Montenegro

An Adriatic Jewel that is full of History and Beauty

The small but breathtakingly beautiful country of Montenegro is situated on the coast of the Adriatic on the Southeast of Europe with the mountainous terrain and clean beaches and cute medieval towns. Although Montenegro is a small country, it is a country of infinite opportunities and adventures, as it has everything that a traveler can dare to experience, starting with spending the time in the ancient walled towns of Kotor to hiking in the deciduous Durmitor National Park. Its picturesque countryside, rich logistics and traditions and ambient climate of the Mediterranean make Montenegro an enchanting choice of destination to any tourist.

look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of Montenegro

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Geographical Location

Montenegro occupies the region of Balkan with Croatia to the West, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Northwest, Serbia to the North, Kosovo to the North East and Albania to the South East. It also possesses a breathtaking strip of coast with Adriatic Sea in the south west that is nearly 295 kilometers in length. Even though the country (Montenegro) is very small in size (approximately 13,812 square kilometers), it boasts of phenomenal geographical diversities (encompassing mountainous terrain, fertile valleys, and spectacular coastline cliffs).

Natural Geographical Forms and Geographical Features

The landscape of Montenegro is stunning, a mixture of dramatic mountains, canyons, peaceful lakes and beautiful coast. Taking up significantly larger part of the country are the Dinaric Alps, whose highest point is at Mount Durmitor, 2,523 meters. Other features of the country are: Lake Skadar, the biggest lake in the Balkans, that borders with Albania, and Bay of Kotor, a magnificent natural port enclosed by a bay of mountains and medieval cities.

Montenegro is a wonderland of recreation because its national parks include Durmitor national park and Biogradska gora national park that are UNESCO world heritage. These parks can be found with pristine forests, clear river waters, plants, and animals with very diverse characteristics.

Climate

Montenegro has a Mediterranean climate on the coast, hot and dry summer with mild and wet winters. The climate in the inland regions is more continental as it is cold during winter and cool during summers especially in the mountains. Such climatic difference enables the nation to provide a wide spectrum of experiences along with being able to sunbath in the Adriatic sea as well as skiing in the mountains in winter.

Medieval and Ancient History

The history of Montenegro can be traced back to the ancient times, when settlements of the Illyrians, Romans and Byzantines have been traced. Present-day Montenegro was Roman territory and then Byzantine territory and Roman ruins and early Christian basilicas can still be seen.

During medieval period, Montenegro became a significant center of Christianity. The Zeta Kingdom, and then the Duklja and Rashka, were important factors in development of the region. Kotor with Boka Bay walled cities were extremely crucial trade and defence ports in the medieval times.

Ottoman and Nationalism Independence

Since the 15th century, Montenegro was in the caldron of the Ottoman Empire, but it had a great amount of independence. Montenegro was fully independent, becoming independent in the 19 th century, following a streak of wars with the Ottomans and its neighbours. Serbia was cannibalized together with Montenegro in 1918, to form the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and subsequently, in 1953, as part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Contemporary History and Sovereignity

After the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s Montenegro remained in a federation with Serbia until 2006 when a referendum on complete independence was passed. Montenegro has joined NATO (2017), but has been working on joining the European Union since its independence. Its economic development and good tourist attractions through stable political regime and cultural heritage have made it evidently a place frequented by tourists.

Ethnic/Religious diversity

There is the dominance of Montenegrin (Slavic) speakers in the country, however, the multi-ethnic population also exists (Serbs, Albanians, Bosniaks, etc.). The prevailing religion is Orthodox Christianity although a large number of Muslims exist among Albanians and Bosniaks. There is also the practice of Catholicism especially on the coast. It has been said that all these religions and cultures have impacted the identity of a certain nation and in this case the country of Montenegro to become what it is now, an amalgamation of Slavic, Ottoman, Italian and Austrian cultures.

Traditional values and Ways of living

Montenegro is an example of nations rich in culture setting. The musical, dancing and the folk festivals are significant elements in the cultural life of the country. The essential features of folk culture of Montenegro are kolo ( a form of circle dance) and ganga ( a type of singing). Food in the country also has Mediterranean and Balkan influences with ćevapi, baklava, grilled fish and Njeguški prshut (kind of dry-cured ham) being widely known among other dishes.

Language

Montenegro has an official language called the Montenegrin language, which is a South Slavic language, having close contacts with Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian languages. Nevertheless, the Serbian language is common and most of the Montenegrins speak both English and Italian especially in the tourist zones.

Religious Festivals

The Orthodox Easter and Christmas are big holidays in Montenegro, and people celebrate them with the church services, family meetings, traditional delicacies. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the celebrations of Muslims, and Christmas and Easter are those of the Catholic people with their celebratory rituals as well.

