Kanli Kula Fortress

Kanli Kula, meaning 'Bloody Tower' in Ottoman Turkish, stands on the ridge directly above Herceg Novi Old Town. The Ottomans built the fortress in the 16th cent…Kanli Kula, meaning 'Bloody Tower' in Ottoman Turkish, stands on the ridge directly above Herceg Novi Old Town. The Ottomans built the fortress in the 16th century as the landward anchor of the town's defensive system, adding it to the existing medieval walls to defend against attacks from the mountains behind the coast. The name references the fortress's later use as an Ottoman and then Venetian prison, where executions were carried out on the upper terrace. The structure comprises two concentric defensive walls with bastions at each corner, enclosing a large open inner courtyard rebuilt as an open-air amphitheatre. The amphitheatre seats roughly 1,000 people and hosts the Herceg Novi summer concert programme each July and August. A mix of classical, rock, regional folk acts and the occasional international name.

Tickets typically run €10 to €25 depending on the performer. Outside the concert season the fortress is open for self-guided visits. Interpretation panels cover the fortress's Ottoman construction, its later prison function, and the Venetian additions after 1687. The upper ramparts give an elevated view across the Old Town rooftops, down to Forte Mare on the harbour, and out across the bay to the Lustica peninsula and Mamula island. Kanli Kula is reached on foot in about ten minutes of uphill walking from the square at the base of the Old Town. Parking is available at the Kanli Kula lower gate for those arriving by car. The interior stone surfaces are uneven and the stair approach is not wheelchair accessible.