Fort Gorazda (aut. Thurmfort Gorazda or Werk Gorazda) is a three-tiered fortification built during the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at an altitude of 452 metres between Kotor and Tivat. It gets its name from the hill on which it stands.
The coordinates of the fortress:
Its main task was to control the road from Kotor to Cetinje, neutralize enemy artillery positions in the Krstac area, and cover the Župa valley. The contingent of the defense structure consisted of 5 officers and 196 soldiers.
At the time of its completion in 1886, it possessed the most modern weaponry of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was an example of the latest technology in military engineering and architecture.
Description of the building
Fort Gorazda is a three-tiered, symmetrical structure with two wings that are arranged at right angles. The fortification is surrounded on all sides by an anti-personnel moat and can only be entered by a narrow passageway across two lifting bridges, which have now been replaced by reinforced concrete slabs.
The lower tier was taken up by a water cistern as well as four caponiers that controlled the space inside the moat.
The middle tier was for storing ammunition. Upstairs they were fed in by electric lifts.
The upper tier consisted of barracks and there were artillery pieces facing Lovcen. There were two batteries of four 120-mm guns on each of the wings of the building, covered by armoured domes. Each battery had its own spotter and the observation point was also covered by a dome.
Что примечательно, вход в крепость осуществлялся сразу на третий, верхний ярус укрепления. Два остальных располагались ниже и были фактически вкопаны в землю.
In the centre of the fort is a unique 100-tonne armoured dome, which could rotate 360 degrees and accommodate two additional 120mm guns, allowing for all-round fire under heavy armour cover. This invention was the brainchild of German Gruzon, a military industrialist and engineer. A total of five such domes were produced and installed in Eastern Europe, but only one survives to this day — at Fort Goražda.
The dome was a metal hemisphere 3 metres in diameter. The cannon was controlled by one man who was inside the structure. Two more people drove the swivel mechanism. The gun had a range of up to 10km.
In addition to the Gruzon armoured dome, the fort's arms consisted of:
- M-80 MinSchKan Howitzer 60-120 mm, 7 pcs;
- Kas Kan M4 20-90 mm cannons, 4 pcs;
- MG M4 3-8 mm machine guns;
- MG M7 2-8 mm machine guns;
- Infantry weapons.
Construction history
Fort Gorazhda began its history in 1869, when the first fortified battery was built on the hill of the same name. At that time it was armed with one smooth-bore gun and one howitzer. The tasks of the fortification included defence of the eastern Lovčen area. During the first uprising of the Krivosi clan, it was on the verge of being overrun by the rebels, but they still managed to hold it.
In 1882-83 there was a second uprising, which revealed the weakness of the fortification, so the decision was taken to carry out a major modernisation: in 1884-1886 the fort was equipped with new weapons, including the heavy armoured domes of Skoda.
The inscription above the entrance to the fortification — Thurmfort Gorazda 1886 — is also a reminder of this modernisation.
His updated tasks have became including:
- Control of the newly constructed Kotor - Cetinje road.
- Preventing Montenegrins from quickly and unhindered deployment of artillery on the Krstac hill.
These tasks were to be carried out in conjunction with the Skaljari battery.
In 1906-1907, domes for patrolling observers were installed on the sides of the fort.
Already in 1910, a new reconstruction plan for the fort came out. According to it, Fort Gorazda was to receive two additional towers with howitzers and observation posts armed with MG machine guns.
However, due to the outbreak of World War I, this project, as well as the project to fortify Alt Vermac (Gornij Vrmac), located on top of St. Ilija, was never realised.
Fort Gorazda during the World War I
By the beginning of the World War I, Fortress Gorazda had the following arms:
- 4 x 120mm howitzers (MSK M80) (fort casemates on the flanks);
- 2 x 120mm howitzers (MSK M80) (cast iron domes);
- 4 х 120mm KasKan М61;
- 3 х 8mm machine guns MG M4 (2 in observation domes, 1 in frontal reinforcement).
In October 1914, on the 19th and 23rd, the fortress came under heavy fire from Montenegro. The fortification was fired at by 2 batteries with 8 guns of 120mm and 155mm calibre. However, this did not cause any significant damage.
The duel between the Austrian and Montenegrin batteries continued on 25 and 26 October.
On 25 October, the fort sustained fairly serious damage, which nevertheless did not lead to capture.
In 1915 the fort was additionally equipped with two reinforced concrete domes for the spotters.
As early as January 1916, the Austro-Hungarian Empire defeated Montenegro, capturing the nearby peaks after which they disarmed this fortification. And all the damage from the attack was repaired.
Fort Gorazda after World War I
After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the fort became the property of the Yugoslav armed forces and was used as an arsenal.
The building is currently unguarded and free to be visited by tourists.
In 2017, the film «Papillon» was released. The Mamula and Gorazda forts, among others, took part in its filming.
How to get to Fort Gorazda
There are no transport links in the area. Therefore, of all the options available, only a car or an excursion with a personal guide remain.
The fort is only a 7-minute drive from Fort Trinity. However, it is worth bearing in mind that the road is quite narrow with sharp turns (similar to the Kotor Serpentine).
