Bar, Montenegro

Bar Бар
Bar City Centre
Flag Coat of arms
Bar Location of Bar, Montenegro
Coordinates: 42°06′N 19°06′E / 42.10°N 19.10°E / 42.10; 19.10Coordinates: 42°06′N 19°06′E / 42.10°N 19.10°E / 42.10; 19.10
Country	Montenegro
Founded	6th century as Antipargal (assumed)
Settlements	83
Government
– Mayor	Žarko Pavićević (DPS (DPS - SDP)
Area
– Total	505 km2 (195 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
– Total	42,368
– Density	67.0/km2 (173.5/sq mi)
– Municipality	42,038
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	85000
Area code	+382 30
ISO 3166-2 code	ME-02
Car plates	BR
Website	http://www.bar.me/

Shopping Malls and a part of Solidarity Square

Main town beach in Bar

King Nikola's Palace

Indoor Arena Topolica

A fragment of the town walls of Stari Bar

Bar Aqueduct

On the river Željeznica

Bar (Montenegrin: Bar or Бар, pronounced [bâr], Italian: Antivari / Antibari, Albanian: Tivari, Greek: Θηβάριον, Thivárion, Αντιβάριον, Antivárion, Latin: Antibarium) is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727 (2011 census). Bar is the centre of municipality and a major seaport of Montenegro.

Name

In Montenegrin, the town is known as Bar (Бар), in Italian and Greek as Antivari. The name of this city is connected to Bari, Italy as those cities are located on the opposite side of Adriatic sea.

General information

Like most Montenegrin towns, throughout its history Bar has belonged to various civilizations and cultures. What makes it stand out among Montenegrin towns today is that it is representative of several of the cultures that it belongs to, and in some cases had belonged to for centuries. Here, the heritage of one epoch would become the ground for development of the next. In the new heritage one could always clearly recognize the achievements of its predecessor.

As a city of olives, the sea gate of Montenegro, long-lasting melting-pot of different confessions and nations, Bar represents a mix of modernity, tradition and beauty. It is an important and dynamic economic centre within Montenegro, but is also a town of rich cultural and historical tradition. Some of the highest achievements of Montenegro’s civilization originated in Bar. The oldest written documents and the most important work of medieval Montenegrin literature and history can be found here. The town also served as the seat of the oldest religious institution of Montenegro (the Bar archbishopric). One of the world’s oldest olive trees grows here, the Old Olive of Mirovica, which is more than 2000 years old.

The rich cultural and historical tradition of the Bar area is combined with the unique gifts of nature, a friendly climate and a remarkable geographical position.

The pleasant Mediterranean climate attracts a large number of tourists each year. With an average of 270 sunny days per year, Bar is one of the Mediterranean’s sunniest towns. The 44 kilometre-long sea coast, including over 9 kilometres of beaches, the 67 kilometre-long shore of Lake Skadar and the mountain range dividing these two large bodies of water make Bar an ideal destination for tourists who wish to relax on lovely beaches and enjoy the unspoilt environment, as well as for those wanting to visit the numerous cultural and religious sites or to spend their holidays engaged in various sports activities.

The Old Town of Bar

Any visitor to the long-since dilapidated ruins of Bar Old Town, one of the world’s largest fortified archaeological sites, will be impressed by the beauty of the natural surroundings into which it blends, dignifying the majestic Mount Rumija which towers above it. This contrast of nature and Mediterranean heritage represents one of the most important cultural and historical sites in Montenegro.

In this unique monument the remnants of many past civilizations and states that used to rule the region as can be recognized in the traces of everyday life from times past. In the town, there are churches and buildings from different epochs, squares, medieval palaces and houses that once were abundant with life. In the present day, life in Bar Old Town begins the moment the visitor enters it. Unlike other Montenegrin medieval towns, this place was not inhabited continually, so new times did not bring changes to affect its earlier ambience. In addition to the old town is a large and well preserved Bar Aqueduct constructed during the 16th century - 17th century.

What is bound to fascinate you when you encounter Bar Old Town is its monumental size, the scale of its fortress and the variety of culturally significant heritage. This variety is unmatched by any other Montenegrin town.

