The city of Bar in Montenegro: features, weather and attractions

The city of Bar is located in Montenegro. Here in 1954 a seaport was built, which today is the largest in the country. If you look at the location of the city on the map, you can see that on the one hand it is washed by the Adriatic Sea, on the other it is protected by a mountain range with coniferous forests growing on it. Over the mountains in a lowland near the city, Skadar Lake is conveniently located, which is the national reserve of Montenegro.

The Montenegrin city of Bar dates back to ancient times. Historians are inclined to believe that the first settlements in the area began to form in the Bronze Age, around 2000. BC e. It is known that this area was previously called Antipargal, and around the 10th century it was renamed Antibarium. There is a version that this name is associated with the neighboring Italian province of Bari.

Later, when the Slavic tribes began to settle here, the city was renamed, but the root “bar” was preserved.

The first inhabitants of the Bar preferred to settle on the hills, away from the water. The townspeople turned their settlement into a fortress, enclosing it with a stone wall to reflect the attacks of neighbors from the East. From about the 9th to the 15th centuries, the Byzantines captured the city several times, and in 1571 the city was conquered by the Turks.The Ottoman yoke lasted about 300 years. During this time, the Turks thoroughly rebuilt the city - in addition to mosques, the Ottomans built an aqueduct, a clock tower and saunas.

In 1878, the Montenegrins conquered their territories from the Turks, but during the fighting a powder depot was blown up, as a result of which the city almost turned into ruins. Today, this part of the city is usually called the Old Bar. It is a huge open-air museum. Locals decided to build a new settlement closer to the sea, which still exists today under the name New Bar.

Currently, the city of Bar is the administrative center of the resort Barskaya Riviera. The population of Bar is small - it is only about 14 thousand people. However, this does not prevent the city from annually receiving a huge number of tourists from all over the world. The healing combination of sea air and coniferous stands creates a unique microclimate here. therefore the city is rightfully considered a health resort, widely known outside its country.

The city of Bar has a good transport interchange. From it you can get to almost any city in Montenegro. The most popular tourist destinations are routes from Bar to the Montenegrin capital Podgorica, as well as to the spa town of Budva and vice versa. The main form of transport, which provides an influx of tourists into the country, is aircraft. However, there is no airport in the Bar itself. But in the vicinity of the city there are two airports at once - one in Podgorica, the other in Tivat.

These cities are located near Bar. The distance to Podgorica is about 50 km, to Tivat - a little more than 60 km, to the popular tourist destination of Budva - about 35 km. You can get from one city to another by bus, taxi or rent a car. In any case, it will be more profitable to book a transfer in advance - at the airport all services are traditionally much more expensive.

From Podgorica, the resort can also be reached by train. About a kilometer from the airport terminal is the Aerodrom railway station. Trains run quite often - about 10 flights a day. Tickets can be purchased directly from the conductor. The wagons are maintained in order - all trains are clean and serviceable. The first train starts to run at 5.15 in the morning, and the last leaves at 21.40. In time, the road takes an hour.

Bar is a very affordable resort in terms of housing prices. Here you can find a hotel for any income. A lone traveler can find a hostel in the city for a small price, and families with children can rent apartments in a 4-star hotel at a price lower than what they would have requested from them in neighboring Becici or in Budva. We list some of the most popular places among city guests.

A cozy guest house is located in the suburbs of Bar - the town of Shushan. The hotel is popular with guests due to the high level of services offered and convenient location. The hotel provides transfer services upon request. Also, for the convenience of guests in each room there is WI-FI, a split system works. The hotel has its own garden, which is especially convenient for those traveling with children.

The hotel is also located in Shushan and offers comfortable studio rooms with balconies, a bathroom and a kitchenette. The hotel has a comfortable terrace, barbecue area and tennis court. The hotel has a guide who can advise on sightseeing and booking excursions.

This small hotel complex consists of only 30 rooms, but is very successful. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the marina, in the very center of Bar.If desired, vacationers can choose a view from the window to the park or the sea coast. Fans of spa treatments can enjoy their time in the modern wellness center located on site.

There are also fitness instructors who conduct various sports events daily. After training, you can soak up the Turkish hammam or relax under the arms of an experienced massage therapist.

The Adriatic coast, on which Bar is located, is famous for its mild climate. Due to the fact that on the one hand the city is reliably protected by mountains and forests, strong winds rarely occur here. Winters here are usually warm and short, and summers are hot and arid. The coolest month is January, and the hottest is traditionally August.

In May, the water has not warmed enough, so swimming is not very comfortable, but the tourist flow begins to come to life already in late April and continues almost until the end of October. The peak of the season is usually in the summer, but the weather allows you to sunbathe here almost all year round.

Fans of antiquity and ancient monuments should definitely visit the Old Bar. This place keeps traces of the stay of many peoples who settled here: from the ancient Romans and Slavs to the warriors of the Ottoman Empire and, finally, the Montenegrins themselves. There are many ancient ruins and buildings that were destroyed relatively recently during the 1979 earthquake. Both of them look so picturesque that a rare tourist will resist the temptation to take a selfie against their background.

