The extensive fortress wall of Kotor snake up the mountain behind old town and a hike to the top offers a stunning view of the Bay of Kotor. My tired body wasn’t keen for the hike after extensive time on the road but I am just not going to give in without even trying. So I guess my warm-up would be the stroll and wandering around the old town.
I managed to find the entrance leading to the fortress wall near the North Gate. However, there wasn’t anybody manning the ticket booth for the 3 Euro entrance fees…means it’s free then. Cheap thrill as told by someone later that the fee is only applicable from May to September…really?
It didn’t take long for me to realize that the hike is no walk in the park, especially with my backpack and camera bag starting to weigh in. I totally regretted not leaving my backpack at the luggage facility at Kotor bus station – almost felt like charging up the taller version of Peng Kang Hill under the blazing sun.
The knee-breaking steps of the fortress wall are generally quite well maintained but can be a pain to walk on. There will be occasional uneven and slippery bumps along the way so I suppose a pair of sturdy shoes is a must for safety!
Oh, did I mention also that you might need to keep a lookout for donkey’s poo?
I would advise going slow and steady for the hike up the fortress wall of Kotor as the seemingly endless steps can deplete one’s energy and determination quickly. This young lady was taking the steps in double quick time but gave up eventually barely halfway to the top.
Is this worth the effort? Totally!! The rewarding view makes me stop every now and then to take in the beautiful surroundings, though I also questioned myself whether to continue every time for the rest LOL. But of course, the view from the top kept me motivated.
Great views along fortress wall of Kotor
Seeing the Church of Our Lady of Remedy was a welcoming sight as it makes a very nice foreground subject against the bay. And it also means I have reached the halfway mark, yeah!
Yup, that’s only halfway to the top…more steps to go…
Along the defensive fortress wall are bastions, ramparts, towers and small forts.
Remember the donkeys earlier on? They are valuable helpers to these men hard at work in repairing and restoring the fortress wall of Kotor. The donkeys helped to carry necessary materials for the job.
Finally!! The entrance to St John Fortress!!
Reaching the top of fortress wall
After one thousand plus steps to the top, I finally see the Montenegro flag and the beautiful view of Bay of Kotor up here. What an amazing place!
I descend down the steps reluctantly as my water ran out and I need a toilet break…
Here’s a short video to show the condition of the rugged path.
The restaurants here serve mostly Italian food so I just picked one with a good view of St John fortress. The fish soup and the prawn pasta was really nice. Most importantly, a glass of rewarding beer. Been there, done there, cheers!!
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What are your thoughts about the fortress wall of Kotor? Leave a comment and share it with me.
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