Fortress Besac (montenegrin. Тврђава Бесац) is a medieval fortress located above the settlement of Virpazar in the municipality of Bar. It is one of the few restored fortresses in Montenegro. At the moment there is an observation deck, a restaurant and a wine shop on its territory.
History of the fortress
The history of the fortress dates back to 1478. When the Ottoman Empire conquered the entire territory of Donja Zeta (the name of the seaside region where Ulcinj, Bar and Budva are now located), the Turks decided to fortify the newly acquired land. As part of this fortification, the fortress above Virpazar — Besac — was built.
It is not known whether it was a completely new construction or a reconstruction and reinforcement of an older one. However, it is likely that there was a fortification here before the Ottomans arrived, as this was the historical border between the Ottomans and the Slavic tribes.
Virpazar itself is the centre of Crmnica, a region that has always been renowned for its fertility and wealth, so ruling over it was of strategic importance.
However, at the end of the XVII century - beginning of the XVIII century, the Montenegrins managed to recapture the fortress. It is known that in those times it suffered significant damage. According to some reports, the fortress underwent a significant rebuilding in 1847, when Montenegrin Prince Petar II Petrović Njegoš was forced to react to the construction of the Grmojur fort by the Turks and strengthen his possessions.
But 30 years later, in 1878, it lost its strategic importance. After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire and as a result of the Congress of Berlin, all the neighbouring territories went to Montenegro, and thus Besac Fortress was left in the rear and no longer in use.
It was briefly put into use in the first half of the 20th century. At first, after World War I, it housed the gendarmerie and then, during World War II, the Italian occupation authorities used it as a prison.
The fort was abandoned after the end of World War II, and the 1979 earthquake caused further damage.
But in 2013, the site underwent a major restoration with support from the European Union. Now there is a wine shop on the territory of the fortress, as well as a restaurant where you can dine while enjoying the views of Lake Skadar. More information can be found on the official website.
Description of the fortress
The fortification complex of Besac Fortress is located on a plateau of 1200 m². It consists of walls with entrance gates, reinforced watchtowers, barracks and the fort building itself. The fortress is surrounded by ramparts.
The fort itself is rectangular in shape with protruding semicircular towers.
How to get to Fort Besac
The Besac Fortress is actually located in Virpazar itself, it will be difficult to get lost, so the following will provide information on how to get to Virpazar in different ways.
Besides the standard taxis and own/rented car, there are two other options for getting to Virpazar: intercity bus and train.
How to get to Virpazar by train
Virpazar is midway between Podgorica and Bar, so any train travelling from Podgorica to Bar or just any train from Bar will do. Timetables and prices can be seen on the official website of the railway. Tickets are bought both at the station ticket offices and on the train itself from the controller for cash. The station is named «Virpazar» and is located here.
How to get to Virpazar by bus
There are intercity buses to Virpazar, their timetables can be found here. There are direct flights from Podgorica, Bar and Ulcinj. Buses depart from local bus stations:
Working hours and entrance fee to the Besac Fortress
In summer, the fortress is open daily from 9:00 to 23:00. In winter, this schedule may vary, so it is better to check the current schedule on the official Instagram account.
The entrance fee for the tour is 2.5 euros per person. In case you want to visit the restaurant and taste local wines, the entrance is free of charge.
