The Španjola Fortress in Herceg Novi, a gem of Montenegro’s cultural heritage, is undergoing a thorough reconstruction and, upon completion, will become an international creative and cultural center. This project will significantly enrich the tourist offer and stimulate the economic development of the city of steps.
The value of works in the first phase amounts to €2.5 million, of which €1.6 million is co-financed from the European Union’s IPA funds, while the remaining funds are provided from the state budget.
Located on Bajer Hill, overlooking the old town and the Bay of Kotor, the Španjola Fortress has watched over Herceg Novi since the 16th century. It was started by Spanish conquerors and completed by the Ottomans, creating a fortification reminiscent of scenes from the “Game of Thrones” series. Throughout history, the fortress played an important role in the city’s defense, serving first as a stronghold and later as a prison during World War II.
From the top of the fortress, a magnificent view of the blue Adriatic stretches out — a sight that takes visitors’ breath away. A visit to Španjola is like a journey through a time machine, taking us back to the distant past, to the time of kings, Venetians, Ottomans, and Spaniards who shaped the unique character of this city.
Bringing this jewel back to life is no small feat and requires expertise, patience, and immense work. Centuries of exposure to natural elements — moisture, wind, rain, and changing temperatures — have taken their toll, eroding stone and leaving cracks in the walls. Each fortress is a unique puzzle of history, and expert architects, craftsmen, and archaeologists are working on the restoration to weave Španjola’s rich past into the present and future.
To preserve the original design, modern materials such as transparent polycarbonate are being used in the reconstruction of the fortress roofs and walls, while traditional materials like stone will be used in the restoration of other damaged parts. Within the first phase of the project — by March 2026 — the ramparts, all towers and walkways, the large residential building, and an auxiliary building at the fortress entrance will be repaired, and the water and electrical network will be modernized.
As symbols of strength and the heritage of past eras, fortresses hold a prominent place in our collective imagination. The restored Španjola will become a cultural beacon for the local community and tourists. It will host various events, conferences, exhibitions, art fairs, and creative studios, which will greatly contribute to enhancing the tourist offer of Herceg Novi and the local economy. The Španjola Fortress will become a platform for connecting young creative entrepreneurs and innovative startups from across the region, encouraging cooperation in the fields of cultural heritage preservation and the arts.
The revitalization of the fortress is being implemented as part of the “SA CREATIVITY” project, funded by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme 2021–2027. The project aims to revalorize and revitalize the region’s rich cultural heritage and is implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro in cooperation with the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro, the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Albania, and the Italian regions of Puglia and Molise.
MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND MEDIA