Patron of Bar

The patron saint of Bar is Saint Jovan Vladimir, and a festive religious procession passes on his feast day (4 June) through the town's streets with church banners and icons, celebrating the saint. The procession is usually led by the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral.^[1]

St. George was a medieval patron of Bar.^{[citation needed]} Great cathedral was built in the twelfth century was dedicated to him.^{[citation needed]}

Cultural and Historical Monuments

The rich cultural and historical heritage of Bar belongs to different epochs and civilizations. It would be very difficult to list all the remarkable monuments in Bar, so we will mention only some of them.

One of the oldest monuments in this area and the oldest Christian religious building in Montenegro is the Bar Triconch Church dating back to the 6th century, whose remnants are located in the centre of the town. This is where the “Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja” (“Ljetopis popa Dukljanina”) was created in the second half of the 12th century. It is the region’s most important medieval work of literature and history. Just a few kilometres away from the town centre, on Ratac peninsula, situated between Bar and Sutomore, there are the remnants of Our Lady of Ratac (Bogorodica Ratačka) monastery complex which belonged to the Benedictine order, and it is presumed to have been established in the 9th century. Near the small seaside town of Sutomore, there is the partially preserved fortress of Nehaj, used by both Venetians and Ottoman Turks. As a Venetian fortified town, Nehaj was first documented in the 16th century as the Fortezza dei Spizi. The Bar municipality also contains beautiful churches and monasteries erected during the time of the Balšić family (14th -15th century) on the islands of Lake Skadar: Beška, Moračnik, Starčevo, etc.

Bar is one of the few towns which can boast several churches representing a rare religious and social phenomenon. Namely, these churches were used by both Christian confessions existing in the region – Orthodox and Catholic.

Of all the cultural and historical monuments in Bar, the 19th-century King Nikola’s palace is the one that attracts the most attention.It was built in 1885 on the seashore. The palace was a present from King Nikola to his daughter Princess Zorka and his son-in-law Prince Petar Karađorđević. It consisted of a large palace, a little palace, a chapel, guardhouses and a winter garden. In 1910 a spacious ballroom was built in the palace. As part of the palace, there is a park with many different species of Mediterranean vegetation, among them a cork tree. In front of the palace, there was a wooden pier, which served as a mooring for boats and yachts. During the period between 1866 and 1916 King Nikola owned ten yachts. One of them, named “Sibil” was bought from novelist Jules Verne, while the last yacht he bought, called “Rumija” was sunk in 1915 by the Austro-Hungarian navy in the area of today’s harbour. Here, one can also find a large flower garden, made of a stainless steel structure of interesting shape, which was given as a present by the Italian king, Emanuel, and which is nowadays used as the restaurant called “Knjaževa bašta” (“The Duke’s Garden”). Nowadays, the palace building complex is used as the Homeland Museum of the City of Bar, as well as for festivals (concerts, exhibitions and literary events).

The Old Olive of Mirovica is a trademark natural feature of Bar. It is believed to be more than 2000 years old and it is one of the oldest olive trees in the world. Because of its natural, morphological, environmental, aesthetic and historical significance, this exceptional natural monument was put under State protection in 1957. Numerous legends and traditions are associated with the Old Olive of Mirovica. One of them has it that at one time families that had a dispute would come here to make peace under this olive tree. Thus it earned its name - Mirovica (the root of the name is “mir”, meaning peace).

History

Bar (Antivari) in 1863.

Old town

Old town

Clock tower in old town

Stari Bar

Church in the old town

Mountain in Bar

The archeological excavations from older Neolithic confirm that there were people in Bar even in prehistory. The material remainders from Illyrian times can be found everywhere in Bar's municipality. It is assumed that Bar was mentioned as the reconstructed Roman castle Antipargal in the 6th century and the name Antibarium was quoted for the first time in the 10th century.

Although it is not known exactly when the town fell into the hands of the rulers of Doclea for the first time, because the Slavic influence predominated for a long time before the event, it probably took place already in the 9th century. Many rulers of Doclea seem to have stayed in Bar - for instance, Mihailo, the first king of Doclea whose royal title was confirmed in Bar, as well as Bodin, who set up the archdiocese of Bar. After the fall of Doclea the seat of the archdiocese was moved to Bar. In that period Doclea was leading fierce fights against its neighbours - the Byzantine Empire and Samuil's "The West Bulgarian State" - and the most famous ruler of Doclea, prince Vladimir had its seat in Krajina, near Bar. In order to free Doclea from Byzantine pressure, the son of Vojislav, prince Mihailo, asked for and got the royal crown from Rome in 1077 and that date for historians marks the official beginning of the separation of Doclea from the Byzantine power. Later on, following an appeal from Mihailo’s son Bodin, in 1089, the Pope enthroned Bar’s archdiocese.

