Passage of the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Cat's Farewell and the Church of St. Mary. things to do in Kotor

Earthquakes happen here regularly. last time Kotor was partially destroyed in the 1970s, but survived medieval center cities: there are at least six Romanesque churches dating from the 12th-13th centuries, many wonderful old mansions, from palaces to small private houses nestled in a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets and squares. Kotor and its surroundings belonged to the Venetian Republic for more than 400 years, and the influence of Venetian architecture is felt in the appearance of the city.

The city walls of Kotor, some sections of which date back to the 9th century, are one of the best examples of fortification art in Europe. The height of the walls reaches 20 m, the width in some places exceeds 10 m, the perimeter is 5 km, and, covering the city, the walls rise to the top of a steep cliff to the fortress of St. John, from where you can admire stunning views of the city and the bay.

Behind the mighty walls, the market, where they sell vegetables and fish, and the harbor are noisy. This medieval city it looks like a labyrinth, in which, however, it is impossible to get lost because of its small size - you just wander a little. The streets remain mostly unnamed, although unofficial names have stuck to some of them. For example, one of them is called "Let's pass" - the name speaks for itself. Irregularly shaped city squares are known by names reflecting their former purpose: Flour Square, Molochnaya Square, Wooden Square, and so on. Cats scurry everywhere, and Michun is their absolute monarch ("Big"). He can be seen walking back and forth at the Cathedral of St. Tryphon. Do not try to talk to him: like all sentries, he will ignore you.

Kotor has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. cultural heritage.

Entertainment and recreation

In Kotor and its environs, all conditions for extreme and active rest. This includes rock climbing and diving. hiking By highlands. Above the city, at an altitude of 550 meters, rises mountain range Vrmac, which is very convenient as a starting point for paragliders.

The Bay of Kotor is very popular with both professional divers and beginners.

Every summer Kotor hosts festivals and festivities, such as the Kotor International Summer Carnival. This is one of the most visited events in Montenegro.

The KotorART festival is less famous but also of interest. And especially for children, the Festival of Children's Theater is held.

In the Old Town of Kotor, there are many cafes, fish and meat restaurants, as well as shops. IN four star hotel cattaro work night club MAXIMUS and casino.

History of Kotor

The special character of Kotor is due to its history. The city has always been a place of intersection and mixture of styles, Western European and Byzantine. This was reflected even in the nature of the stone from which Kotor is composed, with its variety of textures and a palette of colors and veins. And Jovan Martinovich feels: “This stone is talking to you; touch it, run your hand through its story." With the same visceral reverence one sometimes refers to the boulders that rise on the hills of Wales, or to the crumbling bricks of the beautiful old houses of Amsterdam.

There are no number of legends about how Kotor appeared: for example, there is romantic story about the nymph Alkimi (Alcimede), the mother of Jason, who was looking for the golden fleece, who led the unknown founder of the city to the plain where there was abundance fresh water. It is remembered here every month, when a new moon rises high above the rocks, over a natural stone "bridge", like a hanging hammock. locals then they say: “Look, this is Alkimi admiring the beautiful Kotor from his golden boat.”

Be that as it may, in Byzantine times there already existed a settlement called "Dekaderon". In the Middle Ages, the Slavic rulers Zeta and Rashki, who had residences here, took over the city. At that time he enjoyed considerable autonomy, as from 1391 to 1420 Kotor (with adjacent lands) was an independent city-republic, with an elected prince, a senate and councils of citizens, and even minted its own coin. Since the Turkish threat never waned, Kotor came under the patronage of Venice. In general, new rulers and occupiers have appeared here 14 times (we also note the British occupation of 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars). However, according to the people of Kotor, their city was never taken by force of arms: "On November 21, 1944, the Germans simply left here." But the city suffered from three major earthquakes - in 1563, 1667 and 1979, and in 1572 there was an outbreak of plague.

Sights of Kotor

Kotor is triangular in shape and has three gates. The main ones, near the embankment, are built in the Renaissance style (XVI century); northern, with suspension bridge along the turbulent river Shkurda, were built in 1540, in commemoration of the victory over Khair ad-din Barbarossa, who, having a fleet of 200 ships and 60,000 people, unsuccessfully besieged Kotor.

Third, south gate, were ingeniously constructed from three parts; one of their elements is a drawbridge, under which at high tide, thanks to the Grudich stream, a brackish pond forms. These gates had great importance, because they opened a passage to the highlands of Montenegro and the hinterland of the country.

