Forte Mare or Sea Fortress is a fortification on the sea shore in the southern part of the Old Town of Herceg Novi. It is believed to have been founded as early as the 14th century by the Bosnian king, Tvrtko I Kotromanić, who founded the town.
Today, the Forte Mare fortress is one of the landmarks of Herceg Novi, which is open to tourists.
History of Forte Mare in Herceg Novi
As mentioned above, it is believed that the fortress was founded as far back as the 14th century, during the reign of Tvrtka I Kotromanić. Read more about the history of Herceg Novi here.
In 1482 the fortress, like the whole town of Herceg Novi, came under Ottoman rule, and was called Jaka Kula or Kula Abaspase.
It is worth noting that the Turks refurbished the fortress and strengthened it. However, according to some sources, the fortress received its most extensive «turkish» renovation in the 16th century after the Ottomans lost the city for 9 months, ceding it to the Spaniards under Andrea Dori.
During this period the construction of the walls around the town began apace, with the construction of Kanli Kula and Španjola. Forte Mare also received crenellations on its walls, which had not previously been there.
In 1687, the Republic of Venice, together with the forces of the Holy League (the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Republic of Venice, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Russian Empire) succeeded in taking the city back from the Turks after a three-month siege.
The Venetians did not miss the opportunity to contribute to the development of the fortress. They named the fortress Forte di Mare (shortened to Forte Mare in modern times). The citadel (Mezaluna) was also built at the foot of the fortress, and a series of fortifications were made to the walls.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire's version of the fortress survives to this day.
An open-air cinema opened in Fort Maré in 1952. It is now the venue for festivals and other city events. On ordinary days, anyone can go inside to enjoy the view from the walls of the fortress, as well as touching history.
How to get to Forte Mare
Forte Mare is located in the heart of Herceg Novi, a 15-minute walk from the bus station. The entrance is across the stone bridge.
Bus timetables can be found on busticket4.me.
If you are travelling by car, the nearest car park (for a fee) to the fortress is here.
You can also walk to the fortress from the seafront. You will have to climb up the steps, which will literally lead you to the entrance.
Forte Mare opening hours
The castle is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer season (usually from 1 May to 30 October). At other times, visits are only possible in groups of 20+ people and by prior arrangement.
Entry fee in 2023 — €4
