The ruins of a 2000-year-old fortified town sit on a steep hill above Montenegro's coast. Stone walls, Ottoman baths, and medieval churches tell stories of past civilizations.
Stari Bar perches on Londša hill beneath Mount Rumija. Within its medieval fortress walls, you'll find the ruins of a 13th-century Franciscan monastery, an 18th-century Turkish bathhouse, and a stone clock tower. Outside the walls, local women sell fresh olives and cheese at the market stalls, while a 17th-century stone aqueduct stretches across the landscape.
Exploring the Fortress
The fortress of Stari Bar covers 4.5 hectares and contains 240 buildings. As you walk through the stone gates, you'll see Romanesque arches, Gothic windows, and Renaissance facades. The pathways lead past crumbling towers and through stone archways. Stop at the small museum by the entrance to learn about the site's 1,000-year history through artifacts and photographs.
Religious Buildings Within the Walls
The 13th-century Franciscan monastery's stone walls still stand, though its interior became a mosque in 1595. You can walk among the foundation stones of St George's Cathedral, which served as a mosque from the 17th century. The 18th-century Turkish bathhouse remains intact, with its domed roof and bathing chambers. St. Veneranda Church from the 15th century retains its bell tower and original frescoes.
The Ancient Aqueduct
The stone arches of the 17th-century aqueduct stretch from Mount Rumija to the town. This last remaining aqueduct in Montenegro once carried spring water to Stari Bar's residents. While earthquakes damaged parts of the structure, you can walk alongside its impressive stone arches and peer through the water channels.
Getting to Stari Bar
The old town lies 5 kilometers uphill from Bar's center. Buses run from Bar's train station every 30 minutes. Two parking lots near the fortress entrance accommodate both cars and buses. The walk from Bar takes about an hour along a marked path with views of the Adriatic Sea.
Local Markets and Food
Outside the fortress walls, market vendors sell locally-grown olives, citrus fruits, and homemade cheese. The restaurants around the fortress cook Montenegrin dishes using local ingredients and age-old recipes. During the November Maslinijada festival, you can taste fresh olive oil and watch folk music performances.
The Ancient Olive Tree
In nearby Mirovica village, an olive tree with a 10-meter trunk circumference has grown for over 2,000 years. A small information center explains the tree's significance and the region's olive-growing methods. You can walk around the massive trunk and see the gnarled branches that still produce olives each year.