The old city, as before, is surrounded by walls. They are 4.5 km long and double longer than walls Dubrovnik; they rise picturesquely up to the crest of rocky hills rising behind the dark urban development and the harbour. The first fortifications were erected here back in Byzantine times, but under the Venetians they were significantly strengthened, and Kotor became one of the most fortified cities in the Adriatic.

To take a look at all the walls, exit the old city through the northern gate, leave the Shkurda River on the left and climb the hills to eastbound, from the church of St. Mary. From here you will climb, accompanied by butterflies, along a winding path with several flights of stairs carved into the rocks. (1350 steps may seem like a lot, but you will stop at every turn to take in the surroundings). Climbing to the highest point - 260 m - you will find yourself in the fortress of St. Ivan, where silence now reigns. Halfway to observation deck you will pass the chapel of Our Lady of the Savior (Gospe od Zdravlja) XVI century, which was built by the people of Kotor, who escaped the plague. Most likely, it will be locked, but through the door you can peer into its dark interior. When you rise to the fortress, beautiful views and impressions will be in abundance: in the west, far below, you will see rows of red roofs; there is the barely audible noise of the small port and the hum of its market. To the east, a gorge breaks steeply, in which centuries slumber; among the wild cyclamen, bees are lazily curling up, and from somewhere below, from under a rock, the contented squeaking of chickens invisible from here is heard.

Take at least an hour and a half for the entire walk and bring drinks with you.

Old Kotor

Immediately outside the main gate is Armory Square - the largest in the city; along its perimeter there are several cafes. On the left is the unfinished Renaissance princely palace, and next to it, in the far northern corner of the square, is one of the oldest theaters in Yugoslavia; it was built by the French in 1810 and is now part of the Cattaro Hotel. Opposite the gate stands a medieval pillory, and behind it is a clock tower built at the beginning of the 17th century; the clock was built into it in 1810. Diagonally from it, in the eastern part, stands the Vardar Hotel and the post office. A narrow street running south from the main gate passes between two mansions: on the left - "Bizanti" (XVII century), but on the contrary - "Bezucha" (XVIII century); beyond is a small square dominated by the Renaissance Pima Palace, with a long baroque balustrade.

This is where another one starts. narrow street, which leads to the square in front of the Cathedral of St. Tryphon is the most famous landmark of Kotor. It was consecrated in 1166, five and a half centuries before St. Peter's in London, three centuries before the discovery of America, and 254 years before the Venetians settled in Kotor. During excavations in 1987, it was proved that a church had previously stood in its place. Its round hall has now become part of the sacristy of the cathedral, and part of the building faces the streets between the cathedral and the bishop's house. (XIV century)- in the courtyard of this house, Captain Martinovich stole oranges as a child. This ancient church dates back to the 9th century, at the same time the guild of sailors of the Boka Kotorska Bay was founded. (Bokeska mornarica), a professional mutual aid association that still preserves its ancient traditions, its songs and its own version of the round dance. In the first week of February, during a ceremony in memory of the martyrdom of St. Tryphon, you can see all this with your own eyes when the guild members put on their formal costumes. Or you can buy a CD with their live, rhythmic music (Bokeljski mornari). The cheapest place to buy is at the kiosk at the main gate.

Cathedral of St. Tryphon

Although the Cathedral of St. Tryphon has been rebuilt several times over several centuries; it remains an outstanding monument of Romanesque architecture. After its western façade collapsed during the catastrophic earthquake of 1667, the bell towers, rebuilt from warm stone from Korcula, gave the building a baroque touch. They are connected by a wide arch with a balustrade passing over the entrance to the temple, with its characteristic rose window. To the right of the main entrance is the gravestone of Andrea Saracenis, who built the church that previously stood here, and his wife Maria (with inscriptions from the 9th century). But the main element of the majestic interior of the temple is the ciborium of its high altar - a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. The three-row octagonal structure, crowned with the figure of an angel, is supported by four columns made of red Kamenari marble. On each row are carved scenes from the life of St. Tryphon. Traces of frescoes have recently been discovered in the chancel and on the vaults of the nave. It has already been proven that they were painted in the 14th century, but it is not clear whether the artists who created them, in whose work Byzantine influence is noticeable, were Serbs or Greeks. Once upon a time, all the walls of the temple were covered with frescoes.