The Byzantine Empire ruled again in Bar from 1166 till 1183 when Stefan Nemanja made a breakthrough which demolished towns on the Adriatic coast, including “the famous town Bar”, and joined Zeta to his state – Raška.

From 1443 to 1571 this region was under the rule of Venice, and Bar (called Antivari in the venetian language, spoken there until the eighteenth century) was part of the Albania Veneta. During the Middle Ages, Bar was the centre of the South Adriatic coast, a city–state which had a coat of arms, flag, statute and minted its own coins. The Ottomans captured Bar in 1571 and it remained in their hands until 1878. During this period it still had an archbishop. One of the more famous men to hold this office was Andrija Zmajević.

The Italian scientist and one of the pioneers in wireless telegraphy, Guglielmo Marconi, made a radio connection between Bar and Bari on August 30, 1904, and in 1908 the first railroad in this part of the Balkans was put into operation in 1913.

On July 13, 1941, in Bar’s municipality the uprising against the occupying power began and the first shots were fired in districts of Bar and Cetinje.

Flora and Fauna

The municipality of Bar has diverse flora and fauna. The type of vegetation that dominates the coastal part of Bar is maquis. Up north, towards the mountain massifs of Sutorman, Lisinje and Rumija, there is a mixture of oak and beech forests. The maquis of Bar’s coastal area hosts the following: oak, holm oak, laurel, myrtle, Spanish broom, oleander, hawthorn, sloe, thorn, butcher’s broom, asparagus, etc. Citrus fruits (tangerine, orange, lemon), pomegranate, olive, grapevine and fig are characteristic plant species in Bar. An attraction for the tourists is the old olive tree at Mirovica and Ginkgo Biloba in the park of King Nikola’s palace. In the territory of the municipality of Bar there are various kinds of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and attractive invertebrates. The most significant part of Bar, in terms of rich ornithofauna, is the Skadar Lake basin. Skadar Lake is inhabited by approximately 270 bird species, among which especially important is the pelican, as an unusual and rare bird. Ostros, Rumija, Lisinj, Sutorman and Sozina are attractive sites rich with plenty of game (rabbit, badger, fox, wolf and boar).

Sea flora and fauna make up one of Bar’s great resources. On the coast, there are various kinds of shells, snails, echinodermata, cephalopoda and crayfish, which have a high quality, healthy meat.

Skadar Lake

The biggest lake in the Balkans. It is located in the south-east of Montenegro in a basin divided from the sea by Mount Rumija. The lake is 50 km (31 mi) long and 14 km (9 mi) wide, but its size varies. In the spring and autumn, when the water level rises, it is approximately 500 km2, while in the summer, with a low water level, the size decreases to approximately 350 km2. On the lake is the border with Albania. Some 63.2% of the lake falls inside Montenegrin territory. The shore is jagged, with numerous coves and colourful fishing settlements. The lake has a number of islands popularly called “mounts”. Not far from Virpazar, towards Krajina, there are a number of coves with sandy beaches, of which the best known is Murići Beach, 560 m long. The lake represents a unique ecosystem with a high percentage of swamp zones. In the summer, the lake looks like a huge green meadow with numerous blossoming water lilies and other types of sedge vegetation. The lake is inhabited by over 40 subspecies of fish (carp, bleak, eel...) and it is well known for the variety of birds that live in the surroundings (270 subspecies). Some of them are rare (pelican, eagle, heron, grebe and woodcock). The lake is a well-known hunting resort. Above the lake, there is an observation point that gives a wonderful view of the lake panorama, along with sandy beaches, chestnut forests and dispersed islands. There are boat tours and cruises organised on Skadar Lake. Rich flora and fauna, cultural and historical monuments, picturesque settlements as well as the opportunity to taste local specialties such as carp, bleak, grappa (“loza”), Crmnica’s famous wine, altogether represent a special experience. A particularity is also “kasoronja”, a plant with edible seeds, characteristic only of this lake.

