One step, two steps, three steps, and you are atop of the mountain. If you come to Montenegro, be ready to make steep ascents and descents. One such ascent is a must-overcome, as it leads to the Church of St. John in Kotor.

To see one of the most beautiful corners of the Bay of Kotor from a bird’s eye view, you need to leave hundreds of steps behind. The climb is not easy, but the view and the church are worth every calorie burnt.

The first stones of this legendary fortress were laid in the 9th century. Then it was constantly rebuilt. The version that we see now has existed since the 19th century. The fortress has changed many owners: at first, it was ruled by the Venetians. Under their rule, the fortress withstood two battles perfectly. Then the fort with a 4-kilometer wall passed to the French, and then, until the First World War, to the Austrians. And all this time, the fortress was used as intended. Mighty 20 meters wide walls with 38 cannons protected the citizens of Kotor from enemies. For the fortress, it was all just a futile buzz.

Having climbed to the top, take a deep breath and look around. For the first few minutes, you won’t be able to utter a word! You will see a stunning view of the bay, mountains covered with dark green forest, red-tiled roofs of the Old Town, huge ferries at the wharf. You will try to remember it forever, capture every detail in memory, so stand and look into the distance and down at the city.

There is another mountain, Lovcen, right behind the fortress. It is also worth a visit, but you will need to go to another city for that. Until then, you can enjoy the view of it.

If you decide that the St. John Fortress is on your list of must-see attractions in Montenegro, climb it in the morning, at 9 a.m. Firstly, everyone is allowed free until 10 a.m. Secondly, there are fewer tourists in the morning.