Historically, the Bay of Kotor has always been a strategically important naval port. For this reason, both peninsulas (entrance sides) to the bay were fortified militarily. The formerly important submarine ports and many military facilities were also located on the land-side Lustica peninsula (Montenegro).
The Prevlaka peninsula was also expanded into a strong fortification. During the Napoleonic Wars, Austria-Hungary, Russia and France alternated again in rapid succession as lords of the bay.
With the reorganization in the Congress of Vienna, Dalmatia including the Bay of Kotor as a kingdom part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy (1814-1918) and Kotor is expanded into a strongly fortified naval port.
Because of this strategic location in the entrance area to the Kotor naval port, important military installations were maintained on both peninsulas under the rule of Austria-Hungary and later in Yugoslavia and declared a restricted military area until the end of the 1990s.