Population

Bar is the administrative centre of Bar Municipality, which includes the town of Sutomore and many more small towns along the coast. The 2011 census put the population of Bar Municipality at 42,048. The city of Bar itself had 17,727 inhabitants:^[2]

Population of Bar (city):

• 1981 - 6,742
• 1991 - 10,971
• 2003 - 13,719
• 2011 - 17,727

Ethnicity in 2011

Ethnicity	Number	Percentage
Montenegrins	19,553	46.5%
Serbs	10,656	25.34%
Albanians	2,515	5.98%
Muslims	3,236	7.7%
Bosniaks	2,153	5.12%
Croats	254	0.59%
Roma	203	0.48%
Other	318	0.76%
not declared	2,097	4.99%	Total	42,048	100%

Religion

Bar is not only a multiethnic town.It is also a home for three major religions of the world,and they have been living in peace for centuries without any incidents.Orthodox Christianity has a majority in Bar. It has a history dating back to the 11 century,and Bar is the place of birth of Saint Jovan Vladimir who is a very famous and important saint in Montenegro.Also,there a lot of churches and monasteris in the municipality and the most famous are those on Skadar Lake,which is sometimes called the Holly Land of Montenegro. Roman Catholicism had an important rule in the history of Bar.Bar is the home of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar,which is the archdioese of most of Montenegro and Serbia.It dates back from 1089. With Ottoman Turks, came Islam. There are a lot of mosques in the municipality but most of them are close to the Old Bar,and in the eastern part of the municipality of Bar.Now,in Bar,an Orthodox temple,a Catholic cathedral and an Islamic center are being built in the same time. Religious determination of Bar according to the 2011 census.

Religion	Number	Percentage
Eastern Orthodox	24,452	58,15%
Islam	8,315	19,78%
Muslims	4,356	10,36%
Roman Catholicism	3,043	7,24%
Agnostic	34	0,08%
Atheist	415	0,99%
Other	162	0,39%
Did not declare	1,129	2,69%

Churches,monasteries,mosques

Church of Saint Jovan Vladimir, under construction

Orthordox Church, Bar

“The Bar Trichonch Church“:The establishment of this church is related to the period of Justinian’s reign (6th century). The height of the preserved church walls amounts to one metre. While carrying out research on the church, fragments of decorative stone plastics and a necropolis were found.

“St Tekla Church“{Orthodox,,with a Catholic altar}:It was constructed of broken stone in the 13th century. At first it was an Orthodox church, while later, after becoming a Uniate church, it was also provided with another, Catholic, altar. This church has two altars even today. It is visited by people of both confessions and people of both confessions are buried in its cemetery.

“St Roko Church“{Orthodox}:The remains of St. Roko’s Church are located near Sutomore. The church dates from the 14th century. Although the church only used to have one altar, it served both the Orthodox and Catholic populations. Today, it is in ruins.

“St Atanasije Church“{Orthodox}:This dates from the end of 14th century. Around the church, there are several tombs covered with stone slabs.

“St Petka Church“{Orthodox}:This church was built in the Middle Ages and is constructed of roughly hewn stone.

“St Nikola Church“{Catholic}The Archbishopric of the City of Bar is situated in this church. The archbishopric was founded in 1089, which was confirmed by Pope Clement III by sending the Palij (mantle) to the Archbishop of Duklja. Thus, three bishoprics were subjugated to his power (comprising Bar, Kotor, Ulcinj, Svač, Skadar, Drivostu, Pilot), as well as the countries of Serbia, Bosnia and Travunija. The Archbishop was given the title of Primas Serbiae.

“Ribnjak Monastery“:Ribnjak Monastery is located in the village of Zupci. Ruins of the church, which was, according to legend, founded by Jelena Anžujska (d‘Anjou) Nemanjić were found at the location of the current Ribnjak Monastery. The monastery consists of the church dedicated to the St. Vasilije Ostroški, a baptistry and accommodation building. The upper church, located above Ribnjak Monastery, on the hill called Gradac is dedicated to the Holy Cross. It was constructed after battles for liberation from 1877 to 1878. It is said that King Nikola used to come here in order to follow “operations for the liberation of Bar”. The church, which is located on the hill, was built by two sirdars and a senator of the Principality of Montenegro, at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, as a legacy of the liberation wars. The long tradition of going to Ribnjak on St. Vasilije Ostroški’s Day on May 12, is very interesting for many tourists.

“Monastery of the Mother of God of Ratac“:Ruins of the Benedictine monastery of the Mother of God of Ratac” date from the 11th century. It is located on the coast at the end of the Cape of Ratac, between Bar and Sutomore. It consisted of three churches and several buildings protected by defence walls and towers. From 1443, it was under Venetian authority. It was destroyed and burnt down by Turks in 1571.

