Construction The fortress, originally named Fort Jaz, was built in 1860 by soldiers of the
Austrian Empire as a barracks and military base to defend the western borders of
Budva and control all roads leading to the city. The fortress was designed in a rectangular shape with high walls and towers on each corner. The fortress is set on the
Spas Hill above the
Mogren 2 Beach to the west of the
Budva Old Town and from the Budva city centre. The
Budva Old Town,
Sveti Nikola Island and
Jaz Beach are visible across the sea. In 2015, a plan for reconstruction and improvement of the fortress was proposed, including an auditorium for 320 visitors, exhibition hall, café, performance stage and parking. Despite suggestions from the city administration that the project would bring €35,500 in net revenue annually, members of the
Budva Municipal Assembly voted against the project due to impact on authenticity and historical appearance. In 2016, as part of the Budva 2020 initiative funded by the Budva Foundation, overgrown vegetation was removed from the fortress, and a parking lot, asphalt road and small information centre were constructed to serve the fortress. == Tourism and preservation ==