Cape Gatula and Gatula Battery Biševo – Military Tunnels and Viewing Point
Cape Gatula is located on the southern part of Biševo and is one of the best places to explore its lesser-known side. Far from the crowds around the Blue Cave, here the open sea meets the steep southern coast, rare island vegetation, and the remnants of a large coastal artillery battery embedded in the rock.
At first glance, Gatula appears to be just another bare coastal cape. It is only upon closer inspection that four former artillery positions and a system of underground tunnels are revealed, which allowed soldiers to remain and operate almost entirely hidden beneath the surface.
Today, the former military complex has been restored, secured, and illuminated. The cannons are no longer there, and the open positions have been transformed into resting areas and viewpoints. One of the tunnels leads out to a cliff with a view of the islet Kamik and the entrance to Medvidina Cave, while the open sea behind them provides Gatula with one of the most striking coastal landscapes of Biševo.
Coastal Artillery Battery Hidden in the Cape
The Gatula Battery was a stationary coastal artillery battery intended for monitoring and defending the maritime area south of Biševo.
What is particularly interesting is how it was integrated into the terrain.
The cannons did not simply sit on a large open concrete platform visible from the sea. The positions were arranged so that they could be camouflaged within the natural rocky environment, while the spaces needed for the crew, communication, and longer stays were constructed in tunnels below the surface.
This system allowed soldiers to spend a significant amount of time protected within the cape, while the cannons could operate from open positions facing the sea.
Today, it is through these underground passages that one can best appreciate how much larger the former military facility was than it appears from the outside.
Four Škoda 80 mm Guns
Preserved military records provide a very concrete picture of the former battery.
A list of coastal artillery in the Adriatic from 1948 indicates that the battery on Biševo had four 80 mm calibre guns, model 28, manufactured by Škoda.
A total of 5,088 rounds of ammunition were recorded for them.
The guns are no longer on Gatula, but their positions clearly indicate where they were placed.
Each was situated in a separate open position connected to the tunnel system. As one moves from one to another, it is easy to imagine how the entire battery functioned as a single military unit.
Why Was the Battery Built Here?
The location of Gatula makes a lot of sense when looking at a map.
Biševo is located southwest of Vis, exposed to the open Adriatic, and Cape Gatula juts out towards the southern maritime area.
From its shore, a wide sector of the sea approaching Vis from the west and south can be monitored.
Vis and its archipelago had significant military importance throughout the 20th century precisely because of its position almost in the middle of the Adriatic. Artillery positions, bunkers, tunnels, storage facilities, and other structures were built on Vis and the surrounding islands for the defence of the islands and maritime approaches.
Gatula is Biševo's example of this much broader military infrastructure.
Underground Tunnels Now Open to Visitors
Unlike many abandoned military tunnels on Vis, the facilities at Gatula are now well-maintained and illuminated.
Visitors can walk through the rounded underground corridors and see how certain parts of the system were connected to the artillery positions.
In the summer months, the temperature difference between the external rocky terrain and the tunnels is particularly noticeable. While the surface of the cape heats up significantly under the sun, the interior remains considerably cooler.
Once military spaces, these areas now serve a completely different purpose – as places for sightseeing, relaxation, and occasional cultural programmes.
In the Gatula tunnel, photography exhibitions are even held, which is an interesting example of how abandoned military infrastructure on Biševo has taken on a completely new function.
Viewing Point Towards Medvidina Cave and Kamik
One of the highlights of the visit is located towards the southern end of the complex.
The tunnel leads to an opening in the rock from which there is a view of the islet Kamik and the area of Medvidina Cave.
From this side, Medvidina Cave looks completely different than when approached by boat. From a height, the steepness of Biševo's southern coast is much more apparent, as is how the massive entrance to the cave is actually hidden in almost vertical rock.
In front of the coast lies the small rocky Kamik, exposed to the open sea.
The view from here gives a good sense of how Biševo is distanced from the characteristic landscape of the more populated Dalmatian islands. There are no marinas, coastal roads, or large settlements – just rocks, sea, and a few offshore islets on the horizon.
One of the Better Viewpoints on the Southern Side of Biševo
Gatula is not the highest point on the island – that is Stražbenica at 239 metres – but due to its position directly above the steep southern coast, the view is very impressive.
It is particularly beautiful on clear days when the horizon is unobstructed.
From here, a large portion of the open sea south of Biševo can be seen, and the position is completely different from viewpoints facing Komiža and Vis.
Stražbenica is better for a grand panorama of the entire archipelago.
Gatula is preferable for experiencing the wild southern coast, Medvidina Cave, and the open Adriatic directly below.
Special Plants of Cape Gatula
Gatula is not only interesting because of its military history.
Three stenoendemic plant species have been recorded on the cape, meaning plants whose natural distribution area is extremely limited.
Among them are Stalijeva lazarkinja, Dubrovnik's zečina, and Biševo's mrižica.
Biševo's mrižica is particularly interesting as it belongs to a group of plants adapted to life on coastal rocks, where salt, wind, drought, and intense sunlight constantly act.
For this reason, the area outside the designated paths should not be viewed as ordinary rocky terrain that can be freely traversed. What appears almost bare at first glance is actually a very specific and sensitive natural habitat.
Cape Gatula is Part of the Biševo Geostaza
Access to Gatula today is via the Biševo Geostaza, a well-maintained network of walking routes that connects the most important natural and cultural sites on the island.
The new section of the Geostaza connects the area of Poja and the Visitor Centre with Stražbenica, Potok, and Cape Gatula.