“Starcevo Monastery“:.is located on the island of Starčevo on Skadar Lake. It dates from the period of Đurđe Balšić. It was founded in 1377 by Father Makarije, who lived as an ascetic on the island, so it was called Starčevo (The Old Man’s Monastery) after him. The monastery complex consists of the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God, an accommodation building, supporting structures and a surrounding wall with a gate and several underpinned terraces. The monastery was a centre of literacy, where many manuscripts were rewritten and many books were bound and decorated. The crypt of the printer Božidar Vuković from Podgorica is located in this monastery. After the reconstruction of a part of the accommodation building and after making it fit for dwelling, Starčevo has become an inhabited and active monastery.

“Moracnik Monastery“:is located on the island of Moračnik on Skadar Lake. It was first mentioned in 1417, in the Charter of Balša III. The monastery complex consists of a church dedicated to the Holy Mother of God, an accommodation building, dining room and high tower with four floors, surrounded by a stone wall with a monumental gate.

“Beska Monastery“:It is located in the middle of the island of Beška on Skadar Lake. The monastery consists of two churches: a larger one, dedicated to St. Đorđe (14th century), the endowment of Đurđe II Stracimirović-Balšić and a smaller one dedicated to the Holy Mother of God (1440), the endowment of Jelena Balšić.Beška Monastery, as well as Starčevo Monastery, was famous for its intensive transcription activities. The Gorička Anthology was written in this monastery. It is a religious, edifying transcript composed by Nikon Jerusalimac.

“Monastery of The Virgin of Krajina“:is one of the most significant monuments in Montenegro. Ruins of the monastery with the church dedicated to the Assumption of the Mother of God, are located near Ostros, on the shores of Skadar Lake. The church was first mentioned at the end of the 10th century, in “The Chronicle of Priest Dukljan”. The monastery was founded by Duke Vladimir, well known from the legend about his tragic love with the beautiful Kosara, daughter of the Macedonian Tsar Samuilo. For a while, the monastery was the residence of the archbishop of Zeta. At the end of the 16th century, it was completely destroyed. In its vicinity, in the place called Ostros, there is a well from the year 1001, which is still used for supplying water to the inhabitants of local villages.

“Gornji Brceli Monastery“:The monastery is located in the village of Brčeli, which is named after the monastery. It was founded at the beginning of the 18th century by Bishop Danilo, as his winter residence. Within the monastery there is the church dedicated to the Shroud of the Mother of God with an iconostasis, the handiwork of Petar Čolanović that dates from 1928. The monastery building and church are encompassed by a high stone wall with a main gate on the southern side. A one-sided belfry with a spinning-wheel mechanism was built on the wall beside the gate, on its eastern side. The old accommodation building was constructed as a typical house in Crmnica, with distinctive arched doorways and terraces. In 1863, a school was established within the monastery, which was later moved to the adjacent monastery of Donji Brčeli.

“Donji Brceli Monastery“:It is located in the village called Donji Brčeli, with a church dedicated to St. Nikola. The monastery was constructed in the 15th century. An arched room was constructed under the floor of the chapel and you can enter it through the hole made in the floor of the altar area. It is believed that this room was used as a dungeon during the reign of Šćepan Mali,. Later, Šćepan Mali was murdered and buried in this church. Within the monastery was a school, which had previously been in the Gornji Brčeli Monastery.

“Mosque Omerbasica:“Is located in the Old Town of Bar. It was constructed in 1662. Its structure is rather simple, with rectangular base, and minaret built next to the south-west wall. At the beginning of the 17th century, Derviš Hasan’s domed burial site was built beside the mosque, at the entrance to the complex. The smaller ground floor building was built next to it and was used as a residential building. A public fountain was constructed near the entrance and later, a mosque house for a Muslim priest or imam was built as well. The whole area is surrounded by a stone wall. Of the significant cultural and historical monuments in this area, the following are especially valuable: the Holy Mother`s Church (village of Gluhi Do), the Church of St. Jovan and St. Archangel (village of Donja Seoca on the shore of Skadar Lake), the Church of St. Jovan and St. Mihailo (a two-nave church at the community cemetery in the village of Sotonići), the Church of St. Nikola and St. Jovan (a two-nave church next to the road Virpazar-Bar at the village of Boljevići), the Orahovo Monastery (at the village of Orahovo), Grmožur Fortress (an island in Godinje bay at Skadar Lake), the Church of St. Marija (swell Gretva, 300m from Old Bar), the Church of St. Marko (3 km (2 mi) north of Old Bar).

