MONTENEGRO - the pearl of Adriatic sea

I would recommend to visit this tiny country to everybody . For a couple of reasons , but firstly because on the small area of this recently established country you can find variety of attractions . All the places which are worth seeing are located closely to each other . There is very good network of roads and well developed tourist infrastructure , mainly on the coast . The  coastal towns like Bar and Budva are really well prepared for visitors . Bar which is main sea port of the country , is build in very modern way , with broad boulevards and modern shopping malls . Bar has got many beaches as well .

On the whole stretch of Montenegrin coast ( of 250 km ) there are many places of historic interest , old monasteries and beautiful medieval towns - the heritage of Venetian rule in this part of Adriatic sea . Especially the Old Town of Kotor is amazingly situated between the Kotor Bay and mountains slopes and is declared as UNESCO Site .

And Boka Kotorska itself ( The Kotor Bay ) is worth spending even a couple of days experiencing wonders of this long Mediterranean fiord , surrounded by high mountains .The historic towns located on the shores of Boka Kotorska , Kotor , Perast and Herceg Novi are the must-see attractions .

But if you feel a bit tired of scorching weather during a long summer season, you can go into country's interior among high mountains , where the air is fresher , among mountain woods . Especially  " Durmitor National Park " is the place when you can choose different activities , from hiking , fishing ,  mountainbiking to rafting in the Canyon Tara , considered as the highest and longest canyon in Europe . The town of Zabljak , the highest situated town in Balkans ( 1450 m ) , is the perfect base for staying in Durmitor region .
http://www.montenegro.com/accommodation/zabljak
http://www.durmitor-autocamp.com/

Another " wonder of nature " - the Lake Skadar - is shared with Albania and protected as " Skadarsko Jezero National Park ".
And the place of national pride - mausoleum of King Nicholas on the top of Mount Lovcen - it is possible to get there on the car - the views from there are fantastic and get to know some history of Montenegro . Down in the large valley  lies historic town of Cetinje , Royal Capital , the place where the country's independence was formed .

I should mention as well about  Bar- Belgrad railway ,which leads through very picturesque mountain terrain. Especially the Montenegrin part of railway is believed to be the most interesting , thanks to many bridges and tunnels on the route .

So maybe a couple of pictures  will encourage some of you to visit Montenegro .

Budva

                                                                 Budva - citadel
                               

                                                        Lovcen Mountains

                                           Boka Kotorska seen from Lovcen Mountains                                     
                                                                            

                                                                 Waterfront in Kotor
          

                                                                         Kotor

                                                   Stari  Bar - the Old Town                      

Budva Old Town

Perast , Boka Kotorska

Streets of Kotor

                               Boka Kotorska                                         

                                                        Durmitor National Park
                                              

                                                        Sv. Stefan -  the Island of St . Stephen

                                                                    Herceg Novi

                                                            Durmitor  Mountains

                                                               Tara River Canyon

                                                 View toward Skadar Lake

                                       Bar aquaduct , 16 th century                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                      Tara River

Also more photos from Montenegro here ;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50392306@N04/sets/72157628359714915/

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/50392306@N04/sets/72157628181407469/