National holidays and Special Days

The most crucial national holiday is Independence Day (May 21 st), commemorating the declaration of independence in 2006 made by Montenegro. The Statehood Day (13 th July) is also commemorated on the day the country was recognized as a sovereign state in 1878. Moreover, one can speak about National Day which is celebrated with parades, concerts, and other events.

Economic Development

Since its independence, Montenegro has experienced a major economic growth with areas on tourism, financial services, and energy. Millions of tourists annually visit the country with beautiful coastline, medieval towns, national parks and so on. Three of the favorite coastal cities are Budva, Kotor and Tivat and winter resorts are Žabljak and Kolasin.

Montenegro has also emerged with financial services sector and it is an emerging centre of foreign investment. The economy is stabilized by the unofficial acceptance of the currency of the country, the Euro, which is used along with the currency of the Montenegrin dinar.

Industry and Agriculture

Agriculture Agriculture may not be as prominent as the tourism but it is also a major part of the economy of Montenegro and goods such as tobacco, fruit, vegetables and wine are among the important exports. The region is famous due to the wine production in the country especially in the area of Crmnica.

Business and Manufacture

Montenegro lies at a central location as a trade port and its key port, the Bar, is very vital in exports. Energy sector, including renewable energy project, is expanding as Montenegro tries to diversify its economy.

Top Things to See in Montenegro

Montenegro is abundant with unbelievable history, marvellous nature and lovely towns. The following six attractions are definitely a must see:

1. Bay of Kotor

Bay of Kotor is one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world which is surrounded with the medieval towns such as Perast and Kotor, which are the UNESCO World Heritage sites. One of the tourist attractions is the St. Tryphon Cathedral, the Kotor Fortress, which may be hiked to, and the ride along the bay, on the boat.

2. Durmitor national park

UNESCO World Heritage site Durmitor National Park is characterized by a rugged mountains, glacial lakes and a rich biodiversity. It is also a paradise on earth to hikers, skiers, and nature worshippers who have trails to some of the popular places like the black lake and other scenic features.

3. Budva

Budva is a well-liked beach city with a night resorted life, a sand beach as well as a picturesq old city. Budva Riviera has a lot of resorts and restaurants, and the Old Town is overwhelmed with historic churches and narrow streets.

4. Lovcen national park

The Lovcen national park has great sceneries of the Adriatic coast and contains the beautiful village of NjeguShi which produces a delicious smoked ham and cheese. Visitors also have an opportunity to make hike up to the Mausoleum of Petar II Petrovi e-Njego s that is situated on the top of Lovcen mountain.

5. Perast

Perast is a small town situated by the Bay of Kotor, known by its baroque style architecture as well as by two small islands Our lady of the Rocks and St. George Island. It is a beautiful and calmness place to spend your day.

6. Sveti Stefan

Sveti Stefan is yet another beautiful vacation island resort which is once a fishing village. There is a narrow causeway that links the island to the mainland where it gets a special touch due to luxurious facilities it boasts and its beautiful beaches.

Healthcare System

The healthcare system in Montenegro is universal whereby the country has both health privately and publicly owned hospitals that provide various medical services. The state of medical care is not the best in Montenegro and the big cities, in particular the capital Podgorica and Niksic, offer modern medical services.

Education System

Education The system of education in Montenegro is founded on that of Montenegro and European Union. It offers free primary and secondary education and the nation also consists of such universities as the University of Montenegro in Podgorica that provide diverse academic courses.

Transport Network

Transport network is well-developed in Montenegro and it includes an international airport in Tivat and Podgorica, as well as a regular bus and train services. The road network is always advancing and this is increasing the ease of transportation of tourist in the country.

Urban Development

Montenegro is updating its infrastructure, as a center of green tourism, sustainable energy, and urban planning. The nation is also developing its coast-line negas to cater with the increasing tourists.

Ideal Seasons

The temperate weather makes the spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) seasons of the year as the best time to visit Montenegro as crowding is also less during these seasons. Summer time (July and August) is also an attractive period although it can be busy even on the coast.

Special Events and Festivals

There are also popular events such as the Kotor Carnival, Budva Jazz Festival, as well as the Montenegro Film Festival which excites about the dynamic culture and artistic life of the country.

Conclusion: 

The beauty of nature, history and culture makes Montenegro a place you definitely must visit in Europe. With the country becoming more popular, it is going to be a secret place of visit among tourists desiring to have different and memorable visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the right time to visit Montenegro?

It is better to come here in spring (April to June) and in the fall (September to October), when the weather is just nice, and there are fewer people.

Which are the greatest attraction places in Montenegro?

The most popular touristic objects are the Bay of Kotor, Durmitor National Park, Budva, Lovcen National Park, Perast and Sveti Stefan.

Which languages do they speak in Montenegro?

The official language is Montenegrin, though the Serbian, Croatian, and Albanian are, as well, especially in towns.

Is Montenegro tourist safe?

Indeed, Montenegro is a rather safe destination with a rather low rate of crime and hospitable people.