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Kampana Tower
Kotor’s city walls are a series of 4,5-kilometer-long defensive stone walls that stretch completely around the old town, from the Sea Gate via the Kampana Tower and the Gurdic Gate up to Kotor Fortress, which sits at an altitude of 280 meters, guarding the entrance to the harbor and Kotor’s Old Town.
The walls reach a maximum height of about 20 meters and a width of up to 16 meters on the side facing the sea. They include six bastions of which the bell-shaped Kampana Tower is the most prominent. Its round, bulky shape constituted the ideal silhouette for deflecting cannon balls and keeping invaders at bay.
The Kampana Tower anchors the river-facing north wall to the western city wall and is one of the first things visitors to Kotor see when arriving by sea. It was first erected between the 13th and 14th centuries but was completely rebuilt in the mid-16th century when Kotor belonged to a province that was part of the Republic of Venice (1420 – 1797).
Kotor City Walls
Kotor’s City Walls were originally built in the Middle Ages and then completely rebuilt by the Venetians. The well-preserved walls are under UNESCO protection.
Kotor’s Historic Center
Kotor’s Old Town is a must-visit during your trip to Montenegro. Be sure to include St. Tryphon’s Cathedral and the Gurdic Gate on your sightseeing list.
Kotor Fortress
Some of the best bay views can be enjoyed from Kotor Fortress, a defensive structure dating back to Illyrian times, perched atop St. John’s Hill.
The city walls, encompassing the Kampana Tower, the Bembo Bastion, the Gurdic Bastion, and the three city gates, are still largely intact and are among the most well-preserved Renaissance-era fortifications on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. Together with other Venetian Works of Defense across the Mediterranean, they are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are a major tourist attraction.
And while the Kampana Tower was notoriously hard to access by sea, getting to the top via its interior staircase is easy nowadays. Enjoy breathtaking views of the emerald-green Scurda River, the scenic Square of Arms with its distinctive 17th-century clock tower, the Kotor Cruise Port, and large swaths of the Bay of Kotor from above.
The moat surrounding the Kampana Tower is filled with water from the Scurda River. It is easy to see how it had served as a natural line of defense back in the day. By the early 16th century, the expanding Ottoman Empire became an imminent threat to Kotor. It was the Siege of Castelnuovo (Herceg Novi) in 1539 under Hayreddin Barbarossa, that ultimately made the Venetians strengthen their fortifications around the old town.
Kotor
On a day trip or city break to Kotor, you will want to discover all its interesting places. Kotor is brimming with Mediterranean charm and attracts many visitors.
Bay of Kotor
The Bay of Kotor is famous for its miles of pristine coastline. There are many beautiful and charming seaside towns here: Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, and Perast.
Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is a lovely place to visit or to lay down roots. If you’re looking for sun, sea, and good vibes, you won’t find many better spots in Montenegro.
It did not take long until major progress was made: the Bembo Bastion and the North Gate were finished only one year after the siege, in 1540, and the Sea Gate was finalized in 1555. Luckily, the Kampana Tower required only a small upgrade because most of its construction was done in prior centuries.
The Ottoman Empire never conquered Kotor, perhaps thanks to the Kampana Tower which still stands today, but the only things it defends Kotor from these days are the hordes of cruise ship tourists who come to visit this charming gem of a town that remains almost perfectly preserved in its Renaissance and Baroque form.
There’s a small park with a fountain adjacent to the bastion where you can sit on one of the benches and reflect on its rich history, or simply relax and marvel at its beauty. The Kampana Tower is beautifully lit up at night, making it a picturesque walk-by site, too. The Benovo Parking Lot is right adjacent to it, making it easily accessible if you have your own vehicle.
Parking in Kotor
To avoid a parking nightmare and the fines that go along with it, read our Kotor Parking Guide to find out where you can and can’t park and what the average parking fees are.
Things to do in Kotor
In Kotor there’s surely a spot to suit everyone; from families with young children to couples seeking peace and quiet. Discover the best things to do in Kotor.
Culinary Delights in the Old Town
Find out more about Kotor’s Old Town Restaurants. Kotor is awash with incredible places to eat, from al fresco dining on captivating squares to cozy taverns.