City of Bar

Welcome to Bar, welcome to the biggest coastal city of Montenegro. Bar is an modern city with rich and very developed infrastructure and economy. During the last decades, Bar developed itself in many ways, in number of citizens, as well as in number of successful companies, giving the contribution in general better living conditions to all the citizens of bar. Even the fact the bar is mostly an business and Port town, it does not mean that tourism is not developed, on contrary, now days Bar, represents an very popular tourist destination. Apart from many attractions this city has, municipality of Bar is working hard in order that with many manifestations to make Bar as much attractive possible. Numerous festivals and cultural events, such as: the International TV Festival, Meetings Under The Old Olive Tree, the Bar Chronicle are among more than 50 other events and manifestations.

HISTORY

City of Bar is an very old Town. It is not possible to conclude the exact date of founding of Bar, but scientists based on founded traces have two hypothesis about the start of city of Bar. First time mentioned settlement close to now day Bar, is the area of Old Bar, in IX century under the name Antibareos (Anti-old) and this was the name used for a long time "Antibari_. According to information's from other sources, the origin and foundation of the town is considered to be sometime between VI and VII century.

Even with little concrete and pricize foundlings about the real time of founding of the ancient Bar, the remains of Neolithic material and traces which were found on a wider space around of today Bar, various items like: Neolithic ax, dagger, vases of unusual manufacture etc., testify that in the area where to day a modern city of Bar is placed was life even in pre-historical, from ancient nations such as: Illyrians, Greek and Roman. As a confirmation that city of Bar existed since ancient times, tells us as well the fact that Bar had a name even on ancient languages such as in ancient Greek - Antibareos, Roman - Antibarum and Slovenian – Bar.

At the end of the IX century Bar is mentioned also under the name Antivari, which according to historical sources, can associate on the tribe of the Avars, who in VI and VII century, along with the Slavs settled the area that today is Montenegro.

During it's long history, city of Bar changed it's rulers from time time. It is supposed that, in first Montenegrin king Mihailo Vojislavljevic was crowned exactly in city of Bar in year 1077, and he received royal indications from Catholic church prime Pope Clemet III. Afterward, Bar has been ruled by the king Bodin Vojislavljevic (1082 – 1101). Because of Bodin`s effort in the year 1089 bishopric of Bar receives the title of archbishopric, and as a result of that town Bar becomes the center of Bodin`s state. In the middle of XI century Bar again becomes a part of Duklja, and after 1183 it again enters into the structure of Byzantium empire, when with the rest of Zeta it becomes part of the state of Nemanjici. Bar is under the control of Nemanjici up to year 1360. During that time it experiences a full bloom - it had town autonomy, a statute, a coat of arms and money.

In the period 60`s of the XIV century, when Royal family of Balsici proclaimed independent state of Montenegro, around of area of Skadar, Bar was by princess Jelena and Balsa III considered as their capital.

In countless rulers of Bar, in 1404, is known that Bar is taken over by Venice (Venetians), but for a short period, since in 1412 Bar would fall again in hands of Balsici dynasty.

The Turks, as the main force of that period ruled over the territory of Bar for long 307 years. They conquered Bar in the year 1571. In 1878, Bar is being liberated from the Turks by Montenegrin s. The same year, the date of year 1878 is one of the most important dates in the history of Montenegro and city of Bar, on Berlin congress Montenegro was proclaimed independent state. Because of many wars and battles, city of Bar was almost totally destroyed, during the liberation in 1878, Ministry counsel of the Principality of Montenegro in 1908 mada a decision to begin the construction of a new town, which gained today name and area.

In time a large number of citizens of Bar and whole Montenegro, began to move in Southern parts of the town, mostly of them inhabiting the region of sea coast, where in the beginning of the XX century appears an area better known as Pristan (Port), on whose place was lied the foundation of New Bar.

Like most of other coastal towns of Montenegro until 1928 Bar was under the ruling of Austria-Hungary administration. After liberation from Austria-Hungary, until 1941 Bar is a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (the state of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians).

The Second World War (1941 – 1945) Bar was under foreign control. At that time, Italian and German army controlled Bar. Fighting against the strong army of occupiers (conquerors) partisan army liberated Bar in November 1944. Since then and until 1991 Bar was a part of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, and from 21 st May of 2006 year, Bar is again a part of Montenegrin independent state.

 

MUST VISIT IN BAR

If You do not know Bar , but would like to know about the beauties and attractions of this city, we would like to suggest You the following top places in and around Bar that should definitely be visited:

THE OLD TOWN OF BAR
CASTLE OF KING NIKOLA
VIRPAZAR
SCUTARI LAKE (SKADAR LAKE)
SUTOMORE

An specific location of an Old town, different locality than the other Old Towns in Montenegrin Sea coast. The location of today Old Bar dates from XI century, and this was the first location. It is thought that the prime location of Old Bar was much nearer to the sea shore, but because of many attacks from pirates, the citizens of that time Old Bar built their fortress 5 km away from the coast and today city of Bar. Even during the time and many factors many of old monuments of this old town where destroyed, still there are some very important and well preserved buildings which confess both, importance and greatness of Bar, like well preserved churches: the church of St. Katarina from the XVI century and the church of St. Veneranda from the Xv century. In the old part of the town there is a Turkish bathroom – a steam bath from the XVII century, a powder magazine, as well as some other interesting buildings, like the remains of the church St. Nikola, which was built in the year 1288. Below the Old town there are the remains of aqua-duct from the XVI and XVII century, through which the water was brought to town.

