The original fortress was built in 1472 near Bovec on the road between Cave del Predil and Carinthia.

In the course of the 16th century Bovec came under Austrian authority as a result of the wars between Venice and the Habsburgs.

In 1796 and 1797 fighting took place around the fort, as Napoleon's army pushed through the Koritnica gorge.

The current fort was built upon the site by the Austrians in the late 19th century.

Fort Hermann was heavily damaged and rendered unusable by Italian artillery bombardment in 1915.