Montenegro in winter

View from air on the Bay of Boka

Spending a holiday in Montenegro

     During the last 10 years, Montenegro is focusing every year more and more on tourism, so we have turned from what was once a mass tourism, to a high quality tourism, but yet, we are still  far from perfect...
     Anyway, if you was in Montenegro 5 years ago, and if you come back today, you will see that many things have changed. The country is working hard on bringing developers and building infrastructure, and every new summer season that arrives you see a better image.
    So, Montenegro is a place definitely  worth visiting as a place for a vacation. First, the accommodation is not as expensive as it is many other destinations which are as well more remote so you have to spend more money as well on airplane tickets, second, it is really safe for tourists and you don't have much crime and third, it has so many spectacular places on such a small area to visit, so many nice and different restaurants and hotels than what you are used to in western europpean countries.

One of many restaraunts on Lovcen

During the summer, there are so many sunny days, so you can sunbathe on one of the beautiful beaches, you would need a lot of time to visit all of them, and the best thing is that, if you like the beach parties, you have a lot of beach clubs like that such as Purobeach in Porto Montenegro or Almara Beach Club in Oblatno near Tivat, or on the other hand if you like peace, there is so many tranquil sandy beaches all over the coast.

Almara Bech Club

Sveti Stefan

Beach Mogren - Budva

As for the nightlife, Montenegro has a lot to offer, especialy in Budva, such as Top Hill, a  night club which was voted as the best night club in the world in 2012 by Monaco Clubbing Show Awards. So you have it all, from hiking, water-rafting, boat tours, beaches,clubs, restaurants, hotels, mountains, all what a seasoned traveler would love to do, so book your holliday for 2014. right here, I am sure you will not regret it. 

President's Residence Cetinje

Bay Of Boka

Lake Skadar

Purobeach Porto Montenegro

Top Hill Budva

Petrovac

Montenegro Sights

          

         One post with some beautiful landscapes in our country, enjoy and more photos will be added soon

Sveti Stefan

Rijeka Crnojevica

Njegos's Mausoleum

Bay of Kotor

Perast

Lake Skadar

Bayof Kotor

Zabljak

Black Lake - Zabljak

Kotor

Kotor (Cyrillic: Котор, pronounced [kɔ̌tɔr]; Italian: Cattaro) is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality.

The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. It is located on the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. Some have called the southern-most fjord in Europe, but it is a ria, a submerged river canyon. Together with the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen, Kotor and its surrounding area form an impressive and picturesque Mediterranean landscape.

In recent years, Kotor has seen a steady increase in tourists, many of them coming by cruise ship. Visitors are attracted both by the natural beauty of the Gulf of Kotor and by the old town of Kotor.

Kotor is part of the World Heritage Site dubbed the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor.

     Kotor, first mentioned in 168 BC, was settled during Ancient Roman times, when it was known asAcruvium, Ascrivium, or Ascruvium (Ancient Greek: Ἀσκρήβιον) and was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia.^[1]

Kotor has been fortified since the early Middle Ages, when Emperor Justinian built a fortress above Acruvium in 535, after expelling the Ostrogoths; a second town probably grew up on the heights round it, for Constantine Porphyrogenitus, in the 10th century, alludes to Lower Kotor. The city was plundered by the Saracens in 840. Kotor was one of the more influential Dalmatian city-states of romanized Illyrians throughout the Middle Ages, and until the 11th century the Dalmatian language was spoken in Kotor.

In 1002, the city suffered damage under occupation of the First Bulgarian Empire, and in the following year it was Serbia by the Bulgarian Tsar Samuil. However, the local population resisted the pact and, taking advantage of its alliance with the Republic of Ragusa, only submitted in 1184, while maintaining its republican institutions and its right to conclude treaties and engage in war. It was already an episcopal see, and, in the 13th century, Dominican and Franciscan monasteries were established to check the spread of Bogomilism.

