Small in size, but culturally rich and vast

Montenegro, for such a small country, has an incredible number of National Parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are 5 National Parks and 4 UNESCO sites in Montenegro, with 6 more sites on the tentative list (for consideration).

Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor

This marvelous region was the first to be added as a UNESCO site back in 1979. Kotor has a very long history which dates back to 168 BC when it was a Roman settlement, and part of the Roman province. Byzantine took over at the start of the 2nd millennium and also left its roots. Roman and Byzantine influences can be felt today, but the majority of preserved rustic splendour belonged to medieval Venice.

The Old Town of Kotor is the main attraction of Kotor and the most well-preserved medieval fortress in Montenegro. It is the reason this is the most visited tourist location in all of Montenegro. Its main attraction is the mesmerising Cathedral of St. Tryphon, built in 1166 (older than Notre Dame). The fortifications are unique and climb the nearby steep mountain. These Upper City Walls are a challenging climb, but they reward climbers with the most spectacular view of Boka Bay.

The heritage also includes nearby rustic fishing villages, Perast and Risan, as well as the two islets – The Island of St. George and The Lady of the Rocks. These provide a truly authentic experience.

Mount Durmitor

Durmitor is the only natural heritage site in Montenegro. Its spectacular panorama features rivers, glacial lakes, rugged peaks and underground streams. Furthermore, it boasts some of the deepest gorges in Europe, while the canyon of River Tara is the deepest canyon in Europe, and the 2nd deepest in the world. The high plateau of Durmitor is called “Jezerska površ“ (Plateaus of Lakes) because of its 18 lakes scattered over the mountain massif. Their captivating beauty is immortalised in their nickname “Mountain Eyes“. The prettiest of the eyes are those of the Black Lake. Black Lake is a phenomenal destination for hiking and recreation, with an abundance of fresh air.

Stećci Medieval Tombstones and Graveyards

Stećci are monolithic stone monuments from medieval times, most commonly found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. They became World Heritage sites in 2016 and are important cultural remnants of Medieval Balkans. Stećki are carved from limestone and are decorated with a range of unique motifs and inscriptions. There are three locations with stećci in Montenegro, two at Žabljak and one at Plužine.

Venetian Works of Defence – between the 16^th and 17^th centuries

Pronounced as Heritage Sites in 2017, these works include fortifications in Italy, Croatia and Montenegro. There are 6 fortifications in total, and one of them is the Fortified City of Kotor. Interestingly, the Fortified City of Kotor is the oldest one; well preserved and still a sight to behold. These defensive bastions show the evolution of military solutions deployed by the Venetians, as well as their innovative architectural techniques. All the areas protected by these fortifications were essential to the Venetian commercial network.