The relics of St. Tryphon were brought here from Constantinople in the 9th century. Now they are kept in a chapel-reliquary of the XIV century, with a frieze of white Carrara marble; this is an exceptionally fine work of the Venetian sculptor of the 18th century. Francesco Cabianchi - even the nails on the horseshoes are visible. (Another example of his work, a multicolored Baroque altar, can be seen in the Franciscan church of St. Clare, which stands to the west.) But most impressive is the large wooden crucifix with the image of Christ, which is not easy to forget; in addition, it mystifies: its origin is another mystery.

According to legend, St. Tryphon was a geese herder in Phrygia and, as a boy, was martyred for refusing to make sacrifices to the statue of the Roman emperor. In the UK, he is considered the heavenly patron of gardeners.

Other places in Old Kotor

Nearby you can see built in the XVI century. Drago's palace, with its characteristic Gothic window details; used to be in this place a private house XII century, which during the earthquake of 1667 was destroyed by the collapsed facade of the cathedral. Beyond is the Baroque Grgurina Palace, which houses the Maritime Museum. (082 325646; pom.mu [email protected]; opening hours: July-September, Mon-Sat - 08:00-13:00, 18:00-23:00, Sunday - 09:00-13:00; in October-July closes at 17:00-18:00). The exposition here is richer than in maritime museum Perast; it serves as a reminder of how inextricably linked the cities of the bay are with the sea, and tells of a maritime brotherhood that has existed since the 9th century. to our days. In the XVIII century. more than 400 ships from the Bay of Kotor sailed the seas of the world, and another 300 ships plowed the nearby waters. There is a magnificent collection of paintings dedicated to the great naval battles, maps, weapons, furniture and costumes, as well as very curious marine items. There are a number of local details in Kotor national costume: for example, oddly enough, black veils for brides. The whole battery of painted bottles with inscriptions-dedications is also puzzling: “remember me” or “my beloved”; all this makes one wonder if these bottles were meant to replace the absence of a photograph, were they used as floating talismans or keepsakes, or were they thrown into the sea, losing all hope? Surely someone here knows the answer.

But the list of attractions does not end there. On the winding, pink stone-paved streets of the city, many buildings are now being restored. Don't miss the beautiful St. Luke, built in 1195 - it faces the municipality. It was built as a Catholic church, but then, in 1657, it was transferred to Orthodox Church, and now it is used by both denominations.

Near the north gate is the restaurant "Bastion"; from here also leaves the street leading to the hills near the city, and here stands the church of St. Mary. pink and White stone churches are a legacy of the 14th century, but this is another example of a temple built on the site of more ancient church (as they say, the first episcopal church of Kotor used to be here). During the last decade, the remains of a baptistery of the 6th century, from the time of the Byzantine emperor Justinian, were found here. (From the early Middle Ages, St. Mary was considered an intercessor, and in most medieval cities you can see temples dedicated to her.) Here, several frescoes of the 17th century, with Serbian-Byzantine influence, were discovered, as well as a crucifix, which in the 1980s. restored. In 1984, during its extraction, three coins were found, believed to be dated 1374. The origin of the crucifixion remains a matter of controversy, however, it is argued that the work is typical for Austria and the cross is very reminiscent of the crucifixes that can be seen in Venice, Trieste and Split. The finest details of this sculpture are carefully worked out, as are the details of the horse hooves carved by Kabianka: the anguish on the face of Christ and the tucked toes are visible from any angle. In 1940, Rebecca West wrote of this crucifixion:

"... a crucifix with a suffering Christ, with a real crown of thorns and human hair, one learned monk of the seventeenth century - must be a great liar," Michelangelo attributed ... "

In the last century, this church was dedicated to Bertha Hosanna, a nun (there are not so many of them in the calendar of the Serbian Orthodox Church), - she was canonized 75 years ago for her participation in the fight against the pirate Barbarossa (in the 16th century). Scenes from her life are carved in bas-relief above the large doors of the temple, and a nun's sarcophagus is installed inside.

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Getting around Kotor

Outside the city gates of Kotor, the movement of any Vehicle forbidden. Keep this in mind when planning your hotel check-in, luggage delivery, or trips. Near the bay, opposite the main ones, west gate, there is a safe and inexpensive car park; there is another one at the northern entrance, on the other side of the Shkurda river. Attention: when marble pavements get wet, they are very slippery.

Taxis, public and private, are always ready to bring their passengers to their destination. You can always bargain with a private trader.

Buses run along the coast.

During tourist season big beautiful cruise liners always come to the bay.

