The island has a fort, built in 1853 by Austro-Hungarian general Lazarus von Mamula. The fort takes up about 90% of the island's surface area. Along with the fortification on Prevlaka's Cape Oštro as well as Arza fortification on Luštica's Cape Arza, both of which were erected at the same time also on suggestion by general Lazarus von Mamula, fort Mamula was part of the Austro-Hungarian Army's contingency plans of preventing the enemy entrance into the Bay of Kotor.