Historic fortress prison where 130 people were killed or starved to death by Italian soldiers during WWII transformed into luxury hotel (7 Pics)

A 19th-century island fortress off the coast of Montenegro which was used as a jail for political prisoners during the Second World War has been completely transformed into a five-star luxury hotel.

The Mamula fortress on the island of Lastavica was used by Italian soldiers who were occupying the area. They kept around 2,000 prisoners in the fort, many of whom were tortured.

After the war, the island was abandoned, with the fortress falling into disrepair - until the Balkan country's tourism board granted a 49-year lease to Swiss-based Orascom in 2016.

By developing the site into a boutique hotel, complete with 23 rooms and a spa, Montenegro hopes to create around 200 new jobs and bring 7.5million euros into the state over 15 years, reports the Telegraph.

Inside the hotel, there will be a special memorial room for the 130 people who are estimated to have been killed or starved to death during the war, as well as a museum about the history of the island itself.

Montenegro’s Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Branimir Gvozdenović said of the project at the time: 'I am sure this will be just one of a number of projects that are to be implemented in the coming period with a view of protecting our cultural and historical heritage, maintaining the identity that characterises this area and offering a completely new tourist product. 

'The investment amounting to 15million euros will ensure that we have a new five-star hotel with 23 rooms, including a special memorial room, which will further promote history of the island and its fortress. 

'This way, we want to refresh our tourist offer and protect our cultural heritage.'

But heritage campaigners have opposed the plans from the start, arguing it is a former concentration camp and should not be used in this way.

An artist's impression of the finished project show that the central part of the fortress will be removed, with areas dug up to 30ft deep for the installation of two swimming pools. 

Vuk Cvoro, a member of the Bokobran Initative heritage group, told the Telegraph: 'We feel that the development is inappropriate - people were tortured here. 

'It is being turned into an island haven for rich people. Like Sveti Stefan, it won't belong to the people of Montenegro any more.'

Sveti Stefan is an island off the Adriatic coast that was turned into a luxury hotel back in 2009. After building work was finished, public access to the town, which was founded in the 15th century, was blocked.

Dragana Becirovic, a spokesperson for Orascom, told the Telegraph: 'The development and renovation of Mamula has been carefully planned to preserve the structural integrity of the existing buildings, while restoring and renovating them into a work-class boutique hotel and spa.'

She added that the island would stay open to the public.