How to get there

Located 5 km from the city international Airport Tivat. From here every day there are flights to the largest European cities. During the season, the number of flights increases dramatically.

Several buses leave for Kotor daily from Podgorica, Budva, Hercega Novi, Tivat. The trip from Podgorica will take about two hours (6 euros), from Budva - about an hour, and from Tivat - about 45 minutes. The movement of buses depends on the traffic situation, which is on the coast in holiday season can be very difficult. Direct connection with Cetinje (via Cattaro and Negushi Stairs) on this moment No. To get to Kotor from Cetinje, you have to go through Budva.

bus station (082 325809) located in the eastern, mountainous part of the city, from where the roads to Tivat and Budva diverge, not far from the main gate; the old town is five minutes walk from here.

The shores of the Bay of Kotor have been inhabited by people since ancient times to the present day. The first archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic period, as evidenced by cave paintings in Liptsy. A little later, the Illyrian tribes lived in these parts, and then there was no one else there.

Unlike other museum cities, Kotor remains a real living city today, in which the usual city ​​life, shops, restaurants are open, and washed clothes are dried on the balconies.

In this post, we will talk about the settlement of the city by people and what it was like for them to live in the Bay of Kotor. This post is written thanks to an extensive Wikipedia article. For more deep dive in the material and for those readers who do not like my retelling of the story, you should read the original source.

Roman-Byzantine period (168 BC - 1185 AD)

Everything that was on the lands around present-day Kotor BC and earlier is covered with the darkness of centuries, and the city itself did not exist yet. It is believed that in ancient times Illyrian tribes lived on these edges.

It is known that from the 3rd century BC, the Romans ruled the lands near modern Kotor, but already in 476 Byzantium replaced the Roman Empire. This is the first date and the first mention of the city. During Roman rule, the city was called Akruvium, but under the Byzantines the name was changed to Decaderon.

In 535, the Byzantine Empire carried out a cleansing of the territory and finally drove the Vikings out of the accountable territory. The Vikings had their own views on these lands, but the Byzantines were much stronger.

In 1185 the city becomes Serbian, but retains some autonomous rights. In fact, the vassal state of Kotor retained the inviolability of its institutions of power and the right to make peace and declare war. It should be noted that the city was surrendered to the Serbian ruler Stefan Nemanja without a fight. Stefan Nemanja built a fortress here as a sign of recognition.

During these years, the clergy actively developed in the city, the bishop's residence appeared and new monasteries (Dominican and Franciscan) were built.

In 1241, the hordes of Genghis Khan, or rather his grandson, come to Europe. These comrades did not bring any benefit to Kotor, as well as to other nations to which they came to visit. As expected, the city was sacked and burned. We should pay tribute to the defenders of the city and its inhabitants, who steadfastly endured the raid of the barbarians and rebuilt the city anew.

It’s not clear here, like the Tatar-Mongols conquered half the world, but they didn’t leave any useful trace behind them, where did they put the loot and why did they need all this?

Until 1371, Kotor prospers and does so thanks to its geopolitics. On the one hand, the city was strategically positioned for competitive trade. On the other hand, the power and patronage of the Nemanich family made Kotor a strong player in the region, and Venice did not like it very much.

Period of independence and tranquility (1371-1420)

For about a century, Kotor was relatively calm and peaceful. There was even a short period in which the city was a completely independent aristocratic city-state, ruled by an elected prince.

The city lived on maritime trade and grew rich, but in 1420 the Turkish threat appeared and the inhabitants had to hastily think about security.

Venetian period of Kotor (1420-1797)

Perhaps the Venetian period was the saddest chapter in the history of the city. At this time, the plague was walking along the city streets, the city was unsuccessfully, but persistently besieged by the Turkish hordes, and regular earthquakes only aggravated the general situation.

It was the Turkish invasion that led the rulers of Kotor (before the Venetians, the city was ruled by an elected prince) to the decision to come under the control of the Venetian Republic. The strength and power of the Venetian Republic held back the pressure of the Ottoman Empire and their imposition of a different world order.

At that time, most of present-day Montenegro was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, which carried its own religion and its own customs. Thus, many Orthodox Christians found themselves under the protection of the walls of Kotor, who fled from the Turkish wars.

Here are the brightest Turkish military leaders who unsuccessfully tried to take Kotor by force:

• admiral Khairuddin Barbarossa - came to the walls of Kotor with 70 ships and 30,000 troops (in 1539), the siege of the city from the sea failed;
• Ali Pasha Muezzin-Zade - besieged the city from August 9 to 16, 1571, also lost time in vain;
• Mehmed Pasha Varlatz from Shkoder - kept Kotor under siege for more than two months with his five thousandth army, eventually spat and left.

