BARRIER FORTRESS ŠANIK

Position
Defensive zone of Krivošije

Third defensive line:
Greben-Ledenice

Tactical mission task
Defense of routes from the northeast to Orahovac, Perast and Risan

Construction period
1882-1883.

Crew
1 officer, 40 soldiers

Weapons
Cannon M 04 90 mm, 2 pieces
Machine guns
Infantry weapons

UBALAC

If you want to visit the fortress Šanik, continue further by a wide military road. You passed by a quiet village of Ubalac, one of the few living in this mountain belt. The foundations on the left are the remains of a barracks for the accommodation of Austro-Hungarian soldiers, and next to them is a cistern which is still in use today.

MACHINE GUN BUNKER

When you see a preserved machine gun bunker, the remains of two observation posts and a cistern, you will know that you are at the foot of the fortress.

Machine gun bunker

TASK – FIND A MEDALLION

Of the modest remains, which are only a reminder of the former greatness of Šanik, a stone medallion with the initials of FJI emperor (Franz Joseph I) with the year when the fortress was built remained on the outer wall.

Stone medallion

MASTER OF THE MOUNTAIN

At the end of the climb, the ruins of a large fortress await you, based on which you can imagine its former appearance and powerful position. Fortress Šanik was built near the border with the Kingdom of Montenegro, in order to prevent and slow down possible attacks by the Montenegrin army.

Plan of the fortress²

ORGANIZATION OF LIFE

It will sound incredible to you – in every fortress of Boka, including Šanik, at the end ofthe 19th century, there were all the conditions for the uninterrupted flow of life. On the ground floor of the building, there are still cistern and storage rooms; there were rooms for recruits, a kitchen and bathrooms on the first floor; on the second, there were officers and signalers. Soldiers, stationed at this remote point, endeavored to maintain habits from home during their three-year service. Here you see them during prayer in the open field.

A prayer service in Ubalac¹

A VIEW WORTH HIKING

The reason why you should definitely go to fortress Šanik is the magnificent view toward Boka Bay and the mountains hinterland.

WATER IN THE KARST

Water was extremely important for the normal functioning of the army. The Austro-Hungarian command had a special water management service. Of the ways in which water was supplied, used and recycled, nothing has been left to chance. And do you know how the problem of water supply has been solved here, in the rugged area? More than 200 cisterns have been built. Each fortress had at least one, and several were for public use. The former technology of building a stone cistern was very complex. It required exceptional mastery. This is why the skill with which these objects were made is amazing, because neither the devastating earthquakes nor the weather damaged them. And indeed, it sounds incredible that all but two cisterns are still functional today!

CISTERN TOUR GUIDE

The sound of water trapped in the stone and the view of the dark interior area makes the part of tour experience. On the way back to Grkavac, and near the former Ledenice camp, on the left side, in the field, you can see the remains of a bathroom building with rooms for disinfection and a cistern. In the vicinity of Grkavac point, there are three other preserved cisterns that are worth visiting.

Bathroom building¹ and disinfection, then

Bathroom building¹ and disinfection, now

¹ Source: Radojica Pavićević
² Source: Volker Pachauer
³ Source: Österreichisches Staatsarchiv
4 Source: Österreichische Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung

Important Note: Explore the fortresses and use the trails at your own risk.