Stražnik, one of the most beautiful small fortresses, is a remarkable example of fortification architecture harmoniously blended into the landscape. You could see this approaching by serpentines, carved into the layered, limestone rock, after which this fortress got its name. The compact, hexagonal building once had a gray-brown facade. With weapons and metal parts (doors, windows), it gave a completely different impression from the current one.  An interesting detail! Stražnik is the only fortress in the Boka defense system that was obtaining natural light through the windows and through the central opening, covered with glass (as it can be seen in the photo). 

The daily life of the army took place in the barracks, on the first two levels of the fortress. There was a combat part on the roof platform – cannons and observation posts from where the crew monitored the military roads and guarded the Crkvice camp. The place where you stand right now provides a beautiful panoramic view of Herzegovina, Orjen, Grahovo plain as well as Lovćen. 

Most mountain fortresses in Boka and Herzegovina, such as Stražnik, were built of precisely carved stone. It is interesting that the deviations in the size of the stone blocks were up to 5 mm. In the stonemason’s workshops, local and master craftsmen from Dalmatia worked together. 

The Austro-Hungarian Ministry of the Army had a special administration – the Central Commission for fortification in which thebest experts from key areas for building defense systems worked. Engineers and designers of the fortresses also found inspiration in the design of famous artists, military architects from the beginning  of the 16th century.