Boka Kotorska bay in Montenegro

Among the Montenegrin natural treasures, the Boka Kotorska Bay occupies a worthy place. Rugged shores, azure sea surface and mountain ranges form an amazingly beautiful landscape masterpiece of the Adriatic. The coastal lines at the foot of the high mountains are built up with ancient cities, the atmospheric streets of which are buried in thickets of Mediterranean flora. In addition to natural attractions, the local lands are famous for their cultural heritage. Boka Kotorska Bay in Montenegro is one of the 25 most beautiful bays in the world. This amazing corner of the Mediterranean resembles the Norwegian fjords in appearance, which is of great interest to many tourists.

Geography

Boka Kotorska Bay is a unique and mesmerizing natural ensemble. The magnificent unique corner of the Adriatic coast bears the second proud name - the Southernmost Fjord in Europe. Scientists have concluded that the bay is a former river canyon. As a result of tectonic and karst processes that occurred many millions of years ago, the riverbed dissolved into the embrace of sea waters. The shape of the bay gave its name to the bay.

The ancient Italian word "boccha" is translated as mouth. Emerald sea bays are washed by rocky shores curved at all possible angles. Above the blue water surface, mountain ranges rise majestically, in places covered with dark green lush thickets of plants. The water area of ​​the bay literally cuts into the mainland for 30 kilometers.

It consists of several pools connected by straits. Sheer cliffs and hills create picturesque landscapes. The depth of the bays reaches over 40 meters. The massive harbor is sheltered from winds and strong currents, making it ideal for large cruise ships. The narrowest part of the bay is 300 meters wide.

History

The picturesque nature of the landscape is combined with an eventful history. According to the chronicles, the first settlement of the coastal strip of the bay was founded by the Illyrians in 229 BC. Due to its special geographical position, the local area has attracted Romans, Greeks, Slavs, Ottomans, Venetians, Austrians, French and many other representatives of European countries for two millennia.

In the past, there were fierce battles between empires and states for the possession of this tidbit of the Adriatic coast. Regular changes of government have left their cultural, spiritual and architectural mark on the history of the development of the coastal cities of the bay. The bay was of great political and strategic importance for the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, which sought to assert its hegemony in the Balkan Peninsula.

The natural harbor served as a powerful naval base and the extreme defensive line of the southeastern border of the Habsburg Empire. Hundreds of fortifications were erected in the vicinity of the bay. After the end of the First World War, the territory became part of Yugoslavia. After the division of the united state, the region became part of the independent republic of Montenegro.

Resorts

On the shores of the bay, like pearls, one after another stretch the ancient small Montenegrin towns and villages. They offer their guests a meaningful and varied vacation for every taste. Popular locations include Herceg Novi, Tivat, Kotor, Perast and Risan. The ancient settlements are located at the foot of mesmerizing majestic mountains and green hills.

Local resorts are famous for preserved architectural monuments, picturesque embankments and original streets with narrow winding alleys, where you can feel the flavor of the Middle Ages. A decent level of development of the tourist infrastructure will be a pleasant addition to the recreation program. Hotel complexes, cozy cafes, markets, souvenir shops and shops are always eagerly awaiting their visitors. The lush vegetation of the subtropics, combined with mountain air and sea breezes, creates a special microclimate.

In the Tivat and Hercegnovsky parts there are perfectly equipped sandy and pebble beaches. Here you can enjoy swimming in the emerald calm bays, water sports, fishing and diving. The resort town of Igalo is widely known as a sanatorium and medical tourist center. Numerous wellness facilities offer programs using curative mud and mineral water.

One of the recommended places to visit is the Blue Cave. This is one of the most beautiful and mesmerizing natural formations of the bay. Sea water has carved two entrances in an impregnable rock, where boats with tourists dock. The height of the vaults of the cave reaches 25 meters. Especially vivid impressions fall on the lot of tourists who want to swim in the aquamarine waters of the grotto.

Sights

The bay abounds in places, a walk along which will bring aesthetic pleasure and a lot of pleasant impressions. In the coastal towns of the bay, tourists will see ancient fortifications and palaces, temples and monasteries, bell and watchtowers, modern villas and plain houses with orange tile roofs, spacious squares and narrow streets.

The ancient port city of Kotor, founded in 476, is perched on the slope of the Lovcen mountain range. This is the main tourist spot of the bay, attracting the attention of tourists with its unique attractions. The city of numerous bas-relief Venetian winged lions on the facades of houses offers its guests the opportunity to feel the breath of the past centuries.

