About Montenegro
“At the birth of our planet, the most beautiful encounter between the land and the sea must have happened at the coast of Montenegro. When the pearls of nature were sown, handfuls of them were cast on this soil.”
So mused the poet Lord Byron in the 1800’s. For centuries Montenegro has enchanted and charmed those fortunate enough to visit its shores. It has some of the most beautiful and dramatic coastlines in the world, with picturesque bays and sandy beaches set against a backdrop of soaring mountains. The spectacular Kotor Bay, for example, is officially ranked among the ten most beautiful bays in the world. Tourists flock to this part of the country during the summer season to wonder at its natural beauty and to visit the historic old town of Kotor at the top of the bay.
Montenegro is famous for its historic Venetian walled cities and towns such as Kotor, and Budva further down the coast. Kotor is a UNESCO heritage site and within its walled boundaries are some of the oldest churches in the Mediterranean including St Tryphon’s Cathederal built in 1166. Towering over the town is the Castle of St John from which imposing fortifications stretch down the mountainside to the town below.
Montenegro has a population of 620,000 according to the 2011 census, and for such a small country it offers a range of attractions for resident and visitor alike. Whether you enjoy sailing the azure blue waters of the Adriatic, white-water rafting on its rivers, visiting the numerous historical and cultural sites or simply enjoying the sunshine, you will never fail to be inspired by the beauty of stunning scenery, in particular mountains that appear to reach to the sky or plunge to the sea along the coastal strip.
With 240 days of sunshine per annum, the climate is a very attractive one. The coastal area enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and summer temperatures ranging from the min-20’s to mid-30’s. The mountainous north has much cooler weather and snow in winter.
Crna Gora is the name of the country in the official Montenegrin language, and this translates literally as “Black Mountain”, a fitting name for a country with such spectacular mountains. English is widely understood, especially in the business community and the younger age groups. The Montenegrin people are friendly and welcoming to foreigners, and crime rates are very low.
