Montenegro is a small Balkan country with rugged mountains, medieval villages and a narrow strip of beaches along its Adriatic coastline. The Bay of Kotor, resembling a fjord, is dotted with coastal churches and fortified towns such as Kotor and Herceg Novi. Durmitor National Park encompasses limestone peaks, glacial lakes, wildlife such as bears and wolves and 1,300m-deep Tara River Canyon, the second deepest river canyon in the world.
OUR BALKAN TOURS WHICH INCLUDES MONTENEGRO
Capital: Podgorica (administrative) Cetinje (historical and cultural capital)
Population: 685,000
Total Area: 14,026 square kilometers
Official Language: Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian, and Croatian.
Religions: Majority Eastern Orthodox, with a Muslim minority.
Borders with: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania
Brief history
Montenegro is mainly mountainous. Its complex mountain systems includes the Dinaric Alps close to the border with Serbia and Albania and the last ramifications of the Karst which form the mountains of Garac and Njegos towards the Adriatic coast. Near the Bay of Kotor there is Mount Lovcen considered a sacred place by the Montenegrins. The main plateaus extends near the capitol and the confluence of the Lovcen and Orjen rivers in the Bay of Kotor. Considered as the only fjord in Southern Europe, the Bay of Kotor, thanks to its morphology, is a perfect and impregnable port disputed by all the population who have lived in the Balkans over the corse of the centuries. Since 1979 the Bay of Kotor is a Unesco’s heritage site.
Until the early Middle Ages, Montenegrin history coincides with that of Serbia. In medieval times this region was called Doclea and evangelized by Benedictine monks and although it was under the administration of the Patriarch of Constantinopol, Catholicism was the main religion in the coastal cities. In 1166, Doclea was annexed to the Serbian kingdom (Raska) led by Stefan nemanja. The Nemanjic dynasty always tried to convert the population to the Serbian Orthodox Church, but was never successful. With the end of the Serbian Empire, the region (known as the Principality of Zeta) fell under the control of the Albanian Balsic family until the death of Balsa III in 1421. The following years saw the rise to power of the Crnojevic family. In 1482, Ivan Crnojevic moved his court from Zabljak on Lake Scutari due to the Turkish invasion, to the slopes of Mount Lovcen where he founded the town of Cetinje. Historians consider this event as the end of the Principality of Zeta and the beginning of the history of Montenegro. During the Ottoman times, the Republic of Venice ruled the coastal region and the area between the Bay of Kotor and Budva, while the Turks controlled the hinterland. Relationships between the Turks and Montenegrins were good until the XVII century, when new taxes and limits on Christianity imposed by Constantinopol aroused the reaction of the population. Cetinje was the center of the revolutionaries led by the Vladikas, also called the princes bishop for their religious and political functions. Thanks to the numerous victories over the Turks, the Vladicas increased their political and spiritual power quickly becoming the kings of highlands near Cetinje. In 1697 Vladika Danilo I Petrovic established the hereditary theocracy during his dynasty; the title was transmitted from uncle to nephew due to the celibacy of the Vladikas. It was the birth of the first Montenegrin state. Among the Vladicas the most famous was Peter II Petrovic Njegos who reorganized the state administration and established the Senate. Composed of 16 members led by the Vladica, the Senate exercised power and judicial functions. After his death, the title passed to his nephew Danilo who became the first Prince of Montenegro. In 1858, Danilo obtained independence from the Turks and gained international recognition for the new state. In 1918, Montenegro was annexed to Serbia, which formed the kingdom of the Serbians, Croatians and Slovenes. Thanks to the support of the Yugoslav Federation, the postwar period was characterized by a great economic and social growth for the Socialist Republic of Montenegro. After the end of Tito’s rule and the short-lived Federation with Serbia (1992-2006), a referendum established independence of the country.
Geography and weather
Montenegro is a small mountainous region located on the Adriatic coast north of Albania, bordering Bosnia & Herzegovina to the west, Serbia to the east and Albania to the south in Eastern Europe. Its small Adriatic coastline harbours the main ports of Bar and those in the Gulf of Kotor. Montenegro has a Mediterranean climate on the coast, with alpine conditions towards the mountains on the borders with Serbia and Albania. The average summer coastal temperature is 27°C.
Our tours mostly operate from late spring (April/May) to early Autumn (in Eastern Europe) when the weather is generally at its best. Temperatures will vary but will still be cool in April/May and again in October. The warmest months tend to be July/August. The further south you are the higher the average temperatures. You can expect snow from December to late March.
Visas
A valid passport is required for entry. Most nationalities do not require a visa. However visa regulations change frequently so it is important you consult with the embassy prior to traveling to ensure you have the correct visas. In some cases you will be crossing the borders on overnight trains and without the correct visa for your nationality you will not be allowed to enter the country and will be asked to disembark the train. It is the responsibility of the traveler to obtain all correct visas needed prior to departure.
Security
Generally people find Eastern Europe to be safe and feel confident wandering alone during the day. However if you are unfamiliar with an area it is recommended that you exercise more caution at night and taxi taxis rather than walk, especially if you are a lone female traveler. In some cities bag snatching can occur so always keep a firm hand/eye on your personal items.
Money
Local currency – EUR
Changing money, credit cards & ATMs
Most major currencies can be exchanged at banks and bureau de change but the euro is favored and the pound sterling is rarely used. You should use official exchange services only. There are several money-exchange machines in Belgrade (as well as one at the airport), which accept pounds sterling, US dollars and euros, giving back Dinars.
The most widely accepted credit cards are Visa and Mastercard. Diners Club and American Express are not so widely accepted. ATMs are becoming more common in towns. Traveller’s cheques often prove to be a lot of hassle so an alternative should be used.
Useful links
www.montenegro.travel
www.visit-montenegro.com
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