ROUTE 8: BAR – CETINE – LOVČEN – KOTOR

ROUTE 8: BAR – CETINE – LOVČEN – KOTOR

A familiarization, tourist auto-route for everyone who has decided to visit Montenegro. The route begins in the port city of Bar and ends in the historical center of Montenegro, the city of Kotor.

Route duration: full day

Distance: 60 km one way

What to take with you: camera, sunscreen, motion sickness pills, for climbing Lovcen – a sweater, comfortable shoes

Key points: Cetinje (42.385102, 18.924058), park Lovcen (42.397843, 18841418), Lovcen serpentine (42.403800, 18.785628), Kotor (42.424767, 18.770854)

What's interesting:

*Beautiful panorama of the Budva Riviera from the height of the mountain serpentine on the road to Cetinje.

*Walk around Cetinje – this city is the cultural capital of Montenegro. Almost every building here is of historical value. 

This is a real open-air museum. The main attraction of the city is the Cetinje Monastery. The right hand of John the Baptist and a piece of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord are kept here. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to Cetinje to venerate the sacred relics. There is a church shop on the monastery grounds. 

In addition to traditional wax candles and icons, you can buy medicinal teas, tinctures, creams, and soap here. 

Everything is made by the hands of kind monks according to ancient recipes and only from natural plant ingredients.

*Visit to the Mausoleum of Petar II Petrovic Njegos on Mount Lovcen - Njegos was a great reformer ruler from 1830 to 1851, a metropolitan, a talented poet and philosopher. 

To get to the ruler's tomb, you need to climb over 400 steps. But it's worth it! The observation deck of the mausoleum offers a magnificent panorama of all of Montenegro. Lovcen National Park is famous for its clear mountain air and the aroma of honey herbs. For lovers of hiking, there are marked trails.

*The famous Lovcen serpentine is an old road built in the 19th century by the Austrians, with 25 sharp turns at an angle of 180 degrees. There is a very interesting legend associated with the construction of this serpentine, according to which engineer Josip Šilović Slade, enchanted by the beauty of King Nikola I's wife, Milena, paved one of the sections of the road in the form of the initial letter of her name - M. 

To this day, you can see this openwork letter "M" from a great height, which is drawn by several sharp turns of the serpentine. This dizzying serpentine offers the most beautiful view of the Bay of Kotor, the grandeur of which is breathtaking. 

The winding road will lead to one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the bay - Kotor.

*A walk around Kotor – one of the most famous and visited cities in the Bay of Kotor. 

The pearl of Montenegro. The old part of the city, surrounded by high fortress walls (IX – XVIII centuries), is of great interest. The spirit of the Middle Ages still hovers in the narrow streets, where the stone pavement is polished to a shine. Here you can buy original souvenirs handmade by local artisans in the shops, visit an art exhibition, attend a service in one of the many churches, climb the fortress of San Giovanni (VI century). 

This fortress rises above Old Kotor at an altitude of 280 meters, you can get to it along a narrow mountain path. The ascent has about 1400 steps and takes an hour. From the very top of the fortress, an incredible view of the whole of Kotor and the beginning of the bay opens up. 

Recommended program:

Cetinje (Cetinje Monastery, King Nikola's Palace, Billiard Museum, former Russian Embassy building - now the Faculty of Fine Arts, former British Embassy - Academy of Music, former French Embassy - Central Library, etc.)

Lunch. Restaurant Belveder (42.381578, 18.942937) or any other.

Lovcen - Njegos's Mausoleum, observation deck.

The famous mountain serpentine Lovcen-Kotor

Kotor (flour square, square, St. Tryphon, St. Luke's Church, Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, souvenir shops, ascent to the fortress of San Giovanni, etc.)

Dinner in Kotor