Old walls of the fortification

ceded to

During the Zupano dynasty-era, the city was autonomous. With the fall of the Serbian Empire, the city came under the Serbian Despotate. The city acknowledged the suzerainty of the Republic of Venice in 1420. In the 14th century, commerce in Kotor (as the city was called until 1918) competed with that of the nearby Republic of Ragusa and of the Republic of Venice. The city was part of the Venetian Albania province of theVenetian Republic from 1420 to 1797, except for periods of Ottoman rule in 1538–1571 and 1657-1699. Four centuries of Venetian domination have given the city the typical Venetian architecture, that contributed to make Kotor a UNESCO world heritage site.^[2] In those centuries Renaissance-related literature enjoyed a huge development in Kotor: the most famous writers were Bernardo Pima, Nicola Chierlo, Luca Bisanti, Alberto de Gliricis, Domenico and Vincenzo Burchia, Vincenzo Ceci, Antonio Zambella and Francesco Morandi.

The ancient Venetian fortifications of Kotor

In the 14th- and 15th centuries, there was an influx of settlers from the oblasts of Trebinje (the region around forts Klobuk Ledenica and Rudina) and the Hum lands (Gacko and Dabar) to Kotor.^[3]

While under Venetian rule, Kotor was besieged by the Ottoman Empire in 1538 and 1657, endured the plague in 1572, and was nearly destroyed by earthquakes in 1563 and 1667.

After the Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797, it passed to the Habsburg Monarchy. However, in 1805, it was assigned to the French Empire's client state, the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy by the Treaty of Pressburg, although in fact held by a Russian squadron under Dmitry Senyavin. After the Russians retreated, Kotor was united in 1806 with this Kingdom of Italy and then in 1810 with the French Empire's Illyrian Provinces. Kotor wascaptured by the British in an attack on the Bay led by Commodore John Harper in the brig sloop HMS Saracen (18 guns). To seal off Kotor in windless conditions, residents along the shore literally pulled the ship in windless conditions with ropes. Saracen's crew later hauled naval 18-pounder guns above Fort St. John, the fortress near Kotor, and were reinforced by Captain William Hoste with his ship HMS Bacchante (38 guns). The French garrison had no alternative but to surrender, which it did on 5 January 1814.

It was restored to the Habsburg Monarchy by the Congress of Vienna. Until 1918, the town was head of the district of the same name, one of the 13Bezirkshauptmannschaften in the Dalmatia province.^[4]

But after 1945 it became a part of the then Socialist Republic of Montenegro within Yugoslavia's second incarnation.Between 1941 and 1943 Italy annexed the area of Kotor to the Italian "Governorship of Dalmatia" and created a new Italian Province: the Province of Cattaro, with 1,075 km² (415 sq mi) and 128,000 population ^[5]

On April 15, 1979, a major earthquake hit the Montenegrin coastal area. There were approximately 100 casualties. Half of Kotor's Old Town was destroyed and St. Tryphon's Cathedral was partly damaged.

Up until the beginning of the 20th century, Croatian Catholics constituted the majority around the Gulf of Kotor.

Kotor is still the seat of the Croatian Catholic Bishopric of Kotor, which covers the entire gulf.

Cathedral of St. Triphune

After the so-called "people's revolution" or "ab revolution" in Montenegro in 1988/89 the young socialists came to power. Under their rule Yugoslavia was torn apart in a bloody war. Since then the decline of Kotor has been obvious. The city was the hometown of "Jugooceanija", a maritime company with more than 20 ships trading around the world. It was a big company that provided a living for many people (crew and their families), but between 1990 and 2000 the company was completely destroyed in a corruption scandal. The hotel "Fjord" which was built after the earthquake in 1979 became a ruin near the Jugooceanija building. It was a big hotel which owned many tourist-related buildings. Since the proclamation of Montenegrin independence, all the financial and cultural establishments were drawn to Podgorica which is now the capital of Montenegro. The potential of Kotor as a tourist attraction has become limited to tours around the old town.

