KOTOR CASTLE
Montenegro, Federation of Yugoslavia
The Castle of St. John stands high on the hill behind the City of Kotor on the southern shore of the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, Yugoslavia (and can be seen in the background of the picture above atop the hill). Walls lead down from the Castle, zig-zagging down the hill and surround the old town.
Kotor was founded by the Illyrians who were the first to construct a fortress on the hill, followed by the Greeks and Romans. Most of the current fortifications were built during a period of Serbian rule in the 12th to 14th Centuries. In the 15th Century the Venetians arrived and updated all the fortifications to allow for the use of gunfire.
They remained in control for the next three centuries, although were frequently in conflict with their neighbours (particularly the Republic of Dubrovnik to the north, their great rivals).
In 1667 a terrible earthquake caused massive destruction along most of the Adriatic coast and much of Kotor was badly damaged, allowing baroque rebuilding of many of the town buildings. The Castle ceased to have much military function from that point onwards. An even greater earthquake hit in 1979 and the town is still rebuilding after the devastation caused.
Kotor is one of the hidden jewels of the Balkans, mostly due to the difficult political situation that has existed in Yugoslavia since the break up of the greater Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.
© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions and Andrew J. Müller
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2001
