge over Gurdić. This is where the round arrow-sills from my video are.

Each of these bastions and gates played a vital role in the defense of Kotor, with their strategic placement, architectural design, and historical significance contributing to the strength of the city's fortifications.

How Kotor city walls were built

The city walls of Kotor are an engineering marvel. Read about its constructions and design and why it is a fine example of the art of defensive architecture with innovative engineering solutions of the time.

Construction and Design

The walls were constructed using a combination of limestone and carefully carved stone blocks. The defensive system includes numerous towers, bastions, and gates.

Adapting to the Rugged Terrain

The fortifications in Kotor were built to fit the rough land, incorporating cliffs and slopes to make it hard for enemies to get through.

Some innovative engineering solutions were implemented during the constructions as well. Modernization and reinforcement of Kotor city walls fortifications continued over the centuries.

If you are into knowing how things were built (or you are a guy😉), continue reading this section. Otherwise, you can skip to Kotor walls modern era.

Fine example of the art of defensive architecture

The city walls of Kotor are not only a pleasure to look at, they exemplify the art of defensive architecture. The strategic placement of towers, bastions, and gates was designed to provide optimal protection against potential threats from all sides.

But the most impressive was the use of some innovational constructional engineering, explained below.

Use of Innovative Engineering Solutions

The construction of the city walls involved innovative engineering solutions to overcome the challenges posed by the rugged terrain and limited resources. The builders used techniques like arched walls, balancing weights, and clever drainage systems, showing how smart they were at solving problems. They also built secret passages withing the walls.

The builders of Kotor's city walls employed several clever innovations and engineering solutions to overcome the challenges posed by the rugged terrain and limited resources. Below are more details about these techniques.

Arched Walls and Gravity-Defying Constructions

One of the most remarkable features of Kotor's fortifications is the use of arched walls and gravity-defying constructions. In areas where the walls were built on steep slopes or cliffs, the builders employed a technique called "corbelled arches." These arches were constructed by gradually extending each layer of stones slightly inward, creating a self-supporting structure that appeared to defy gravity.

This ingenious method allowed the walls to follow the contours of the rugged terrain, adapting to the natural landscape while maintaining their structural integrity.

Counterweight Systems for Stability

To further enhance the stability of the city walls, particularly in areas where they were built on uneven or sloping ground, the builders incorporated sophisticated counterweight systems. These systems involved placing massive stone blocks or rubble within the core of the walls, acting as a counterbalance to the outward force exerted by the weight of the structure itself.

By carefully distributing the weight and adjusting the counterbalances, the builders were able to ensure that the walls remained firmly anchored to the ground, even in the face of potential earthquakes or enemy bombardments. This innovative technique demonstrated the builders' understanding of physics and their commitment to creating fortifications that could withstand the test of time.

Intricate Drainage Systems

Kotor's location along the Bay of Kotor and its proximity to the sea posed a unique challenge for the builders: managing water drainage. To prevent water from accumulating within the walls and causing damage and erosion, the builders implemented intricate drainage systems.

These systems consisted of a network of channels and openings strategically placed throughout the walls, allowing rainwater and seawater to flow freely through and out of the fortifications. The channels were meticulously designed to follow the natural slopes and contours of the terrain, ensuring efficient drainage without compromising the structural integrity of the walls.

In addition to preventing water damage, these drainage systems also played a role in maintaining the overall hygiene and habitability within the fortified city, as they helped to prevent stagnant water from pooling and breeding disease-carrying insects.

The builders' understanding of physics and engineering allowed them to use techniques like arched walls, balancing weights, and clever drainage systems. Their ability to adapt to the challenging landscape and harness natural forces resulted in the creation of strong and well-preserved fortifications in Kotor that continue to impress visitors from all over the world.

Complex System of Stairs and Passages

Within the walls themselves, there is a complex network of stairs, passages, and platforms, allowing for efficient movement and positioning of defensive forces. This intricate system enabled the defenders to quickly respond to threats and launch counter-attacks from multiple vantage points.

Adapting to Times and Changing Warfare Tactics

Over the centuries, the fortifications of Kotor underwent modifications and reinforcements to adapt to evolving warfare tactics and new technologies. From the initial medieval construction to later additions and renovations by the Venetians and others, the walls were continuously updated to maintain their defensive capabilities.

