Citadel description and photos - Montenegro: Kotor (Topic)

Citadel description and photos - Montenegro: Kotor. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Citadel.

Photo and description

Kotor Fortress is one of the unique attractions. The walls of the citadel surround the old part of the city, climbing a rocky hill. Height - 20 meters, length - 4.5 kilometers. The thickness of the walls is 16 meters.

The construction of the citadel was started by the Romans, destroying the base and walls, which were previously erected here by the Illyrians. The next who seized this strategically important bay were the Byzantines: they destroyed the already dilapidated citadel and built a new one in its place. Further, the citadel of Kotor was influenced by many different invaders. The Byzantines were replaced by the Arabs in the middle of the 9th century, followed by the Bulgarians, Venetians and Serbs.

The turning point in the history of the citadel was 1657. Since that time, about half of the fortress has become inaccessible for visiting. According to legend, during the war between the Venetians and the Turks for power over Kotor, the inhabitants of the city took refuge in the fortress, ready to fight to the end. The Turks did not manage to conquer the fortress, but the inhabitants of the city also could not get out of it, since they threw the key to the gate into the sea. They managed to get out after an earthquake, which cracked in the wall of the fortress. However, after that it was closed again and since that time access to the inside of the citadel has been impossible.

Subsequently, the French fleet attacked the fortress at the beginning of the 19th century. After that, Kotor was liberated by the Russians from the French invaders and the rebuilding of the citadel was completed.

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Topic: Citadel description and photos - Montenegro: Kotor.