Kotor Ramparts
Kotor Ramparts
Kotor Ramparts (road to Fort of St. Ivan, Kotor) – these city walls, located in the outskirts of Kotor, are proof that this was the biggest urban settlement in Montenegro over the centuries. Kotor was part of the kingdom of Doclea in the 11th century. In the 12th century it fell under the rule of the Nemanjic dynasty, the rulers of Raska. At this time, the city achieved economic and cultural prosperity. After the downfall of Raska in 1371, it Kotor was shortly ruled by Hungaro-Croatian kings, then by the Bosnian king Tvrtko. After that, for a short period (1391-1420) it was an independent city-state.
For almost four centuries (1420-1797), Kotor was under the wing of the Venetian Republic. Because of the constant threat of Ottoman Empire attacks, the walls were strengthened and expanded. The northern gate was built in 1540, the western gate was reconstructed in 1555, and the southern gate was strengthened multiple times. A number of bastions were constructed, the most dominant one being the Citadel. The walls were constructed until the 19th century, especially in the upper area. Between 1814 and1918, the town was part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. All of these shifts in rulers and politics left permanent marks on the city’s life and its cultural and historical monuments.