Former Concentration Camp Island to Become Luxury Resort in Montenegro (EXCLUSIVE)

Plans to convert a former concentration camp island fortress into a luxury high-end resort in Montenegro have been approved this week angering families of locals imprisoned there during WWII. Despite protests, Parliament this week has given the go ahead for development of the Mamula Island Resort to begin immediately.
At the very entrance to the magnificent Boka Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world near Montenegro, is a foreboding, uninhabited island with a fortress. The island is called Lastavica, but is popularly known as Mamula. The monumental fortress was built by Austrian Admiral, Lazar Mamula at the end of the 19th century. At first sight, the fort looks terrifying, but once entered, visitors are amazed by the ruins left stranded in time surrounded by beauty.

Rendering of the new Mamula Island Resort

For years, Mamula has had many purposes. Due to its isolated position, it was used as a concentration camp in both World Wars and the fort has also served as a prison. The main reason for building Mamula was to stop enemy ships from entering the Boka Bay. However, the fortress never served its purpose, since there was never a military attack.
For years Mamula has been one of the most popular tourist attractions of Herceg Novi. The fortress was well preserved and even includes the old prison cells that held concentration camp prisoners.

Planned development mapping of Mamula

While making the project proposal for the reconstruction and development, the investors complied with conservation conditions, from the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. “We will create a museum with the best restaurant and the best hotel on the Mediterranean,” Samih Saviris, president of Orascom, promised when he was recently awarded parliamentary approval.