Fortress Spanjola description and photos - Montenegro: Herceg Novi (Topic)

Spanjola Fortress description and photos - Montenegro: Herceg Novi. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Spanjola.

Photo and description

At the top of the hill in Herceg Novi is the Spanjola fortress. This fortification is located opposite the entrance to the bay, just above the city. It was built by the Turks in the XV-XVI centuries with the moderate participation of the Spanish side, who briefly captured the fortress in 1538-1539. And thanks to the latter, it got its name, Shpaniola, which means "the fortress of the upper city".

It is difficult to find the way here without a reliable guide, as only narrow streets and a staircase of 1000 steps lead to the fortress itself. But climbing them, you will see a beautiful panorama of the city and the bay. The fortress looks very imposing from the outside, although almost nothing has survived inside it.

Historical facts show that Charles V, the Spanish king who waged war with Turkey in the 16th century, captured Herceg Novi and erected the first fortress over it called "the fortress of Charles V". Its convenient location above the city made it possible to control the local surroundings. But in the course of fierce battles, it passed into the hands of the Turks, who destroyed this fortress and built a new one on its foundation. However, they were not the only owners of the fortress during its entire existence.

At the end of the 17th century, the building came under the rule of Venice, and in the 19th century, after alternating between the Russians and the French, the fortress eventually went to Austria-Hungary along with the city. Further, it was part of the Kingdom of Slovenes, Serbs and Croats created after the end of the First World War. Today it is owned by Montenegro, but, like many other fortresses of this country, it is in an abandoned state.

The layout of the Spagnola fortress is a square with round bastions at the corners. At one time, it was completely autonomous, as it had its own bakery, various sources of water and everything needed to support a small town. With two other fortresses in Herceg Novi, the Spanjola fortress was connected by underground tunnels, which was strategically necessary for the defense of the city.

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Topic: Fortress Spanjola description and photos - Montenegro: Herceg Novi.