“Podgradska Mosque“:built in the 1714th / 1135.H. Built by several prominent citizens, among which was the dervish-Hasan said. In the famous explosion of Barutana 1881., it was demolished and the mosque was rebuilt in the 20th century. Minaret was built in 1971st, and it was rebuilt in 1991, contributions of local people.The imams were: Kadija Hussein Sabic, Kadija Hussein Spica, hfz. Karađuzović Hussein, Ibrahim Petović, Mujdin Milaimi. Now the imam is Adem Mustafić.

Economy

Over 2000 years old olive in Bar

Economic symbols of Bar are the Port of Bar, Belgrade - Bar railway and the Sozina tunnel.

The Port of Bar is the most recognizable feature of the city. With 3,100 m (10,170.60 ft) of seacoast, land area of 800 ha and aquatorium of 200ha, the port is capable of reloading 5 million tons of different goods annually. The port made Bar an entry point for large amount of goods imported into Montenegro, and thus many merchant companies and small-scale traders are based in Bar.

In 1976, the Belgrade - Bar railway was opened, and thus made Adriatic sea easily accessible for tourists, and also provided new markets for the Port of Bar. The railway, along with the Port, made Bar more economically active throughout the year, in contrast to other Montenegrin coastal towns, which mostly rely on tourism during the summer season.

The food industry “Primorka” has been operating in Bar for more than 50 years and it produces olive oil and well known pomegranate juice. There are 95,000 olive trees, about 80,000 citrus trees (lemon, orange, tangerine and grapefruit) in the municipal area .

The centre for subtropical cultures, founded in 1937, is the oldest scientific institution in Montenegro. It conducts research in the field of subtropical cultures and environmental protection.

The future of Bar is considered to be in the development of small and medium sized companies, in the creation of new industrial zones and in pursuing activities for creating the Custom Free Zone.

Tourism

Besides being Montenegro's main seaport, Bar and its surroundings are also a major tourist destination. Today's Bar is a modern city, built almost entirely after World War II, with modern buildings, wide boulevards and lots of parking space.

Although there are some nice cobble beaches in Bar itself, many tourists choose destinations in other small towns in Bar municipality, notably Sutomore, with its beautiful long sandy beach.

The entire area around Bar is mostly untoutched nature, and is rich in vegetation. The Bar municipality also stretches to the southern shore of Skadar lake and encompases Krajina region. This entire area is suitable for leisure activities and hiking. Smaller settlements near Bar, such as Dobra Voda, Sutomore and Čanj, are favourite destination for sunbathing, as they incorporate long sandy beaches.

Bar has a wind blowing for the south about 88 days a year, mostly during the winter. The southern wind is very soft and warm, but raises the waves in the sea. The weather temperature is as in July – about 28 °C (82 °F). There are approximately 2160 sunny hours a year. In winter the temperature drops down to 10 °C (50 °F) the lowest.

Beaches

Bar has over 44 km of sea coast, including more than 20 beaches stretching over 9 km. As soon as you enter the area of the Bar municipality from the direction of Petrovac, you reach Čanj, which has a 1,100 metre-long colourful sandy beach. You can take a boat ride from Čanj to the Queen’s Beach (Kraljičina plaža), which can only be reached by sea. It is a true jewel of the Bar Riviera enclosed by a natural wall of sedimentary rocks. Going from Čanj in the direction of Sutomore, you come across the 300 metre-long Maljevik Beach, offering a natural refuge from the hot summer sun in its thick and fragrant pine forest.

For those in search of exciting beaches offering restaurants and bars, Sutomore is the beach of choice. This sandy beach is 1,200 metres long and hosts beach soccer and beach volleyball tournaments throughout the summer.

Near the famous medieval monastery complex of Ratac there is the Red Beach (Crvena plaža), named after the colour of its fine sand. The beach is surrounded by a pine forest and located about a hundred metres from the main road to Bar.

Just before you enter Bar town centre there is the 1,200 metre-long Žukotrlica Beach. It is a gravel beach, surrounded by a pine forest and varied Mediterranean vegetation.