From a historical point of view, Kotor went through a difficult time under all the so-called occupations by the great powers of Europe. The greatest decline in cultural and financial status in the city's 2000-year history has been taking place since 1990.

Nowadays, Kotor is a town worth seeing and every tourist must vist it, since it is still keeping its medieval spirit.

Lovćen

Štirovnik

Lovćen (Montenegrin: Lovćen, Ловћен, pronounced [lɔ̂ːʋtɕɛn]) is a mountain and national park in southwestern Montenegro.

The Mount Lovćen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin closing the long ang twisting bays of Boka Kotorska and making the hinterland to the coastal town of Kotor. The mountain has two imposing peaks, Štirovnik (1,749 m) and Jezerski vrh (1,657 m).

The mountain slopes are rocky, with numerous fissures, pits and deep depressions giving its scenery a specific look. Standing on the border between two completely different natural wholes, the sea and the mainland, Lovćen is under the influence of both climates. The specific connection of the life conditions has stipulated the development of the different biological systems. There are 1158 plant species on Lovćen, out of which four are endemic.

National Park encompasses the central and the highest part of Lovćen mountain massif and covers an area of 62.20 km². It was proclaimed a national park in 1952. Besides Lovćen's natural beauties, the national park was established to protect rich historical, cultural and architectural heritage of the area.

Lovćen's area abounds in numerous elements of national construction. The old houses and village guvna are authentic as well as the cottages inkatuns – summer settlements of cattlebreeders.

A particular architectural relic worth mentioning is Lovćen's serpentine road winding uphill from Kotor to the village of Njeguši, where the birth house of Montenegrin royal family of Petrović is situated.

Njegos's Mausoleum

The biggest and most important monument of Lovćen national park is Njegoš's Mausoleum. The location for his burial place and the mausoleum at the summit of Jezerski vrh was chosen by Njegoš himself as his last wish.

The front of the Njegos's Mausoleum

Entrance to the tomb

Sculpture of Njegos

Beautiful sight

Old chapel

However, Njegoš's express wish was to be buried in a small chapel which he had built in his lifetime. This was done, but the original chapel was destroyed when the Austro-Hungarian army invaded Montenegro in First World War (1916). Njegoš's remains were then transferred into Cetinje Monastery and buried in the chapel rebuilt by King Alexander in 1920s. Contrary to Njegoš's express wishes to be buried in that chapel, the then communist powers of Montenegro destroyed the chapel and built in its stead a monumental mausoleum in Viennese Secession style.

Sight from the old road to Kotor via Njegusi

Njegos's birth-house

Interior of Njegos's house

Village Njegusi

 One of the landmarks of mountain Lovcen and the Lovcen National Park is a well, also known as "Ivanova Korita", named by Ivan Crnojevic,one of the rulers of Montenegro before the Petrovic dynasty.This part of the national park is famous by its beautiful landscape and many hiking tracks and several restaurants and hotels.This used to be king Nikola's favourite summer resort where he used to have a stable and a summer-house, which had been recently renovated. Lovcen today, is a must see for tourists who come to visit Montenegro, and the pride of many Montenegrins.

Ivanova Korita

Cetinje - Old Royal Capital

  Cetinje (Montenegrin: Цетиње / Cetinje; Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: [tsětiɲe]) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro (Приjестоница / Prijestonica), with the official residence of the President of Montenegro. It had a population of 13,991 as of 2011.

It is the centre of municipality (population 16,757 in 2011). The city nestles on a small karst plain surrounded by limestone mountains, includingMt. Lovćen, the Black Mountain from which Montenegro gets its name.                                                                                

Cetinje is a town of immense historical heritage, founded in the 15th century. It became the center of   Montenegrin life and both a cradle ofMontenegrin culture and a Serbian Orthodox religious center. It is because of its heritage as a long-term Montenegrin capital that it is today the honorary capital of Montenegro.