Kotor is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which will certainly add interest to history buffs. In the labyrinths of cobbled streets, stone buildings are closely pressed together. Here, antiquity is harmoniously combined with modernity. Among the architectural ensembles, the Catholic Cathedral of St. Tryphon, consecrated in 1166, stands out. Its façade is decorated with two majestic bell towers, connected by a wide arch. It will be interesting to get acquainted with the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, the Church of St. Luke, the clock tower and the Fort of St. John.

The picturesque green and shady town of Herceg Novi is a large botanical garden. Its rolling hills are planted with relict trees, palm, cypress and citrus groves. Flowers are fragrant everywhere, colored with all shades of the rainbow. Here tourists can contemplate churches built in the 18th-19th centuries, as well as a Venetian bastion, a Turkish fortress and many other ancient buildings. A notable local attraction is the Savina Orthodox monastery. The oldest buildings in the monastery date back to the 11th century.

Observation Decks

Breathtaking panoramas of the Boka Kotorska Bay and coastal towns open from the observation decks. Most of them are organized on the territory of the Lovcen National Park, located at an altitude of more than 1600 meters above sea level. Travelers who want to enjoy stunning and unforgettable views of natural landscapes await the road along the winding mountain serpentine, consisting of 25 turns. From a bird's eye view, emerald bays surrounded by huge rocks and a scattering of various villages will appear in all their glory.

An equally popular observation deck is the top of the fortress of St. John, dominating over Kotor.A paved path with steps leads to it. The fortification is located at an altitude of about 300 meters. The hiking ascent takes more than one hour. From the observation deck, tourists can contemplate an amazing natural location: blue calm lagoons, inaccessible mountains, evergreen forests, rugged coastlines. The marinas with yachts and cruise ships are clearly visible, as well as the buildings of the Old City, which are located outside the fortress walls, apart from the modern quarter.

Tours

Vacationers can visit this unique place together with professional guides. Erudite guides, who thoroughly know all Montenegrin sights, offer tourists to go on a tour of picturesque places. Tourists will closely get acquainted with the historical and cultural heritage of the region. The mountainous landscape, the turquoise bay and the architectural appearance of the ancient coastal towns will not leave anyone indifferent.

The tour program provides for acquaintance with such cozy and small settlements as Kotor, Perast, Herceg Novi and Risan. These are real open-air museums. On the way, the group will meet temples and monasteries, palaces and mansions of aristocratic nobility, fortress walls and white-stone embankments, cobbled narrow alleys and intricate labyrinths of quarters. The guides will tell you fascinatingly and informatively about the monuments of architecture and ancient buildings, as well as reveal the secrets of Old Herzegovina.

Where is it located and how to get there

The largest bay of the Adriatic Sea is a visiting card of Montenegro, located in the south-west of the country near the Croatian border. To see the beauty of natural landscapes and the beauty of the coastal towns of the Bay of Kotor, tourists can use several types of transport.

Most of the holidaymakers arrive from Tivat International Airport. The air harbor is located 10 kilometers from the city of Kotor. Comfortable buses run regularly to this ancient and original settlement. It will not be difficult to get to the popular Montenegrin resort of Budva. At the disposal of vacationers are bus routes. The journey takes about one hour.

Independent tourists who prefer to travel by their own or rented car will like a trip along the scenic Budva-Kotor highway. The distance between the cities is 20 kilometers. From Kotor, you can drive along the bay with a breeze.

If tourists take a boat trip on a yacht or cruise ship, they will see especially attractive natural beauty. Ships set sail from the marinas of Montenegrin resorts, including from the water area of ​​the port of Budva.

Where to stay

Coastal towns and villages offer tourists all kinds of hotel accommodation options. The region abounds with hotels for every taste and budget. Regardless of the star rating of the hotel complexes, visitors to this amazing corner of Montenegro will receive a warm welcome from the polite staff and comfortable rooms.

A wide range of luxury apartments is presented in the cities of Herzen Novi and Tivat. The coastal quarters of Kotor attract tourists with Venetian buildings, which have been transformed into cozy, distinctive hotels. Many palaces from the 18th century have preserved historic interiors that blend harmoniously with modern amenities. Decor items create a cozy atmosphere.

Best time to travel

The tourist season lasts from May to October. This is the perfect time for beach and contemplation. The bay is dominated by a mild Mediterranean climate. In the summer months, the average air temperature is +26 degrees. Sea bays warm up to +25 ° С. Warm emerald waters and fresh mountain air make for a great family pastime. The maximum flow of tourists falls in August, when annual festivals, exhibitions, carnival processions and other colorful events take place here.

Boka Kotorska Bay on the map