The abandoned path to Sv Andrija fortress
The Bay of Kotor is riddled with the ruins of Austro-Hungarian buildings perched atop the craggy mountains. But the most beautiful walk is the trail to Sveti Andrija Fortress above Perast. (Montenegro)
Sveti Andrija Fortress
The Sv Andrija fortress, built during the 19th century in the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy, sits high above the enchanting town of Perast at an elevation of 743 meters above sea level. This historic monument offers breathtaking views of the enchanting Bay of Kotor and is a popular destination for hikers who want to follow the winding serpentine stone path that meanders through the beech forest.
Another fortress, Fort Stražnik, also known as the Eagle’s Nest, was once a defensive line of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire against the neighboring Ottoman Empire. Located in the southwest of Montenegro, west of the village and former military base of Crkvice, this fortress offers a glimpse of the past and is definitely worth a visit.
The path to the fortress was originally designed for horses and offers picturesque views along the way. The path winds through the beautiful beech forest where the only sounds you hear are the chirping birds and buzzing insects. As you approach the top, the path opens up to a panoramic view of the bay where the fortress majestically overlooks. The view from the Sveti Andrija fortress is described as breathtaking (and it is) and includes the enchanting Bay of Kotor, Mount Vrmac, and the Verige Strait.
The ruins of the fortress are also fascinating and still have the original stone inscriptions in German. Despite the beautiful surroundings, we, unfortunately, didn’t make it to the ruins due to time constraints – believe it or not, I also wanted to visit the village, and otherwise, it would have been completely dark. I thought it was a bit of a shame, but I did get to experience the most beautiful part, and I’m sure of that!
- Halfway along this path, you come across a dilapidated church sv Ivan. I have tried to find more info on this but unfortunately without conclusive results
The path up was completely overgrown with bushes in several places some of these bushes are with large thorns. My travel partner had suffered major injuries from this, by slipping and this was her last hold.
In some places, the paths are completely washed away or so narrow that if you take a wrong step you slide down a few meters.
It is not a long walk but it is a very tough walk. The path is also not entirely without danger, and a pair of sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended. I also recommend you bring enough drinks (about 2liter the man in warm weather) and some sugar.
I therefore strongly advise against hiking after or during rain.
Despite the necessary dangers that can be neglected by staying alert and using common sense.
The reward is a view that is almost indescribable.
Fun fact the oldest people in the world still experienced the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, Because the dissolution was on 12 November 1918
(1)In Montenegro, wild camping is not allowed. You can try it but you have to take into account that the local police will get tough on you. I didn’t find a safe place there either, to stand somewhere unnoticed. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, there were also no camping/sleeping facilities open in the area. And I was forced to cross the border with Croatia again.
There is also another road to this castle and this road is included in the world’s most dangerous routes
https://www.dangerousroads.org/eastern-europe/montenegro/8428-fortress-sveti-andrija.html
I have added a GPX file to this article, so you can do this amazing hike yourself.