The founding of Cetinje was conditioned by the historical, political, and economic background in the 15th century. Wars of conquest led by theTurks forced Ivan Crnojević, the ruler of Zeta at that time, to move the capital of his country from the fortified town of Žabljak to the inaccessible parts, to Obod in 1475, and soon after it at the foot of Mt. Lovćen. In the field of Cetinje in 1482 his court was built and two years later the monastery was built as well. By building the court and the monastery a new capital was founded. Its name was Cetinje. It was named after the River Cetina that runs through it. The new monastery became the domicile of the Zeta metropolitan. So, Cetinje turned out to be not only the center of secular life but also the spiritual center where Đurađ Crnojević, the son to Ivan Crnojević, founded the first printing house in the Slavic South.

Rapid progress of Cetinje under the rule of the Crnojević dynasty was interrupted at the very end of the 15th century. Actually, Zeta lost its independence in 1499 so the only free part of the country, which was called Montenegro since then, was reduced to a mountainous territory between Crnojević River and The Bay of Kotor.

In the next two centuries Cetinje stagnated in its development. It was very often under the attack of Venice and the Turks. So, in the 16th and 17th century Cetinje was exposed to tough temptations. In this period the court and the monastery of the Crnojevići dynasty were destroyed. It was only by the end of the 17th century, in 1697, that Cetinje began to flourish again under the rule of the Petrović dynasty and Danilo Petrović as its founder.

Leading the liberation wars and strengthening the unity in the country preoccupied Danilo and his successors. They didn’t have enough time to dedicate to the building of Cetinje. It was only during the rule of Petar II Petrović Njegoš that the remarkable progress has been made. In 1838 his new royal residence called Biljarda (Billiard house) was built. Cetinje was enlarged by building new houses that gradually led to urbanization.

Montenegrin independence was recognized by the decision of the Berlin Congress (1878) and so Cetinje became the capital of a European country.

Many modern buildings designed for foreign consulates were built due to the newly established relations with various European countries. The buildings of the French, Russian, British, Italian and Austro-Hungarian consulates are regarded as the most beautiful of these.

Cetinje made great progress under the rule of Prince Nikola I Petrović when numerous public edifices were built. Those include the first hotel, called ‘Lokanda’, then the new Prince’s palace, the Girls’ Institute and the hospital. This period also saw the first tenancy houses. In the 1860 report Cetinja had 34 households.

Montenegro was proclaimed a kingdom in 1910. This had a great effect on its development. At this time the Government House, the symbol of state power, was built. The population census from the same year recorded a massive growth in the world's smallest capital, registering 5,895 inhabitants.

Between 1878 and 1914 Cetinje flourished in every sense. Many renowned intellectuals from other South-Slavic parts came to stay there and made a contribution to the cultural, educational and every other aspect of life.

Recent panorama of Cetinje

Royal Palace of the Petrovic dynasty

                                                         

At the time between the two World Wars, Cetinje expanded its territory, as it was now a centre of the Zeta region. But when it was decided by the Parliament of Montenegro that the administrative organs should be located in Titograd (previously and presently Podgorica), Cetinje went through a harsh crisis. By building certain industrial sections and at the same time neglecting the development of the city's traditional and potential cultural and tourist capacities, the chance to create a strong basis for more solid prosperity was lost.

Presidential Palace

                                                   

Museums in Cetinje include:

• Museum of the Cetinje Monastery
• State Museum
• "Petar Petrovic Njegoš" Museum
• Ethnographic Museum
• Electric Industry Museum
• History Museum
• Art Museum

Russian Embassy

                                                         

Vlaska Church

                                     

All these except the Museum of the Cetinje Monastery and Electric Industry Museum are integrated in one institution called the National Museum of Montenegro. Numerous museums and the huge fund of museum items that are kept there established Cetinje's reputation as a museum town.

"The Biiliard House"