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A View from Fort George to the Bay of Vis

Croatians love Vis as well as all the guests that visit it every season. 

Srebrna Bay, Vis Island, Croatia, photo by Aleksandar Gospic, photo credit by Tourist Board of Croatia
Srebrna Bay, Vis Island, Croatia, photo by Aleksandar Gospic, photo credit by Tourist Board of Croatia

Vis –  Adriatic Nautical tourism jewel

When the Yugoslav army left Vis in 1992. it was the beginning of the role of the leading nautical jewel of the Adriatic.

 

Fort George, the fortress overlooking the Vis Bay, photo credit by Fort George
Fort George, the fortress overlooking the Vis Bay, photo credit by Fort George

Vis has a long and turbulent history under Illyrian, then as Ancient Greek polis Issa, which is still its famous nickname. Issa was even a colony of SyracuseSicily. In the 1st century, it was conquered by the Roman Empire

Until 1797, the island was under the rule of the Republic of Venice. Britain occupied the town at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, then ceded it to the Austrian Empire under the Italian name Lissa. After the end of World War I, it was under Italians again, and in 1920 ceded to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Vis, Island Vis, Croatia, photo credit by Fort George
Vis, Island Vis, Croatia, photo credit by Fort George

Vis was the site of the general headquarters of the Yugoslav Partisan resistance movement during World War II. After the war, the Yugoslav People’s Army used the island as one of its main naval bases.

Clubbing at fort George, Vis, photo credit by Fort George
Clubbing at fort George, Vis, photo credit by Fort George

FORT GEORGE a guardian of Vis bay

Fort George, a fortress built by the British Royal Navy, is set on a hill overlooking the bay of Vis on the island of Vis.

After the Royal Navy’s victory at the Battle of Vis (1811), the British built a series of fortifications on the island, the largest and most important being named after the British King, King George III, built in 1813.

Fort George, Vis island, photo credit by Ford George
Fort George, Vis island, photo credit by Ford George

Fort George is today the idyllic retreat to its visitors 

Two hundred years on, Fort George now offers an idyllic retreat to visitors from far and wide. After an extensive restoration time, the Fort became a multifunctional event space, restaurant, and lounge bar.

The Fort is especially popular as a destination wedding venue. Its pine trees garden offers the perfect setting for couples looking for a bohemian-style wedding. Free dates are in high demand, averaging at about 20 -25 weddings over a four-month-long season. 

Fort George, Vis, Croatia, photo credit, by Fort George
Fort George, Vis, Croatia, photo credit, by Fort George

Let’s go party!

The Fort’s lounge bar turns into a club one to two nights a week when The Yacht Week guests visit Vis. The Yacht Week parties are famous in Split archipelago, and the party at the Fort is one of the most popular. The famous Ultra festival used to have the closing night at the Fort before the COVID pandemic stopped the festival for the last two summers.

Clubbing at fort George, Vis, photo credit by Fort George
Clubbing at fort George, Vis, photo credit by Fort George

The view with the restaurant 🙂

It took a few years for the Fort to establish its restaurant from when it first opened in 2015. It is now one of the most popular places to come for dinner while enjoying the view of the sunset. The restaurant offers fresh fish daily as well as high-quality steaks.

If you happen to find yourself on the island of Vis, Fort George is one of the places you should not miss out on. Make sure to check their website for the working hours and private events before making the hike up the hill. The sunset is the busiest in Fort George, but thanks to the pine tree gardens with a shade and breeze, it is a great place to visit on a hot afternoon.

When your staycation is in Croatia, visiting The Fort George on Vis island will make it more staylicious.

Vis, Island Vis, Croatia, photo by Croatia2go
Vis, Island Vis, Croatia, photo by Croatia2go
ABOUT AUTHOR

Andreja Pruša Horvatić

"There are countless beautiful stories proving that what I’ve been doing for the past eight years, with varying levels of enthusiasm is truly meaningful."

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