The Bar has a large number of ancient churches - Orthodox and Catholic, which peacefully coexist with Muslim mosques left over from the Turkish invasion. Deserves close attention turkish aqueduct, built back in the 16th century. Through it, water came from nearby rivers to the city. In the Old Bar, the fortress walls and the main gate were well preserved, which made it possible to keep the defense from numerous attacks by uninvited neighbors.

Many excursions are brought here, but you can get to this place on your own.. Montenegro has public transport between cities, but experienced travelers advise renting a car, especially if you are traveling with your family or company. So you can see more interesting places.

One of the attractions of the Bar is considered olive Tree. Locals pay great respect to these plants.

But there is one particular olive - the centenarian. Locals claim that her age has exceeded 2,000 years. The tree is considered the oldest in the whole world, therefore it is guarded in a special way - it is surrounded by a reliable fence, and in order to look at it closer, you need to pay for a ticket.

As for the New Bar, here is worth a visit palace of king nicholas, built in 1885. Now it is a museum where many different thematic exhibitions are constantly held. There is a wonderful botanical garden in the vicinity of the palace, so the museum is immersed in the greenery of exotic plants that carefully collected along the entire Mediterranean coast.

But the main city attraction is considered Church of St. John Vladimir. He was the ruler of the state of Dukla, and after martyrdom was ranked among the saints. Now he is considered the patron saint of the city, pilgrims come to the place of his burial. The temple looks very magnificent - its entire territory occupies about 1200 square meters. m, and the height of this structure is 41 m.

In the Bar itself, all the main entertainment, as in any sea city, is concentrated on the promenade. Life boils here both day and evening. In the season, there are many cafes where you can taste not only national cuisine, but also dishes of other nations. For children there is amusement park. The nightlife in the city is not very active. Only a few beaches hold foam discos.

There are several beaches in the vicinity of Bar. They are strewn with fine pebbles or sand. The descent to the sea is gentle, which is especially comfortable for young children. Most beaches are equipped with sun loungers and parasols.

• In the Bar itself there are small pebbles Topoplitsa beach and sandy Sutomore and Golden Beach, so named because of the special color of the sand. It is yellow in color with a bright beautiful shade. You can also visit the Red Beach, famous for the abundance of small pebbles of an unusual terracotta hue.

• A little further away from him is Zukotrlitsa beach with large pebbles, otherwise referred to as Shushan.

• About 10 km from the city there are beaches called Big and Small Sands. It is worth waiting for the evening to admire the sun hiding behind the centuries-old oaks growing right on the coast.

• Located nearby Utien beach. It is unique in that it has a fresh spring that flows into the sea. As a result of such a merger, the water has a beautiful turquoise hue.

• As part of the Bar Riviera there are also several more beaches, but they are located at some distance from the Bar itself.

Like any other resort town, the Bar is replete with small souvenir shops and large shops. Olive oil is considered a favorite among gifts - it is of the highest quality. For local delicacies, head to the Topolitsa market, where there is literally everything: from local flavored cheeses to Chinese wallets. Locals prefer to shop in large shopping centers such as Discont Conto, where an excellent selection of products at affordable prices is presented.

For clothes and shoes is worth a walk in the mall. Ulica Vladimira Rolovicawhere you can buy items of excellent Italian quality. Jewelry connoisseurs can be advised to visit a boutique Golden point. Here you can buy leather goods from natural and artificial materials.

In addition to oil, tablecloths and towels with hand embroidery, items of national clothes, wooden crafts, musical instruments, for example, a psaltery, are brought from the Bar. Here are very tasty and environmentally friendly fruits. The most popular of them are figs, dates and zinzula (something between a pear and an apple, the size of a date).

If you travel in the company of little fidgets, the question will surely arise about how to organize children's leisure at a time when you are not on the beach. In this regard, the New Bar has a developed infrastructure. For example, it is very popular among children and their caring parents. Disney Children's Center. There is a huge number of game labyrinths and trampolines for different age categories.

For those who are tired, show remarkable Disney cartoons and other children's programs. If your child is already out of toddler, then it will certainly appreciate Lovcen park. It successfully combines a conservation area with natural springs and a game area with rope ladders. In the park you can rent a bicycle or ATV, rollerblading. There is also a barbecue area next to which you can pitch a tent.

Those who are older are advised to visit another park, which is a national treasure, - Durmitor. It is considered a conservation area and is included in the top 100 sites under UNESCO protection.Here, wildlife harmoniously coexists with the benefits of civilization. In the park, you can and should pick berries, ride horses.

Young people and families with children prefer to spend their leisure time in an entertainment park near the Black Lake. There are many natural lakes on the territory of the park, where you can swim and underground caves, the examination of which will take more than one day. In Durmitor, everyone, regardless of age, will find something to his liking. Therefore, it is recommended to come here for a few days.

The bar leaves a mixed impression. The old part of the city is very colorful and interesting. But the new part of the Bar is unremarkable for tourists. Since this is a port city, the nearby beaches and the sea are very dirty, and you need to get to comfortable swimming places. Therefore, swimming in the Bar itself is not recommended, especially for young children.

But thanks to the close proximity of Italy, there is excellent shopping here, and the price level, if you believe the reviews of tourists, is lower than in neighboring cities. Here everyone will find something interesting for himself.

For more information about the city of Bar in Montenegro, see the next video.