The Town Beach (Gradska plaža) is located in front of the castle of King Nikola and extends over 750 metres. It is made to cater for different tastes – one part of it is covered in fine sand and the other is pebbly. Many tourist facilities, the “Princess” Hotel, sports pitches and King Nikola’s castle with a park hundreds of years old offer entertainment to visitors and complete their enjoyment of the charms of this beach.

Some ten kilometres from Bar in the direction of Ulcinj, there is one of the most visited beaches of Bar – Big Sands (Veliki pijesak). It is 380 metres long and located around 250 metres from the main road. It is surrounded by numerous tourist facilities, restaurants and discothèques.

On the border of the Bar and Ulcinj municipalities, in the village of Bušat, is the location of the Olive Wave (Val maslina) Beach, named after the nearby olive groves. It is a 200 metre-long pebbly beach adhering to the highest ecological and technical standards and it is marked by a blue flag, a symbol of a top-quality beach.

Bar has got not only beaches on the sea,it also has some very beautiful beaches on the Skadar Lake.Like the beach in Murici,which is the most beautiful and biggest on the lake.It is a sandy beach.The other famous one is Pjesacac,which is also a sandy beach and a very nice place for relaxing and enjoying in the sun.

Sport

Bar is a city with a large young population and has an abundance of talent in a variety of sports. Over fifty sports clubs and associations operate in Bar. There are numerous high quality sports facilities in the hotels and schools. In the centre of town, most of these facilities can be found in the Sports and Recreation Centre. There is a particularly high number of water sports clubs. In addition to the those who specialise purely in sporting activities, many of the local diving clubs are involved with scientific and coastal sea research. The longstanding chess club has even become well known abroad. Many world class chess celebrities have enjoyed visiting Bar and particularly the hospitality of the local chess club. Sports tourism, both connected to the sea and to the lake, is very attractive for numerous teams, both from the within the country and from abroad.Bar hosted the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship and the 2010 Mens u18 European Handball Championship.

Divisions and settlements

Municipality of Bar is divided up into 12 communes (mjesna zajednica) and 83 settlements:

Commune	Settlements
Bar I	urban part of the town
Bar II	Polje, Burtaisi, Čeluga, part of Rene;
Bar III	part of Bjeliša, Sokolana, Stara ambulanta, zgrade Prvoborca;
Bar IV	Popovići, part of Bjeliša, Ahmetov Brijeg, Vuletića Brijeg, part of Rene and Trsanj
Bar V	Sustaš, Zupci, Marovići, Tuđemili
Šušanj	Zukotrlica, Novi Pristan, Zeleni Pojas, Ilino, Šušanj, Carevići, Vitići and Paladini
Sutomore	Brca, Zelen, Obala Željezničke Kolonije, Mirosica I, Turke, Pobrđe, Gorelac, Miljevci, Sozina, Zankovići, Suvi Potok, Mirosica II, Zgrade, Bjelila, Papani, Haj-Nehaj, Zagrađe, Mišići, Đurmani and Čanj
Stari Bar	Stari Bar, Baukovo, Belveder, Velembusi, Gretva (with wonderful catholic cathedral), Brbot, Turčini, Menke, Mikulići, Podgrad, Bartula, Rap, Gornja Poda and Donja Poda, Tomba, Gornje Zaljevo and Donje Zaljevo
Mrko(je)vići	Pečurice, Dobra Voda, Grdovići, Pelinkovići, Dabezići, Velje Selo, Kunje, Velja Gorana and Mala Gorana
Krajina	Arbneš, Veliki Ostros, Mali Ostros, Martići, Kostanjica, Bobovište, Ckla, Tejani
Šestan	Livari, Gornja i Donja Briska, Gornji Murići, Donji Murići, Besa, Pinčići, Bapsulj, Šestan
Crmnica	Virpazar, Orahovo, Bračeni, Mikovići, Zabes, Boljevići, Sotonići, Bukovik, Mačuge, Dupilo, Popratnica, Komarno, Trnovo, Gornji Brčeli, Donji Brčeli, Brijege, Ovtočići, Tomići, Utrg, Godinje, Seoča, Krnjice, Limljani, Gluhi Do

Transport

Old locomotive on train station

Bar has a ferry line with Italian city of Bari which is operated by Montenegro Lines [1].Seasonally,ferries go to Ancona,Italy.There is a modern passenger terminal with a duty free shop,caffies,restaurants...

