The highest region, the Durmitor National Park, is a favourite for winter skiing and summer hiking in a pristine mountainscape while below in Tara’s deep canyon, intrepid rafters challenge its tumbling rapids. So much for a small country – the world’s newest nation.
Montenegro’s history is one of dogged independence battled for against greater forces, which have crashed in failure against its rocky fortress interior. For 500 years Montenegro was the only country to defeat the Turkish forces that overran southeast Europe, and remain independent. While the size of its territory waxed and waned it was always centred on the central mountain fastness of Cetinje.
Only twice has the country not been master of its own affairs: first from 1166 for about 200 years when it was taken over by the Serbian kingdom of Raska, and second in 1916 during WWI when the Austrians invaded. On the back of that event Montenegro’s ally Serbia took the opportunity to occupy Montenegro and then annex it in 1922. Montenegro is now fully independent for the first time since 1916, and became the 192nd member of the UN on 28 June 2006.
Top 6 Tourist Attractions in Montenegro
Stari Bar
The beautiful remains of Stari Bar sit on top of Lundža hill. Steep cliffs surround the old town and render it inaccessible from all but one side. Findings of pottery and metal have dated occupancy as far back as 800 BC. During the 3rd century, the occupying Romans destroyed the old settlement and abandoned it for a location closer to the sea.
Three centuries later, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian built a fortified tower on the same hill, and Stari Bar started to develop into an active centre on the Adriatic coast. In the 10th century, Stari Bar was referred to as 'the Antinbaris, as in, opposite to the Italian city, Bari'. Hence its current name.
In the 11th century, it was part of Duklja or Zeta, the first Slavonic littoral state, and soon after became one of the most important political, economic and cultural places on the coast. Nearly all the 240 buildings lie in ruin, a result of shelling by the Montenegrins when they captured the town back from the Turks in 1878.
Durmitor National Park
There are four National Parks in Montenegro, but one of them, because of amazing natural beauty, attracts more visitors than all the others combined. This is National Park Durmitor. On the North part of Montenegro, Durmitor represents untouched nature, with many attractions and possibilities for active tourism.
Hiking, Biking, Mountaineering, Walking, Swimming, Skiing, Bungee Jumping, Rafting, ... are only part of the activities in which you can enjoy in Durmitor. Domestic food and specialties are also part of the offer in which you will enjoy the fresh evenings.
Porto Montenegro lies within one of the world‟s most idyllic nautical playgrounds: the Bay of Kotor. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Bay of Kotor is Europe's southernmost fjord and the largest natural harbour in the eastern Mediterranean.
"Yachts are getting bigger and bigger and people are complaining that they can't find proper berths for them. That's no problem in Tivat. It used to cater to warships." says Peter Munk, Chief Investor, Porto Montenegro.
Perast, Boka Bay is one of the most beautiful little places in Boka Bay, few kilometers from Kotor. Perast is a wonderful old town, with wonderful old architecture. You will enjoy in many old churchs, but one of the biggest attraction is for sure : Our Lady of the Rock (Gospa od Skrpjela), little island in Boka Bay, with amazing church and museum. Every few minutes, there is small taxi boats that will take you to this unforgettable place.
Many small restarurants on the Perast coast will offer you great fish specialities. Amazing mountains that surround the bay, the old architecture, the smell of the sea, ... Perast is MUST visit place for every tourist who visit Montenegro.
Skadar/Scadar/Scutari Lake is located in the so called Zeta-Skadar valley that partly belongs to the municipality of the city of Bar and partly to the municipality of the city of Podgorica.
Indescribable and in many ways unique, with the size of 391km2, it is the larges lake on the Balkan Peninsula. Driving through the newly build Sozina tunnel, the lake is only a short 20 minute drive away from the Adriatic Sea. The river Bojana creates a connection between Skadar/Scadar/Scutari Lake and the Adriatic Sea though a large mountain massive that separates the two.
Two thirds of the lake belongs to Montenegro, while one third belongs to the Republic of Albania. The Montenegrin part of the lake, at a size of 40000 hectares, was declared a National Park in 1983.
Sveti Stefan (St Stephen), one of the most famous and prestigious places in Montenegro is located only 15 minutes drive from Budva. Sveti Stefan is certainly one of the tourist icons of Montenegro. It's no wonder, when you visit this beautiful place you'll immediately feel why Sophia Loren, Sylvester Stallone, Queen Elizabeth II and many other celebrities, just chose Sveti Stefan for your favorite place to vacation.
Sveti Stefan is one of the TOP 10 glamorous A-list destinations in the world!