Pleasant walk on lower city walls of Kotor

Kotor's Fortifications in the Modern Era

Today, the city walls and fortifications of Kotor serve as a living museum of the past.

A Living Museum

The city walls and their architectural elements, like bastions and gates, are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and treasured for their cultural and historical significance.

It also is a free museum for the lower part of city walls, you have to pay 8 euros for the upper part.

Or, if you would rather not pay, you can hike to Kotor Fortress another way, on Ladder Of Kotor.  

But it's a much more difficult hike and you need to have good traction shoes.

I had an amazing time walking along the ancient ramparts and exploring the winding passages and great views of the Bay of Kotor on one side, and the old town - on the other side. I felt I was back in times.

And yet, I had a modern tactical weapon with me – a camera! and I was not afraid to use it 😊 If fact I went a bit overboard, and couldn’t stop taking pictures of old roofs and medieval passages.

I mean, look at what I was seeing….

If you’re into taking pictures, like I am, allow for an extra hour walking the lower city walls: otherwise, it’s only about a 20-minutes easy walk, including the time to explore all bastions and towers you’ll see.

You will also find many plaques explaining the names of each structure, along with a big map of entire fortification system.

Here is another lovely scene I kept taking pictures of...

Tourism and Economic Impact

The efforts to keep and promote Kotor's fortifications have helped tourism in the area. More visitors come to see these historical sites, which brings money and jobs to the local communities. This also helps local communities value and feel proud of their cultural history.

Kotor's city walls are an impressive example of medieval engineering. Their detailed construction, clever stonework, and smart defense features made them last for a long time, and they’ll continue to impress new generations for a long time.

How to get to Kotor city walls

If you already in Kotor, walk to old town of Kotor and enter through any gate. 

If you are not in Kotor yet, you can reach city walls of Kotor by:

• flying to Tivat (Kotor) airport

• Taking a bus from Budva

• Taking a bus from Dubrovnik

• Taking a bus from Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina 

all emplacements of Kotor city walls

Below are names of all you’ll see along your Kotor city wall walks to Kotor Fortress.

Golden Gate Tower: Called Kula zlatnih vrata.

• Gripe Fortress: Referred to as Tvrđava Gripe.

• Bastion Cornaro: Simply called Bastion Cornaro.

• St. Mark Emplacement: Also known as Polajt Marco or Le Point -Saint Marc.

• Small Fortress: Referred to as Mila tvrdava or LA petite forteresse.

• Soranzo Emplacement: Known as Polożaj Soranco or Le Point Soranzo

• Renier Emplacement: Called Polożaj Renijer or Le Point Renier

• Battaglia Emplacement: Referred to as Polożaj Batalja or Le Point Battaglia

• St. Tryphon Emplacement: Referred to as Položaj Sv. Tripun or Le Point Saint Tryphon

• Gunpowder Magazine: Known as Barutni magacin or Le Magasin de Poudre.

• Pedocchio Emplacement: Referred to as Położaj Pedokjo or Le Point Pedocchio

• Peregrino Emplacement: Known as Polożaj Peregrino or Le Point Peregrino

• Priuli Emplacement: Referred to as Položaj Priuli or Le Point Priuli

• Loredan Emplacement: Known as Polożaj Loredan or Le Point . Loredana.

• Loredan Tower: Referred to as Kala Loredan or La Tour Loredan

• Contarini Tower: Known as ula Kontarini or La Tour Contarini

• St. Hieronymus Emplacement: Referred to as Položaj Sv. Jerolim or Le Point Saint Jérôme

• Molin Emplacement: Known as Položaj Molin or Le Point Molin

• Precipizio Emplacement: Referred to as Położaj Precipicio or Le Point Precipicio

• St. Stephen Emplacement: Known as Položaj Sy.Stefan or Le Point Saint Stephanes.

• St. Francis Emplacement: Referred to as Položaj Sv. Franjo or Le Point Saint François d’Assise

• Zen Emplacement: Known as Položaj Zen or Le Point Zen

I hope my post will help you to have a better understanding of Kotor city walls and fortifications. Let’s connect of social media, the links are below in the footer.