Bar is well connected with inland Montenegro, as well as with the rest of the Montenegrin coast. The Sozina tunnel, completed in 2006, shortened the road connection with Podgorica to around 50 km (31 mi). Bar will also benefit significantly from the future Beograd - Bar motorway.

Bar is connected to the rest of the coastal towns of Montenegro by the Adriatic motorway, which extends from Ulcinj to Herceg Novi, and on to Croatia.

Bar is also the final station of the Belgrade - Bar railway, which connects Bar with Podgorica, northern Montenegro and Serbia.

Podgorica Airport is some 40 km (25 mi) away, and has regular flights to Belgrade, Budapest, Zurich, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome and Vienna.

Events

“Summer with stars“:In July and August, the Tourist organization Bar organizes the music concerts with singers from Montenegro and former YU republics. The concerts take place at the walk of King Nicola in Bar. “Мotorcycle race in Sutomore“:It takes place in the first half of May and September and it gathers the motorists from Montenegro and from all parts of former Yugoslavia.

“International athletic meeting“:The traditional sport manifestation which takes place on May Day on sport fields of Majarica in Bar.

“Sports Games of Crmnica“:This manifestation includes competitions in several sport events. It is organised in Virpazar every weekend from mid-July until mid-August.

“Gatherings of farmers, vine growers, fruit growers and bee keepers“:This is an event that promotes the agricultural products of the Skadar Lake region, organised along with the appropriate cultural and entertainment program. It is organised in Virpazar at the beginning of September.

“Days of Zagradje“:This is an e ntertainment spectacle that is organised in the settlement of Zagrađe during July and August and which rounds up the tourist offerings of Sutomore.

“The Day of Ecology, Tourism and Culture“:It is organised in Murići in July and represents an authentic presentation of the tourism of Skadar Lake

“Days of the Mrkojevic Family“:This is an event that is organised in Pečurice, during the last week of July. Along with enjoying various cultural and entertainment programmes, numerous guests can familiarise themselves with the rich culture and tradition of this region.

“Bar Guitar Fest“:This winter guitar school, with the aim of gathering the most successful guitar players and professors from the country and abroad is organised in Bar every January.

“The Olive Festivity“:It is organised in the Old Town of Bar. This is a presentation of famous products from this region: olive, olive oil and citrus fruits, combined with an exhibition of traditional costumes and cultural and an entertainment programme.

“Festival of Wine and Bleak“:It is held in Virpazar every December. It includes various entertainment events, organised in honour of Skadar Lake, its fish and the famous wine of Crmnica.

“The Old Olive Tree Gathering“:This traditional event has been held since 1987 in the month of November, and it is dedicated to children’s works and works for children. Children are represented by literary and art works with the theme of “Olive, Peace and Friendship’’

“Port Cup“:This international volleyball tournament for women has been held in Bar, every August since 1992.

“Swimming Marathon“:It has been held since 1988, in August, as a traditional swimming championship, which includes the 5 km-long distance between Sutomore (Hotel “Sozina”) and Bar (Hotel “Topolica”).

“The Chronucle of Bar“:It has been held in Bar since 1988, during July and August, and represents a multimedia festival with miscellaneous cultural contents: theatre plays, art exhibitions, literary events, concerts. “The Mediterranean Book Fair” became a part of “The Chronicle of Bar” in 2003, as the best illustration and presentation of a region where the first literary Slavic monument “The Genealogy of Bar” was written.

“International TV Festival“:It has been held since 1995, in the month of November and represents a presentation of television achievements and works of authors from all over the world.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Montenegro

Twin towns — sister cities

Bar is twinned with:

• Bor, Serbia
• Kragujevac, Serbia
• Požarevac, Serbia

See also

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bar

External links

• Official site of Bar municipality (in Montenegrin)
• News site for Bar
• Tourist Organization of Bar
• Old Bar Fortress-City
• Bar Attractions
• Procession in Bar on the Feast of Saint Jovan Vladimir, led by the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral (2011).

References

1. ^ "Procession through the streets of Bar in glory and honour of St. Jovan Vladimir". The Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church. 7 June 2010. http://www.spc.rs/eng/procession_through_streets_bar_glory_and_honour_st_jovan_vladimir. Retrieved 2011-08-13. 
2. ^ "2011 Montenegrin Census" (in English and Montenegrin). Monsta. http://www.monstat.org/userfiles/file/popis2011/saopstenje/saopstenje(1).pdf. Retrieved 12 July 2011.