Bay of Kotor Provides Grand Gateway to Montenegro

“A medieval fortress and defensive walls built into the sheer cliffs of the surrounding mountains dominate the city landscape.”

The small nation of Montenegro has burst onto the tourist scene in recent years by offering reasonably priced beach vacations and nightlife  in places like Budva and Bar to European, Russian and Serbian visitors, along with providing some exclusive sanctuaries for the rich and famous. Unlike most other vacation spots along the Adriatic, Montenegro's beaches are sandy not rocky and generally provide hot weather for bathers throughout the summer and fall.  It also is famous for the beautiful  "black mountains" which led the Venetians to name the region Montenegro centuries ago. The country attracted over 2 million tourists last year which is quite an accomplishment for a nation with a population of only 650,000.

One distinctive feature of Montenegro is the dramatic Bay of Kotor. This fjord-like waterway leads to the World Heritage Site of old town Kotor. Kotor has been named by many travel publications as one of the top places to visit in the world in recent years.

There are three ways to see the remarkable landscapes of Kotor. One is to enter the bay by cruise ship or ferry boat and pass by the small villages, deep waters and sheer cliffs that lead to Kotor after a 17 mile passage. The second way is to take a strenuous four hour hike up the trail above the old Town to the top of the Venetian fort that clings to the hillside which is known as the Ladder of Kotor. The final way is to drive from the town to the top of the mountain pass at an elevation of 3000 feet and then look out across the bay at the numerous vessels docked there and the red roofs of the city below. In order to get to the top of the mountain by car or bus, however, you need to travel a winding road with 23 switchbacks and very low railings. Once there, you can also see the beaches on the other side of the mountain and one of the most beautiful views in southern Europe.

Kotor itself has plenty of character. A medieval fortress and defensive walls built into the sheer cliffs of the surrounding mountains dominate the city landscape.  Kotor is built upon the Roman settlement  of Acruvium, and became an important city coveted by rival powers over the centuries for its maritime forces and cultural resources. The Byzantine empire, the Serbian empire, the Venetians, the Austria-Hungary empire, greater Yugoslavia and other powers have dominated the area at various times. But for centuries, Montenegro fought to preserve a proud Christian heritage by opposing all incursions by the Ottoman empire in the region. This spirit of martial independence remains an important part of the national identity now that the country voted for Independence in 1991 and declared itself to be an ecological country.

The city itself is full of traditional buildings like a Romanesque cathedral and a clock tower that dates back to 1166.  With the increase in tourism, cafes and shops with both traditional items and designer products abound throughout the harbor area and the old City. While outwardly similar in look to Dubrovnik, Kotor's alleyways and squares retain a more genuine local feel to them.

Montenegro faces a risk by basing so much of its economy on tourism without much of a complementary economic development strategy. In the meantime, however, unique natural resources like the Bay of Kotor along with Montenegro's cultural heritage will  attract many curious visitors looking for the next exciting destination.