Kanli Kula Fortress
Kanli Kula
Hilltop citadel above the Old Town, now an open-air events venue.
The fortress, dating from the Ottoman period, rises above the Old Town and provides one of the best vantage points over the bay. Its interior is used today as a summer stage.
How to Get There
On foot from Herceg Novi center ~9-14 min.
From TIV airport (Tivat) by taxi/transfer ~24 min.
From TGD airport (Podgorica) by taxi/transfer ~88 min.
Description
What is it
Kanli Kula is a monumental Ottoman fortress at the northern tip of Herceg Novi’s Old Town, built in 1539. Its name means “Bloody Tower”, reflecting its notorious role as a prison during 1482–1687 Ottoman rule.
Key features
- Sited at ~85 m above sea level – commanding views over the Old Town and the bay.
- Ottoman structure on earlier foundations – a “pro pace” mark hints at a prior, more benign use.
- First written mention in 1664 by Evliya Çelebi – early record of the prison-citadel.
- Venetian and Austro-Hungarian layers after 1687 – readable in portals and details.
- Open-air stage since 1960 – 1,000 seats (expandable to 1,500), rebuilt after the 1979 earthquake.
What to see
- Irregular outer shell ~70×60 m with corner towers.
- An internal cistern later reused as a cell, and remains of an Ottoman cannon.
- Historic carvings and graffiti – galleys, crosses, dates, coats of arms.
- The amphitheatre and sweeping Bay of Kotor vistas from the top terraces.
History
Shaped by Ottoman builders in 1539, Kanli Kula completed the town’s defensive system and functioned as a prison; Evliya Çelebi noted it in 1664. After the 1687 capture by the Holy League, Venetians repaired major damage; later Austro-Hungarian works added further military features.
In the 20th century the interior became an open-air stage (1960), turning the fortress into a cultural landmark. Following the 1979 earthquake, the venue was rebuilt with a more functional, “Venetian-style” interior, trading some authenticity for capacity and safety.
Practical information
Location: northern edge of Herceg Novi Old Town, ~85 m a.s.l.
Getting there: signed footways from Belavista Square or the seafront; parking at the marina and upper town lots.
Access: paid entry; many steps and level changes; seasonal ticket office on site.
When to visit: year-round per opening hours; summer evenings for shows.
Visit duration: 30–60 min to tour; 1.5–2 h if attending an event.
Best time: evenings for views and the event program; shoulder seasons for quieter walks.
Special notes: sturdy non-slip footwear; limited railings in places; areas may close during performances.
