Things to see and do Bay Of Kotor

This church, dated 1630, is located opposite Perast on an artificial islet built of stones piled up around a reef. Originally a simple chapel, it was enlarged in 1725 with the construction of an imposing sanctuary recognizable by its octagonal dome. All around the capitals inside the church, you can admire nearly 2,500 small silver squares, each decorated in an original way: it is the sailors who, on their return from a sea trip, used to engrave an ex-voto with their name on it to thank Our Lady of Rocks for having spared them the misfortunes of the sea. This escapade in the middle of the Boka is worth it, both for the beauty of a unique site and for the evocation of the many stories of sailors by the guides gravitating around the church.

The beauty of Kotor lies in the 4.5 km long and 20 m high ramparts that encircle the old town. Of Byzantine origin, these fortifications helped protect the city from Turkish attacks in the 16th and 17th centuries. The fortress of St John, which dominates the town at an altitude of nearly 260 m, was abandoned in 1918. Now in ruins, it is accessible by more than 1,000 steps. The view offered from the top of its walls is splendid, between the Bay of Kotor and Mount Lovćen.

It was in the ^17th century that Perast, with its strong navy, built the most beautiful palaces for its enterprising captains. The village boasts a dozen of them, scattered along the seafront and hillsides. The Bujović palace houses the museum: built in 1694 by brothers Ivan and Marko Bujović, it features a balustrade decorated with two lions. A plaque indicates the house where Admiral Matija Zmajević (Russian fleet commander) was born. His uncle, Archbishop Andrija Zmajević, had his palace built on St. Elijah's Hill, now in ruins.

Located in the middle of a square, this small church dates back to 1195. Originally Catholic, it was transferred to the Orthodox Church in 1657. It was used by the faithful of both confessions, each with their own altar. Today it is attended only by the Orthodox. The iconostasis inside is the work of Dimitrije Daskal, founder of the Dimitrijević-Rafailović school of icons. Renovated in 2013 by Russia, this church houses the icon of St. Nicholas and St. Basil.

The Cattaro ladder is the name given to the mountain road that connects Kotor to Cetinje. Built in the 19th century, it was the main access road to the capital. Very winding, narrow, but spectacular, it offers the most beautiful views that one can imagine on the mouths of Kotor.

After 20 km, we arrive in Krstač, a small mountain village. From a Mediterranean climate, we switch to a continental one. Roads lead to ancient fortresses.

This small Benedictine monastery was built on a natural reef 100 metres from the artificial islet of Gospa od Škrpjela. First mentioned in a document from 1166, it is believed to have been inhabited by Benedictines in the 9th century. The original building could not be preserved because it was constantly under attack. In addition, it suffered an earthquake in 1667 in which the ceiling and apse of the church were destroyed. A new church was rebuilt in the 17th century.

Located at the bottom of the city, this impressive ^15th century fortress stands proudly above the city. Having passed through the hands of the Turks, Venetians and Austro-Hungarians, it is a period relic of Bosnian rule. Founded by the Bosnian king Tvrtko, it was damaged by the earthquake of 1979 and then rebuilt. It was used as a summer cinema, a disco and is often used as a film location.

Founded in 1937, the Museum of the City of Perast occupies the elegant ^17th-century palace of the Bujović family. It houses a rich collection of objects (weapons, banners, captains' portraits, navigation charts, etc.) recalling the city's flamboyant maritime past, long dominated by the Republic of Venice. Although smaller than the one in Kotor, this museum is well worth a visit, not least for the superb view it offers from its balcony over the Verige Channel and its two islets.

An archaeological site to discover the traces of the Roman civilization in Montenegro. This large mosaic dating from the ^second century AD and decorating the floor of an ancient Roman villa was discovered in 2004. Polychrome, it represents geometric patterns and floral decorations, including Hypnos, god of sleep, nonchalantly lying. Away from the tourist flow, the visit of the site is interesting. Modest site with explanatory panels (translated into English).

It was a deep love for wine and the great French vineyards that drove the Obradović family to transform this beautiful family home into a winery. We are here on the hill of Savina a few hundred meters from the ^11th century monastery of the same name. This idyllic south-facing coastal land overlooks the sea and the town of Herceg Novi. The tour includes a guided tour with a wine tasting, all with an exceptional view of the bay. Red, rosé, white, you will taste them all!

Completed in 1166, on the remains of a ^9th century church, the Cathedral of St. Thyphon (Sveti Trifun) is one of the representative monuments of Romanesque art in the Adriatic despite the reconstructions it has undergone. Its facade, recognizable by its two towers connected by a portal forming a porch, dates from the ^17th century.

Of the frescoes that once covered the entire interior of the building, only a few traces remain today, recently uncovered, especially in the apse and the treasure upstairs. These date back to the ^14th century. The sarcophagus of Andrea Saracenis and his wife, Maria, can be seen there. To the left of the entrance, stairs lead to a small ^14th century chapel where the relics of St. Tryphon are kept. This chapel is decorated with a finely carved white marble frieze, the work of a certain Francesco Cabianca, an ^eighteenth century Venetian artist. Finally, there is a large wooden cross of unknown origin on which the features of the crucified Jesus can be seen. The canopy over the altar (ciborium) is a magnificent example of Gothic art. The monumental baldachin is made up of four red marble columns supporting an octagonal construction on three levels and is decorated with sculptures illustrating the life of Saint Tryphon. The cathedral's treasury on the left-hand floor displays liturgical objects such as ciboria and other relics. The balcony between the two towers is also accessible.

