Fortress wall around Old town of Budva

A powerful fortress wall around the Ancient Town of Budva in Montenegro was rebuilt by the Venetians during the Renaissance after a devastating earthquake in the 17th century. The first defensive constructions of the city were erected here in the 9th century, and one of the ancient fortress walls was part of the Benedictine monastery that overlooked the coast. According to ancient engravings in the museum of Budva, the city fortifications of the 16th century has six somewhat elongated towers and one round one, between which stretched thick walls laid out of a hewn stone. Its borders were unchanged for several centuries, as well as the number of residents of the city did not exceed 1000 people.

After the massive earthquake in Montenegro on April 15, 1979, with the magnitude of 7 points the "Old Grad" in Budva, like its fortress, was again destroyed and restored only by 1987. To date, the Old part of Budva is an architectural monument of antiquity and is protected by UNESCO. The Old Town of Budva is a whole open-air museum with a huge number of attractions, cultural sites and historical monuments where people still live in medieval buildings of hewn stone, and its protective fortress walls are another tourist attraction from which the Budva Riviera is visible, a modern residential part of Budva, fishing boats and chic yachts, various churches and temples, as well as on the palm of your hand you can see ancient streets and ancient inner courtyards.

How to get on the fortress wall of the Old Town of Budva?

Narrow aisles and staircases on the fortress walls of the city are found in several places of Old Budva. The entrance to the wall is paid and costs 1.5 euros. One of these passages to the fortress is located near the gate opposite the hotel Avala. To get to it, you just need to go inside the old city (the entrance to the "Old Town" itself is free), immediately turn left and go through the summer terrace of the Mozart restaurant.

The second entrance to the fortress wall is located near one of the famous sights of Old Budva - the Citadel. Having approached it, you face the entrance, move left to the very edge, and then turn left and walk along the fortress wall.

The fortress wall in shape is a horseshoe, that is, it is not closed and you can bypass only a part of the Old Town. Despite this, you can spend a lot of time looking at the brickwork and ancient loopholes, as well as enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea, the mighty rocks, the marvelous nature of Montenegro and the coastal settlements.

On the viewing platforms of the walls you can very often see people who specially came here to see the most beautiful sunset - at this time the Old Town itself is especially beautiful, the red tiled roofs of which shimmer in the dark from maroon to the fiery shades.

It can be said for sure, that the fortress walls of the old city of Budva are worth visiting at least once and see all this historic splendor with your own eyes.
 

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