Bar

Overview

The Old Town is a historical part, an open—air museum of archaeology. The new Bar is located along the coast and is a modern resort town with a well-developed infrastructure.

The history of the city of Bar

Bar is an ancient city. Historically, it has not been established when it originated, but the fact that life on this site existed in prehistoric times is confirmed by archaeological finds of considerable scale. The origin of its name is interpreted in different ways. Its Greek name is Antibareos, the Roman name is Antibarum, which is associated with the location of the area opposite the Bar of the same name across the Adriatic on the Appennine Peninsula. With the arrival of the Slavs on the Adriatic coast, the original name was shortened to Bar, as we know it today.

The first settlement of the ancient inhabitants was located in the manor field at the foot of Volyuitsa hill. Archaeological evidence of the remains of the Illyrian period, then the Greek and Roman penetration and the era of Byzantine domination are found everywhere. The city, probably in the VIII-VIII centuries AD, moved to a kind of mountain saddle under the Bual, where a monumental fortress was eventually created. Later, the Bar was in the hands of the Duklja rulers. Administratively and militarily, it subsequently belonged to Byzantium, and the complete liberation of Duklia from Byzantium occurred after the Battle of Bar in 1042, in which the Byzantine army was heavily defeated by Prince Vojislav. Prince Vojislav's son, Mikhail, was crowned, receiving royal insignia from the Pope. A little later, at the request of Mikhail Bodin's son, in 1089, the Pope enthroned Archbishop Bar.

Soon the Bar was again in the hands of Byzantium, after which the reign of Stefan Nemanich began. Since 1360, the Bar has assumed the power of Balsic, and Queen Elena and Balsha III place the capital there. Next, the Venetians rule the Bar, and this is also the period when the city experienced the greatest boom. In order to please and win over the Bar people, the Venetians give them privileges, thanks to which the Bar becomes a kind of city-state. The Barts had their own commune charter, defended the city themselves, had judicial power, minted their own money, and in case of war they were not obliged to join the army. After the Venetians, the Balshichi rule the Bar again, and besides them Stefan Lazarevic and Juraj Brankovic. This was followed by almost a century of domination by Venice until the Turks captured the city and ruled it until 1878. When the Montenegrins retook the fortress of Bar, it was thoroughly destroyed. The village was named New Bar.

The pier in Bar was the first Montenegrin port, then the starting station of the first Balkan railway, and the first radio telegraph station in this part of Europe was built over the city. A power plant operated on the pier, the second in Montenegro, the first sports club was created, the Nakon hotel and mini-airport were opened after the short reign of Austria-Hungary, the Bar became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1918.

After the catastrophic earthquake of 1979, the Bar was severely damaged. After the restoration, it began to grow along the coast and greatly exceeded the original size of the manor settlements in ancient times.

Cultural and archaeological heritage

The rich cultural and historical heritage of the Bar and its surroundings belongs to different eras and civilizations, which is reflected in the abundance of archaeological and cultural monuments. There are 32 registered and classified cultural monuments on the territory of the Bar community.

These include:

Geography

The area of the municipality of Bar is located in the south-east of Montenegro, between the Adriatic Sea and Lake Skadar, bordering the municipalities of Podgorica, Budva, Cetinje and Ulcinj.

There are three main geographical zones on its territory. The first is the Mediterranean (a strip by the sea, along the low mountain slopes of the Barsky, Mrkovsky and Gorsky fields, part of Krmnitsa), the second is the mountainous zone (the natural border between the Adriatic Sea and Lake Skadar), and the third is the shore of Lake Skadar. In the land part, the Bar community covers an area of 505 km2, and the water area of Lake Skadar is 128 km2. The length of the sea coast is 46 km, of which 9 km are beaches.

Weather in the city of Bar

The characteristic landscape of this area divides it into the Adriatic, Lake and mountain belts. This has influenced the formation of three types of climate. The Adriatic has a mild Mediterranean climate, while the mountain ranges and higher mountains have features of a mountainous Mediterranean climate. The belt of Lake Skadar has features of an Adriatic climate with a strong continental influence, with significant temperature fluctuations. The city of Bar itself is influenced by the Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by long and dry summers and mild rainy winters.

The bar is one of the sunniest places in Southern Europe and has an average of 270 sunny days per year.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna of the Bar and the surrounding areas are extensive and diverse. In addition to the lush vegetation cover, the geographical location and soil composition allowed specific crops, especially subtropical ones, to grow and develop here. The narrow coastal strip is home to endemic species-specific plants of this territory, as well as exotic plant species – special species of mountain milkweed, palms, cacti, eucalyptus, agave and even strawberry trees - arbutus and banana.

The most numerous flora is represented in the mountains of Rumia, Sozina, Sutorman and Lisin.

The area of Skadar Lake is particularly interesting, with 264 species of birds registered in its fauna. Today, Lake Skadar is the most numerous pelican settlement in Europe. In the fish fauna, the most common species are catfish, salpa, sargan, arbun (sea bream), mackerel, barbunya.

Culture in the region

The Bar Cultural Center is represented by municipalities:

The Bar's business card

The bar is called the city of olives. A record number of olive trees are growing on its territories — more than one hundred thousand. The local legend says: until a man plants an olive tree, he has no right to marry.

The old olive tree on Miritsa is a natural monument, thanks to which the Bar is so recognizable. The same olive tree gave the name to the place - Myritsa. Those who fought in the territory have long made peace under the olives. Therefore, the village bears this name from the word "put up".

It is believed that the tree is more than 2,200 years old and its value is invaluable, as it proves the existence of ancient civilizations on this earth. The oldest tree in the country and in this part of Europe is an integral part of the Bar's identity. An old olive from the barberry variety, regularly bears fruit and gives very high quality oil. The world-famous olive oil "Barsko zlato" is made from the olives of the barsky variety.

What to see at the Bar

Beaches of the Bar

The Barska Riviera is a resort area located between the shores of the Adriatic Sea and Lake Skadar. This stretch of coast is represented by a variety of beaches, coves and lagoons, from which you can always choose something suitable for all tastes - from a wild holiday to a comfortable beach pastime.The most popular beaches among tourists are the Bar:

Leisure in the Bar

The bar is a place rich in cultural, artistic and entertainment programs. Cultural and entertainment activities in the Bar include:

Bar is a cultured modern city, where a lot of events are held in all seasons.

How to get to the Bar

The nearest airports to the Bar are Tivat and Podgorica. The bar is connected to the rest of the cities by the Adriatic Way highway (Jadranska magistrala). You can get to Podgorica through the Sozina Tunnel.

Regular train services are organized with Belgrade and Podgorica. The train station is located 500 m from the city center.

The Bar is connected by bus to all resorts in Montenegro, as well as Podgorica and Cetinje. The bus station is 2 km from the center.

Montenegro's largest port is located in Bar, equipped with a passenger terminal and a marina. There are regular ferry connections to Italy from the Bar.