The main seaport of Montenegro and the administrative center of the Bar Riviera, this resort on the Adriatic is very popular with Russian tourists. The reason for its fame is not only the clean picturesque beaches and the infrastructure that is developing by leaps and bounds, but also the sights that have remained in the old part of the city from time immemorial. If the list of what you can see in the Bar does not seem too impressive to you, do not forget that the neighboring resorts are located only a few kilometers away, and local tourist offices will be happy to help you go on excursions in Sutomore or Petrovac. Interesting active recreation in the vicinity of Bar can also be organized on Lake Skadar - the largest freshwater reservoir of the Balkan Peninsula.
TOP 10 attractions of Bar
Clock tower
The old part of the city of Bar is an ancient fortress, the ruins of which rise on a hill four kilometers from the coast, several preserved temples and the Clock Tower, built in the middle of the 18th century. local resident, Yahya Ibrahim Osman-Agha.
The height of the tower, built of gray stone, is 12 m with the superstructure at its top. A spiral staircase leads up to the landing with arched windows. The tower is decorated with a clock, the mechanism of which was updated in 1980 during the restoration of one of the main attractions of Bar. Since then, the clock has been keeping track of time.
Climbing the tower, you can look at the quarters of New Bar, the coast, and the port.
Old fortress
The historical part of the city was destroyed by the earthquake of 1878, and the subsequent explosions of gunpowder stores destroyed even what had survived from the disaster. Today, tourists can only look at the ruins of the Old Bar, located within the walls of the city fortress.
Founded in the 11th century, Bar began at the foot of Mount Rumia and was gradually built towards the coast. In total, more than 240 buildings were erected in it, which have survived in our time in the form of ruins or in part:
- Historians consider the city gates to be the oldest of the buildings. They are dated X-XI centuries. Through them, peaceful wanderers and residents entered the city.
- The Cathedral of the Old Bar was consecrated in the 11th century. in honor of St. George. In it, the rulers of the ancient states located on the territory of the Balkans were crowned king.
- Among the many churches built between the 11th and 14th centuries, the churches of Saints Catherine and Veneranda dating from the 14th century are worthy of special attention.
- Church of St. Nicholas, converted by the Turks into a mosque, and then used as an ammunition depot.
The old city hammam is still in operation and is popular with tourists who decided to relax in the steam room after a busy day of sightseeing.
Church of St. Catherine
Christian Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria was born at the end of the 3rd century. in Egypt and died during the reign of the emperor Maximin. All her life she urged people to accept Christianity and give up worshiping pagan gods. Many churches were built in Europe in honor of the saint, and one of them is in the old part of the Montenegrin Bar.
Ruins of a 15th century church you can see near the Ilirian mound. The building had a rectangular shape and was erected from large natural stone, polished in accordance with the technical capabilities of medieval architects. The interiors were richly decorated with wall paintings, and the façade was decorated with frescoes depicting the life of the saint.
The church stood in ruins for a long time and only in 1980 they began to restore it. Today, the outer walls have been reconstructed, and part of the preserved interior has been put in order.
Church of St. Veneranda
Another temple of the Old Bar was built in the 15th century. and consecrated in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Veneranda. Little is known about her life: being born in the 2nd century, she studied the Holy Scriptures as a child, and then preached Christianity in Sicily. There she was seized by the pagans and presented to the court of Emperor Anthony Pius.
Legend has it that St. Veneranda was able to convert even her executioner to Christianity, and her prayers destroyed the Temple of Apollo.
The Church of St. Veneranda is located in the historical part of Bar, east of the core of the Ottoman fortress. A small rectangular temple on the plan is built of gray stone hewn in the form of large bricks. There is a small rosette window above the entrance on the facade, and the roof is crowned with a small bell tower with a cross.
King Nikola's palace
On the very coast of the Adriatic in 1885, local architects built a palace complex intended for the daughter of King Nikola I, Princess Zorka and her husband. The princess's residence included the Great and Small palaces, botanical and winter gardens, and many outbuildings. The territory of the complex has become a magnificent example of landscape gardening or, as they say now, landscape design.
In the mansions of the Big and Small Palaces, museum expositions are deployed today, exhibitions of fine art, sculpture and folk crafts are held. The permanent collections of the museum acquaint visitors with the history of Bar and Montenegro, demonstrate archaeological finds and ethnographic discoveries of local lore scientists.