Built in 1602 on the orders of Venetian governor Antonio Grimaldi, it is the first monument you see when entering the old town at the main entrance. The tower has four storeys and a basement. The tower was created from massive stone blocks taken from the rocks of Mount Lovćen. The clock was added in 1810. And if you look closely, it leans like the one in Pisa, a tilt due to the 1979 earthquake.

Kotor's architectural wealth is mainly due to the many Baroque palaces built over the centuries by the local aristocracy. As these buildings are not open to the public, they can only be admired from the outside. The best way to discover them is to stroll through the narrow streets of the old town. As you stroll along, you'll see many of the sculptures adorning the facades of these romantic-looking palaces.

The Pima family palace, with its long Baroque balustrade, dates from the ^17th century. The family coat of arms, supported by two angels, can be seen above the portal. The Drago Palace, next to the cathedral, dates from the ^16th century. The original ^12th-century villa was destroyed when part of the cathedral collapsed during the 1667 earthquake. Today, the palace houses the Regional Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments.

The Grgurina Palace, which houses the Maritime Museum, dates back to the ^18th century. Other noteworthy palaces include the ^18th-century Besuća Palace and, opposite it, the ^17th-century Bizanti Palace, both located south of the Place des Armes. The history of the Bizanti family begins with Nikola Bizanti, a respected judge in the town of Kotor. After the earthquake of 1667, it was he who rebuilt the palace as it stands today. Don't miss the stone staircase, balconies and old-fashioned water well of this remarkable palace.

Located in the middle of the village, facing the sea, this church was designed by the Italian Giuseppe Beati in the 17th century. Never completed, it is distinguished by its imposing 55 m high belfry, the highest in the Bay of Kotor. Ivan Scarpe began the construction of this imposing belfry with a series of loggias spread over five floors. An inscription above its entrance door commemorates the defeat of the Turks in 1657: " Christianae Reipublicae Triumphanti ".

Another way to discover the mouths of Kotor, on a semi-submarine excursion. The tour lasts 1 hour, during which you'll enjoy a panoramic view from the deck, as well as 20 minutes underwater inside the submarine. An experience to share with the whole family, and one that will delight young and old alike. On the upper deck, you'll enjoy a breathtaking view of Kotor and the surrounding mountains. Onboard air conditioning and fresh water. More comprehensive boat excursions for older children, lasting 3 hours.

Located in the heart of the old town, this small clock tower crowned with machicolations is Herceg Novi's visual symbol and best-known building. It was erected in the ^mid-19th century on the site of an earlier tower built in 1667, twenty years before the Turks left. The Sat-Kula is a monument to the Turkish era. Walk past it and you'll find the church square and some very pleasant cafés. A good idea for a stroll.

Luštica Bay, located at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, is a peninsula between the sea and the mountains, 47 km² in size and 13 km long. This unique natural site gathers first-class infrastructures built since 2013. The architecture is based on the codes of the old Montenegrin fishing villages. Apartments, villas, hotels, golf courses, shops and restaurants are spread around 7 km of preserved coastline. The Marina Village, the central district of Luštica Bay, houses a luxurious marina, while on the land side, fields of olive trees, mountains planted with cypress and oak trees complete the decor of this luxurious seaside resort.

With its palm trees and café terraces, this little PLACE is one of the city's most pleasant spots. The small Serbo-Byzantine church in the middle was consecrated in 1911. On the throne at the age of fifteen, STJEPAN expanded his inherited lands and was crowned King of Bosnia and Serbia in 1377. With his conquests spanning four decades, this massive monument on the beach beside the port of HERCEG Novi was erected in his honor.

Fortress with an evocative name, "the bloody tower" was built by the Turks. It had a dual purpose as it served as both a defensive fort and a prison for those who opposed the Turks. You can see drawings and messages from former prisoners. The walk through the narrow streets of the old town is a real historical discovery with a beautiful panorama! In summer, concerts and theatrical performances are organized here.

Located 2 km east of the town, on the slopes of a hill overlooking the sea, this monastery is a superb example of architectural blending. It was here that the poet prince Petar II Njegoš received his first education as a child. The monastery complex consists of two churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a cloister and a small chapel on the hillside dedicated to St. Sava Nemanja (the first archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, appointed in 1219, who became its most venerated saint). The present monastery was apparently built on the site of an earlier 11th-century church and dates from the late 17th century (1690s), when monks fleeing the destruction of their monastery near Trebinje in Herzegovina came to bring their treasures here. Among these treasures, which are still in the possession of the monastery, are a chalice from 1650, a Gospel from 1685, a silver miniature from the monastery of Tvrdoš, where the monks came from, and a 13th-century crystal and silver cross said to have belonged to St Sava.

The monastery has a large library with manuscripts from the 14th century. It also has a vineyard providing the traditional wine tasted on the feast of St. Typhon on February 14, the patron saint of winegrowers. The monastery also has a merlot, cabernet, chardonnay and rosé, and two types of brandy, including travarica with medicinal properties.