The Old Bar, in which today no one lives, used to be full of inhabitants who were engaged in various kinds of trading, selling olive oil, salt, craftworks…

In the Old Bar there is also a place Podgrad (Undertown), which dates from the middle century, but in which people live even today.

If you wish to meet the surroundings of the Old Bar, then we recommend that you easily take a stroll to a place called Mirovica, where the famous trunk of an over 2.000 years old Bar olive tree is located.

 

KING NIKOLA`S CASTLE

Once a castle of Montenegro's most famouse King of all time, a King who guided Montenegro to it's independence, and today more a museum, which testifies that the Montenegrin state under the reign of King Nikola I Petrovic, attached great importance on contemporary social, cultural but also architectonical trend of the XIX century and the first few decades of the XX century. “The castle on Topolica” as THIS castle is else called. because of it's location was built by King's Nikola Petrovic brother in law, Serbian ruler Prine Patar Karadjordjevic. This castle was brought by Petar Karadjordjevic in 1885. The building disposes also with a small castle, chapels, sentry boxes, and winter gardens. At the beginning of 1919, next to the castle spacious ball saloon was added onto. The King's castle makes the Mediterranean park extraordinary, mostly because of it's magnificent vegetation. Today, the complex of the castle "Museum" is used for the cultural events and manifestations of Bar.

  As the castle is situated next to the seashore, it used to have a wooden floodgate, which was used for docking in of the ships, most because of large number of yachts which Montenegrin King Nikola owned. King Nikola owned 10 yachts. One of ex Kings most beloved yacht, was Yach called "Sibil" which, King Nikola bought from the world wide known novel writer Gil Verne.

VIRPAZAR

Nice small settlement, in earlier time Montenegro's biggest market, a fishermen village and biggest port On Scutari lake. Now days mostly because of it's originality and beautiful untouched nature a great escape destination from crowds, warm and stress in cities. To reach Virpazar is quit easy, after the tunnel Sozina just minutes away. Today Virpazar represents a great vacation area. In the past it was a transitory station for the cruise over Scutari Lake. Family houses from which one can see the smoke coming out of the chimney, which keeps home warm during the winter, numerous canoes, barges and bigger taxi boats, which usually transport tourists who wish to see the beauties of Skadar Lake, stand tied to the shore, and only some hard working and persistent inhabitant of Virpazar, is trying to set out to the lake water in hope that he'll find in his net numerous: carps, bleaks or some eel. Even if this beautifull village has great beautiful areas, we would still suggest to You to come during the summer period and without estitation to rent and small water kanu taxi boat, with an local captain (most of the citizens speak fluenced cupple of foreign languages)and ask them for explaining s. They'll introduce you with some details like: with the fact that Skadar Lake is the largest lake on the Balkan peninsula, and second largest in Europe. You'll find out that at the lake there are 226 various bird species. For the first time Virpazar was mentioned in year 1242, and was raised on the mouth of river Crmnica. Virpazar was one of the first Post station in Montenegro and had over 20 shops. near Virpazar i area called Mijele was found the ancient Ilyrian pre-historical Necropolis.

SCUTARI LAKE (SKADARSKO JEZERO)

Scutari Lake represent the largest lake in Montenegro and Balkan peninsula, and second largest lake in whole continent of Europe. Scutari lake is divided from the Adriatic Sea by the mountain Rumija. Scutari lake is 50 km long and 14 km wide, and is located in south - east area of Montenegro. The surface of the Lake has not always the same surface. During the winter when there is much rain, the surface is 500 km2, and during the summer the surface is smaller and counts around 350 km2. The coast of the lake is very beautifull, consisted by many small villages and bays. On the lake there are many small islands, called "gorice". Not very far from Virpazar there are many sandy beaches on the shores of this magnificent lake. The natural phenomena of Scutari Lake is crypto-depression, which means that bottom of the lake is under the sea level and surface of lake is above the sea level.

SUTOMORE

Sutomore represents the largest summer resort of Bar, attracting many tourists which visit this area. Mostly because of beaches and great summer night life. Sutomere is located near the railways station which connects the continental area of Montenegro and Europe with sea, and that is why is not to be wondering when crowds of people are seeing going out from the train and cant's wait to got to the beach. Sutomore is especially interesting destination for citizens of capital city of Montenegro, city of Podgorica, from where their citizens arrive to Sutomore for less than 1 hour.