The restaurant on the territory of the Toplitsa palace complex offers a special menu with Balkan cuisine.
Omarbashi Mosque
In 1571, the city of Bar, like most of the Balkan Peninsula, was occupied by the Ottoman Empire. Muslim conquerors are beginning to actively plant their own culture and religion, for which they build mosques and madrassas. In 1662, the Omerbashi mosque was erected in the Old Bar, well preserved to this day and is called today one of the city's attractions. Legend has it that the noble city merchant Omerbash and his sons somehow did not manage to get inside the fortress and perform the evening prayer, after which he donated money for the construction of a small mosque right on the spot behind the fortress walls where he had to pray.
The minaret of the Omarbashi Mosque is clearly visible from all points of the city. There are no decorative ornaments on the tower, and a gallery built of wood leads to the entrance to it. The prayer room of the mosque has a rectangular shape on the plan.
Next to the mosque is the grave of Dervish-Hasan, who was born in the second half of the 16th century. and a former Shia preacher.
Ottoman aqueduct
During the Ottoman rule, an aqueduct was built in Bar on the Balkan coast of the Adriatic, successfully supplying the city with water even in dry seasons. The building has been well preserved since the 17th century and is still functioning after reconstruction in the 80s of the last century.
The structure of the aqueduct is a high bridge built of rough natural stone. 16 vaulted spans in the form of arches are supported by massive pillars, and the diameter of the water pipes laid in the closed water canal is about 12 cm.
The sources of water for the city were mountain springs, from which moisture was supplied through the aqueduct to the wells through a system of water conduits.
Old olive
Olive trees grow everywhere in Montenegro, but only in Bar can you look at one of the world's oldest olives. Botanists believe that the tree is two thousand years old, and the Old Olive most likely stood on the outskirts of the city during the old era.
The circumference of the trunk, accreted over the centuries from several shoots, is about 10 meters. The olive tree still bears fruit, although in 1963 it was declared a natural monument and, being under state protection, it could no longer work. But seriously, the tree brings a small income to the municipality: you will have to pay a couple of euros for the opportunity to take a photo near the Bar attraction.
The old olive tree, according to local belief, serves as a symbol of reconciliation if a quarreling couple comes to her together. There is also a shop near the tree that sells the freshest olive oil in Montenegro.
Hai-Nehai fortress in Sutomore
Bar is only 5 km away from the resort of Sutomore - adjacent along the Adriatic coast and no less popular with tourists. Among the sights of Sutomore, the Hai-Nehai fortress stands out, as if hovering over the city from the height of a steep
hill.
The citadel was built during the Middle Ages. The first mention of it is contained in the documents of 1542. It was built by the Venetians, as evidenced by the lion of St. Mark, placed in the form of a stone coat of arms above the entrance to the citadel.
The medieval city on Mount Sorzin, surrounded by a fortress wall, could shelter up to 900 people at a time. It was quite impregnable and had a single entrance gate cut through the western wall.
The ruins of the city church, consecrated in honor of St. Dmitry and having two altars, have been preserved in the fortress. In the eastern part of the citadel, you can see a structure used as a powder magazine.
The Ottoman invaders, who took possession of the citadel during the occupation of the Balkans, made their changes not only in the architecture of the fortress. After their appearance, the fortress began to be called Haj-Nehaj, which translated from Turkish means "Fear - do not be afraid."
Topolitsa Market
The largest market in Montenegro on the Adriatic makes noise every day in the Old Bar and is called Topolitsa. On its counters you can buy the best Montenegrin souvenirs, gifts to relatives and friends, and healthy and tasty products. The most popular products offered to tourists by local sellers:
- Prshut. The pork leg is smoked over coals and dried in the sun. Delicious delicacy and signature product from Montenegro.
- Rakia. Local moonshine is made from fruits, and homemade moonshine is considered the most delicious, which is sold by housewives at the Topolitsa market.
- Negus cheese. Do not hesitate to try the types of cheese you like: each vendor has a product that differs in nuances of taste and aroma.
- Olive oil. Homemade products are sold on the shelves of Topolitsa and are superior in useful properties to those prepared by factory methods.
At the largest market in Bar, you will also find textiles, national clothes, magnets to remember the trip, dried fragrant herbs, hand-painted ceramic plates, postcards and Orthodox souvenirs.
