Once a fortification and prison, now a luxury hotel: the spectacular Mamula Island Hotel, housed in a 19th-century fortress, has a turbulent history. Between thick stone walls and under vaulted ceilings, you will stay in one of 32 intimate rooms with sea views, whose original features have been preserved as much as possible. On the tiny private island of the same name, seclusion is guaranteed, yet you will want for nothing: refresh yourself in the pool, enjoy a six-course Mediterranean dinner, take part in an art workshop, or get to know Montenegro's dramatic mountains and gorges on an excursion.
In the dreamlike spa, you can experience holistic relaxation for body and mind – whether it's a shamanic-inspired ritual or a modern anti-aging facial treatment with natural products from the Swiss brand Ananné. For more athletic guests, the in-house fitness trainer offers yoga classes, plyometric training, Pilates, and HIIT sessions in the small but well-equipped fitness room. Exclusive cultural experiences offer a particularly authentic encounter with the country and its people, including regular classical concerts, workshops in the in-house art studio, or excursions into Montenegro's beautiful nature.
The 32 rooms and suites with sea views are decorated in an earthy, muted color palette and furnished simply yet elegantly with organic materials; the curved shapes of the custom-made furniture are reminiscent of the horseshoe-shaped structure of the fort. In the heritage-listed Sky and Sea Junior Suites, you can enjoy original features such as stone fortress walls, vaulted ceilings, and some decorative frescoes from the 19th century, which took nine months to restore. The luxurious Panorama Suites impress with their own cinema room and a telescope on the spacious terrace.
Canadian chef Erica Archambault from the trendy Michelin-starred restaurant Septime in Paris was commissioned to create the Mediterranean menus that can be found in each of the three restaurants. The fine dining restaurant Kamena offers a sophisticated six-course menu featuring seasonal vegetables and freshly caught fish, while the Pool Deck and Sun Deck serve contemporary summer dishes ranging from salads and fresh seafood to fragrant wood-fired pizzas. If you wish, you can order a picnic basket full of light delicacies to be delivered directly to your sun lounger on the beach.
On the small Balkan peninsula of Montenegro on the Adriatic coast, one of Europe's most extraordinary hotels awaits you: the majestic Mamula Island Hotel is housed in a former 19th-century fortress that has been converted into a luxury hotel and, thanks to its location on the tiny island of the same name, promises exquisite seclusion. Built in 1852, the fortress in the idyllic Bay of Kotor looks back on an eventful past, during which it served as a military base and prison. With its imposing architecture and the restored remains of the still impressive frescoes, this luxury hotel offers history you can touch.
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