Montenegro – where the mountains meet the sea! This small state on the Adriatic will enchant you with its idyllic landscapes and ancient culture and history. Meet wonderful sand and pebble beaches with crystal clear water, old castles, monasteries and churches, and top-class cuisine. Visit Kotor and Budva, two cities with a lot of history right on the Adriatic coast, but don’t miss the capital Podgorica with the university, the Academy of Sciences, St. George’s Church, the clock tower, the old bridge, the citadel and various theaters and museums. Do not miss a tour of Montenegro and get to know its culture!
Kotor: old town
A visit to the old port city of Kotor should definitely be part of a trip to Montenegro. The history of Kotor goes back to antiquity, when pirates and pirates used the bay of Kotor of the same name as a hideout. Later, the Romans, Byzantines and many other peoples settled on its coasts and created a vibrant trading city in which cultures from East and West could merge in a unique way.
The famous old town of Kotor, which still exists today, is primarily a work of the Middle Ages. The historic town center has been reconstructed authentically and with great attention to detail; Cars are banned and there is almost no modern building. And even if the local trade is mainly determined by tourism today, the flair of the ancient trading town is still alive in its narrow, stony streets. Especially in the evening hours the picturesque side streets and squares of the small town come to life and give an authentic impression of the Mediterranean way of life that has shaped Kotor for thousands of years.
Sights of the old town
Kotor is surrounded by a wild coastal landscape. Almost unchanged for centuries, it is contrasted by modern cruise ships and yachts, which ensure that the port of Kotor remains alive today. In addition to picturesque residential and commercial buildings with picturesque red roofs, Kotor has many individual sights to offer its visitors: the city walls, which are up to twenty meters high and can be walked on, surround the old town over a length of 4.5 kilometers.
The Saint Tryphon Cathedral, completed in 1166, is considered the most beautiful church in Montenegro and the largest Romanesque church in the eastern Adriatic. The relics of Saint Tryphon, the patron saint of Kotor, are also kept there. The church also houses one of the most valuable art collections in the entire region. The many other churches in the city cannot keep up with this, but enchant with their original Mediterranean small-town charm.
World famous insider tip
The old town of Kotor has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1979, making it the only current cultural monument in Montenegro that can boast of this position. So it is hardly surprising that many tourists roam the picturesque streets, especially in summer. Compared to other World Heritage sites, Kotor is still an insider tip that has retained its original atmosphere and is as lively and diverse today as it was before.
Morača Monastery
One of the special, almost unique sights in the central region of Montenegro is the Morača Monastery from the 1250s. Montenegro is an almost 14,000 km² Balkan country directly on the Adriatic coast. Almost a third of the approximately 625,000 inhabitants live in the state capital Podgorica. The monastery is named after the 100 kilometer long river of the same name. It stands north of the Morača Gorge. Due to its location in the immediate vicinity of today’s European route E65 / E80 in the direction of Podgorica, the historical sight is easily accessible by traffic.
Study trip to the medieval Christians
The Morača Monastery is literally worth a visit. The tour leads back into the history of medieval Serbian rulers such as the Nemanjids. Together with the Ostrog Monastery and the Piva Monastery, the Morača Monastery is one of the outstanding cultural-religious sites in the whole of Montenegro. The extensive grounds of Morača Monastery include a chapel, which was consecrated to St. Nicholas when it was built in the 1630s, the former residential building for the monks and the main church. Two entrances lead to the monastery grounds; otherwise it is surrounded by a wall several meters high.
Iconostasis and collection of icons from the 1700s
The main church of Morača Monastery has a single nave with a vestibule. The depiction of the tribe of Jesus on a wall measuring several square meters is eye-catching. Apart from the architecture of the building, the wall painting is another special feature. Little remains of the original painting from the 13th century in the Diakonikon; the greater part was already destroyed in the first half of the 16th century when the Turks sacked the Moraca monastery. A rich, centuries-old collection of icons is unique and largely preserved. The frescoes in the main room are impressively shaped by the life of Jesus Christ as well as by the saints of the Orthodox religion and tradition.
Cetinje
The small town of Cetinje is located in Montenegro and has about 15,500 inhabitants. Once the royal capital of Montenegro, the pretty city is still the cultural center of Montenegro. For its relatively small size, the city has many memorials and very interesting sights. Today some relatively well-preserved former royal palaces, government buildings and a monastery can be visited. The former embassy buildings of foreign countries, such as those of Austria-Hungary and Russia, are also architecturally fascinating. With its magnificent Renaissance palaces, numerous European embassies and internationally recognized museums, Cetinje is definitely worth a visit.
The impressive monastery of Cetinje was founded in 1430 and made the city the spiritual center of Montenegro. The monastery has a treasury, a reliquary and a valuable library, in which historical prints are kept, which were made in Cetinje in the 15th century. There is a small souvenir shop with souvenirs for tourists. Opposite the monastery of Cetinje and hidden behind thick walls and massive towers is the Biljarda. The fortress-like building was built in 1838 as the seat of Petar II according to Russian plans. The financing was also taken over by St. Petersburg. The 70 meter long residence was named after Petar’s love for billiards. The fortress-like Biljarda now houses the exciting Petar II Museum.
Diagonally opposite the Biljarda is the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Virgin Birth. The church, which was only built in 1890, guards the eternal sleep of Cetinje’s most famous personalities. The city founder Ivan Crnojević, King Nikola I and his wife Milena are buried here. The famous first printing house in Europe, which has been in operation since 1485 and is said to have spread the Cyrillic script, was probably located here.
Even the formerPalace of King Nikolas is worth a visit. The royal family resided here from 1867. Today, the stylishly furnished rooms are home to the National Museum of Montenegro. The museum consists of two permanent exhibitions: one on the history of Montenegro and an art exhibition. It is worthwhile for holidaymakers to buy a combined ticket for several sights of the small town, as this makes the entrance fee for each museum in Cetinje cheaper.
