Bar

Bar (Montenegro) – detailed information about the city with photos. Main sights and attractions of Bar with descriptions, travel guides and maps.

City of Bar (Montenegro)

Bar is a city in the southeast of Montenegro, the country’s largest seaport. It is located on the Adriatic coast and is known for its beautiful climate and excellent beaches, olive groves, and historical monuments. Bar is a modern city with an ancient history, which is probably not as beautiful and charming as Budva or Kotor, but at the same time you can find magnificent ruins of the old town and several interesting sights.

Geography and climate

The bar is located between the Adriatic Sea and Lake Skadar, 50 km from Podgorica. The city has a Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and cool winters. The holiday season lasts from May to September.

Practical information

• Population – 17.6 thousand people.
• Area – 598 km².
• Currency – Euro.
• Language – The official language spoken in Montenegro is Montenegrin. Montenegrin is a standardized variety of the Serbo-Croatian language, which is also spoken in other countries of the former Yugoslavia, such as Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia.
• Visa is not required if the stay does not exceed 90 days.
• Car traffic is right-handed.
• Time – UTC + 1.

History

A settlement in the vicinity of Bar was founded by Illyrian tribes. When the Romans conquered these lands, they gave it the name Antibarium. In the 9th century, these territories were occupied by the Slavs and the name was shortened to Bar. In the 10th and 11th centuries, Bar belonged to the Kingdom of Dukla. In 1077, Michael Vojislavlević, the first king of Dukla, was crowned here. In 1089, an archbishopric was established in Bar, which further increased the city’s importance.

In 1166, Bar became Byzantine again. But a few decades later, the city was incorporated into the Serbian state. This period is considered the heyday of Bar. In the 14th century, the city changed hands several times: from Serbian nobles to Byzantium. In 1443, it was captured by Venice.

In 1571, Bar was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, which it was part of for three centuries. In 1878, during the battles between Montenegrins and Turks, the old town was destroyed, so it was decided to found a new town 4 km away. In 1954, a large port was built here, which is still in operation today.

Getting there

To get to Bar, Montenegro, you have several transportation options depending on your starting point:

1. By Air: The nearest international airport is Podgorica Airport (TGD), located about 40 kilometers northeast of Bar. From the airport, you can take a taxi, rent a car, or arrange a private transfer to reach Bar. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes by road.
2. By Train: Montenegro’s railway network connects various cities, including Bar. There are direct train services from Podgorica, the capital city, to Bar. The journey takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, and the train station in Bar is centrally located.
3. By Bus: Buses are a popular mode of transportation in Montenegro. There are regular bus services that operate from major cities, such as Podgorica and Budva, to Bar. The bus journey from Podgorica to Bar takes approximately 1.5 hours, while from Budva, it takes around 1 hour.
4. By Car: If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car and take the Adriatic Highway (E65) that runs along the coast of Montenegro. Bar is easily accessible by road from other cities and towns in Montenegro. However, do note that the coastal roads can be winding and narrow in certain areas.
5. By Ferry: Bar has a ferry port with connections to Italy. If you are coming from Italy, you can take a ferry from Bari or Ancona to Bar. The ferry journey duration varies depending on the route and operator.

It’s advisable to check the schedules and availability of transportation options before your trip to ensure a smooth journey to Bar.

Пам’ятки

Old Bar — ruins of an ancient settlement dating back to the 8th century BC. It is an interesting historical and cultural landscape that includes buildings of Byzantine, medieval Serbian and Ottoman architecture. Old Bar is located 4 km from the new town. It was seriously destroyed during the national liberation wars against Ottoman rule in the 19th century and abandoned after the 1979 earthquake. Today, the buildings are being painstakingly restored.

The cobblestone street leading to the Old Town is one of the most beautiful streets in Montenegro. It is a colorful mix of restaurants and souvenir shops in the traditional Ottoman style.

St. Nicholas Church is an important medieval church dating back to the 11th century. In 1089, the archbishopric was founded here.

Other interesting ancient sacred monuments of Bara:

• The Trichonos is a small church building of the Byzantine period in the community of Topolytsia, built around the 6th century.
• Tekla is a medieval church dating back to the 13th century. Located in the town of Sutomore, a suburb of Baru
• Ratak Monastery is a 9th-century Benedictine monastery located on the edge of Cape Ratak between Bar and Sutomore. Previously, the monastery consisted of 3 churches, as well as several auxiliary buildings with towers and defensive walls. In 1443, the Venetians captured the monastery, and a few years later it was burned by the Turks.
• Ottoman mosque in the old town, built in the 17th century.

Haj Nehaj — ruins of a fortress built in the 15th century by the Venetians and fortified by the Ottomans. Near the fortress is the Church of St. Demetrius.

Aqueduct — a huge stone vaulted bridge crossing the valley. The bridge has 17 arches supported by 18 massive stone columns. The aqueduct was built by the Ottomans in the 16th century and is the best preserved in Montenegro.

The neighborhood of Bara is famous for its olive trees. There are more than 100,000 of them, the oldest of which is about 2,200 years old.

The Royal Palace — is a luxurious building built in the late 19th century. Now it houses a museum, which houses most of the exhibits found in the ruins of the old city, and the rooms have been reconstructed in the style of the 19th century.

Church of St. John Volodymyr — is a modern Orthodox church in the Neo-Byzantine style, built recently (in 2016).

St. Peter’s Cathedral — Catholic Cathedral, built in 2017. The church on this site was founded in the 9th century.

Video Bar