Along the path, informative panels, signposts, resting areas, and other facilities have been installed, allowing the military battery to be visited not as an isolated location, but as part of a much larger tour of Biševo.
If you enjoy walking, Gatula is one of the best endpoints on the southern part of the Geostaza.
How to Reach Cape Gatula?
Biševo is first reached by boat from Komiža, most often via Mezuporat.
From Mezuporat, a path leads inland to the Visitor Centre Blue Cave – Biševo, and from there the Geostaza system can continue towards the southern part of the island and Gatula.
The battery can be accessed on foot or by bicycle, and the Visitor Centre also organises tours via electric shuttle vehicles with a guide.
The electric transport option is particularly good for visitors who wish to see the battery but do not want to cover long distances on foot during the summer heat.
It is not possible to reach Biševo by tourist car from Vis.
Organised Tour of Gatula
The Visitor Centre organises a separate programme called Biševo Tour – Cape Gatula.
The tour includes a transfer by electric vehicle from Mezuporat through the area of the Centre to Gatula, accompanied by a guide.
The tour does not only cover the military battery. The programme also connects the viewpoint, Potok, Dry Lakes, and military tunnels with artillery positions.
The duration of the organised tour is approximately 100 to 120 minutes, depending on the programme and the group.
For a guest who has only one day on Biševo, this can be a very good way to see the interior and southern part of the island without extensive walking in the summer heat.
What are the Dry Lakes?
On the way to Gatula, one encounters one of Biševo's interesting geological landscapes – the Dry Lakes.
The name may sound as if they are actual dried-up lakes, but they are karst depressions in the interior of the island.
Such locations further demonstrate how geologically diverse Biševo is despite its small area.
The combination of karst terrain, sandy deposits, sea caves, and steep coastal cliffs is one of the reasons why Biševo is an important part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Vis Archipelago.
Best Time to Visit
During the summer, the best times to visit Gatula are in the morning or later in the afternoon.
There is very little shade on the surface, the rocky terrain heats up significantly, and the path through the interior of the island can be strenuous in the middle of the day.
The military tunnels, however, are a completely different story – the temperature inside is noticeably lower, making it comfortable even during extreme heat.
Spring, June, September, and early autumn are particularly good for walking, when the entire route can be traversed without extreme heat.
In spring, the added advantage is much richer vegetation than in the dry summer.
Gatula After the Blue Cave
A very good plan is to combine Gatula with other attractions on Biševo.
After a morning visit to the Blue Cave, one can head from Mezuporat to the Visitor Centre, explore its multimedia exhibition, and then continue to Gatula.
If using the organised shuttle, the entire route is significantly easier.
After returning, one can have lunch at the Gatula Restaurant near the Centre or continue to Porat and Salbunari for swimming.
This way, a day on Biševo is not limited to a few minutes spent in the Blue Cave, but includes a completely different side of the island – military history, geology, walking, and views of the open Adriatic.
Starry Sky Above Gatula
Biševo has very little artificial lighting, making it one of the more interesting locations for stargazing.
The Visitor Centre also highlights Gatula as a space where evening star observations can be organised.
This is not surprising.
When daytime boat traffic and lights from the mainland disappear, the southern side of Biševo remains turned towards the vast dark expanse of the open sea.
For those who have the opportunity to stay overnight on the island, the night experience of Gatula is completely different from a daytime visit.
Is Gatula Suitable for Children?
For older children who enjoy tunnels and military history, it can be very interesting.
The underground corridors, former artillery positions, and the exit to the viewpoint are much more tangible than simply reading historical plaques.
With younger children, one should consider walking, strong sunlight, and uneven natural terrain, so the organised transport by electric shuttle is a more practical option.
Within the designated areas of the battery, it is important to stick to marked spaces and not explore unmaintained openings or parts of the complex outside the intended route.
A Cape that Connects the Military and Natural Story of Biševo
Cape Gatula is one of the best examples of why Biševo should not be reduced to just the Blue Cave.
In just a few hundred metres, military tunnels, artillery positions, rare endemic plants, steep coastal cliffs, and views towards Medvidina Cave and Kamik converge.
The battery further demonstrates that the strategic value of the Vis archipelago was not limited to the large island of Vis alone.
Even the small Biševo had its own coastal defence system with four guns and underground spaces sufficiently developed for the crew to stay within the cape for extended periods.
Today, this same infrastructure has been transformed into a place for relaxation, sightseeing, exhibitions, and landscape observation.
If you have more than a few hours on Biševo, Cape Gatula and the former coastal artillery battery are among the most interesting places worth including in your tour of the island.
Location: Cape Gatula, southern part of Biševo
English Name: Cape Gatula and Gatula Coastal Artillery Battery
Type of Attraction: Military heritage, viewpoint and natural site
Type of Battery: Stationary coastal artillery battery
Number of Artillery Positions: 4
Armament According to 1948 List: Four Škoda guns model 28, calibre 80 mm
Ammunition According to 1948 List: 5,088 rounds
Underground Facilities: Tunnels and connected military passages
Current Condition: Maintained, secured and illuminated parts of the complex
View: Islet Kamik, Medvidina Cave and the open Adriatic
Special Flora: Several rare and stenoendemic plant species
Access by Car: No
Access: On foot or by bicycle via Geostaza and organised electric shuttle
Organised Tour: Available through the Visitor Centre Blue Cave – Biševo
Best Combined With: Visitor Centre, Biševo Geostaza, Medvidina Cave, Stražbenica and Potok
Best For: Military history, walking, panoramic views and discovering the lesser-known side of Biševo
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