Bar
Bar is coastal town and seat of the municipality of the same name in south part of Montenegro, which covers 598 km² and has a population of 45.812 inhabitants. It is situated on the Montenegrin coast, surrounded by the hinterland with impressive mountain range Rumija and the sea.
Bar is one of the largest towns on the Montenegrin coast, stretches from the southern shore of Skadar Lake to the Adriatic coast, which the length of the sea coast is 46 kilometers, and the length of 65 kilometers goes to the shore of the Skadar Lake.
The Old Town of Bar also known as a Montenegrin Pompeii is the largest urban agglomeration among the ruins in Montenegro. It is located about 4 kilometers outside today’s Bar. It is laying on a large rock and is protected by cliffs on three sides and by ramparts walls along the west side, complete with a fortress, towers, fortified city gates and a citadel, stone houses, small squares, churches and other colourfoul places within. There are several buildings such as: the steam bath, the powder magazine and the Clock Tower from the Ottoman era as well as the aqueduct which supplied the Old Town of Bar with drinking water and a few remnants of sacred buildings from the Middle Ages.
Bar is a modern, harbour town, which has a large number of tourist attractions in its surroundings. Stari Bar, Haj Nehaj fortress, whose ruins date back to the 15th century, an olive tree over 2000 years old and the Skadar lake – a bird reserve, with a large number of monasteries and churches, as well as beautiful bays with well-kept beaches, so that place for the interesting holiday.
There are two international airports in Montenegro:
– the Golubovci Airport in Podgorica, in the heart of the country, 46 km from Bar,
– the Tivat Airport in Tivat, the Bay of Kotor, 70 km from Bar,
– also, Cilipi Airport in Dubrovnik, Croatia, 110 km from Bar.
Main landmarks in Bar:
- Old Town: an ancient fortified city located on a hill, featuring Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian ruins, a 16th-century aqueduct, and an 18th-century clock tower;
- Church of St. John Vladimir: the largest Orthodox church in Montenegro, known for its gold-topped, Byzantine-style architecture;
- King Nikola’s Palace: a seaside palace built in 1885, now serving as a heritage museum, surrounded by a park and a watchtower;
- The Old Olive Tree: the olive tree is over 2000 years old, considered one of the oldest in the world and a symbol of the region;
- Haj Nehaj Fortress: a 15th-century Venetian-Turkish fortress with panoramic views, featuring the ruins of St. Demetrius church.
Main cultural and entertainment events in Bar:
- Bar’s Chronicle Festival: prestigious cultural event focusing on theatre, fine art exhibitions, literary nights, concerts of spiritual, classical, jazz and rock music scattered throughout the town of Bar., in May/June.
- Days of Mrkojevici: traditional festival of folklore dance and traditional songs and traditional local organic food and drinks in the charming willage of Mrkojevici nearby Bar, in the end of July.
More details on official tourism sites and event calendars:
-https://bar.travel/
Things to do in Bar:
- Boat tours: exploring towns and villages of Bar Riviera and Skadar Lake;
- City walking tours: sightseeing of the town Bar (Old Town as well as a visit to the oldest European olive tree) and nearby towns like Budva, Ulcinj and even cross into Albania for Skadar;
- Nature & Adventure tours: hiking in the mountain Rumija, visiting Skadar Lake, or exploring Durmitor National Park;
- Specific landmarks tours: exploring interesting areas, focusing on history, culture or hidden gems (Ostrog Monastery);
- Food experiences tours: tasting local Montenegrin delicacies and wines.