But there were bonuses in those dark years that we see to this day. During the reign of the Republic of Venice, exactly the city that we all like so much was rebuilt. Most of the city's attractions appeared during the reign of the Venetians.

Russians in Kotor (1797-1814)

In a leapfrog of gears from hand to hand, Kotor eventually goes to the French. This state of affairs was extremely negative for local population, which was engaged in maritime trade and received a large profit from this occupation.

At that time, most sea ​​spaces was under the control of England, which fought with Napoleon. Thus, all Kotor ships at one moment became a bargaining chip in these political relations. Maritime trade was in question.

Bishop of Montenegro Peter Negosh turned to the Russian Admiral Dmitry Senyavin for help. Dmitry Senyavin commanded the Mediterranean expedition of the Russian fleet and was on the island of Corfu. The answer did not have to wait long, and already in February 1806, Russian ships occupied the strategically important cities of Boko Bay of Kotor. On February 28, the Russian squadron approached Kotor. As a result, on March 2, the Austrians handed over the city to the representatives of the Russian admiral.

In Kotor, the Russians were very happy, this is what a witness of those events writes:

The Bokesians immediately swore allegiance to Emperor Alexander I. The expelled Austrian garrisons were sent home on small ships. The joy of the inhabitants of the city knew no bounds. Bokesians wept with joy, Russian sailors were kissed, hugged, showered with flowers, kissed the hems of their dresses. Russian ships flashed flags and, together with all eight forts, fired a salute of 101 shots. Cannon and rifle firing was heard all over the region - all day, until late at night, as a sign of joy. Not only local merchant ships, but also all houses and boats were decorated with St. Andrew's flags.

Further, there were not very successful hostilities, during which the transfer of the city from hand to hand continued. As a result, by decision of the Congress of Vienna, on May 1, 1814, the Montenegrins left the city, having lost the access to the sea won with such difficulty, and Kotor passed to Austria.

Austrian city period (1814-1918)

During their reign, the Austro-Hungarians tried to introduce their own laws and orders in Montenegro. They succeeded in something, but some initiatives were perceived by the local population with hostility. So, when trying to introduce compulsory military service in the Austrian army for the local population, a rebellion broke out. The rebellion was suppressed, but such unrest occurred with enviable regularity.

And here's what is strange, it was under the rule of the Austro-Hungarians that the growth of Slavic national consciousness arises in Kotor.

Here is a rough list of various Serbian societies and institutions that emerged under the Austrians:

• in 1838 a palace of the Serbian assembly with a library was formed;
• in 1848, a Serbian folk school was opened under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church;
• in 1862, the Serbian national guard appears;
• in 1868, the Serbian national charitable society "Saint George" was opened;
• in 1869 a Serbian Orthodox school was opened;
• in 1899 a cooperative of Serbian workers was established;
• in 1901, a Serbian credit union appears.

World War I (1918-1941)

During these years, Kotor was the site of battles between Montenegro and Austria-Hungary. In the Austro-Hungarian fleet, major uprisings of sailors arise, which were brutally suppressed. All the instigators and leaders of the uprising were shot, and the participants (more than 800 people) were arrested.

As a result, during the First World War, Austria-Hungary was defeated. And since 1918 the city became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Around the same time, the city began to officially be called Kotor, instead of the Italian name "Cattaro".

In 1920, Russian ships reappeared in the Bay of Kotor. Now these were the remnants of the army of Baron Wrangel with Russian refugees on board, who were forced to flee their homeland under the onslaught of the new government. All Russian refugees were accepted. Several infirmaries were opened in the Kotor region, where Russian refugees received the necessary medical care, a little later they settled on the territory of a small kingdom.

The city was liberated only in 1944. There is a commemorative plaque of this event dated 11/21/1944, it is located directly above the main city gates.

The war ended and Kotor became part of Yugoslavia, but now it is already a communist country.

On April 15, 1979, Montenegro was rocked by a powerful earthquake. More than 100 people died in the city, and the city itself received significant damage. Restoration work was carried out for quite a long time, immediately after their completion, UNESCO assigns the status of a world heritage site to the city.

During the last civil war that took place in Yugoslavia in the 90s of the XX century. During this war, Kotor stood aside, there were no military operations, there were no destructions and human casualties.

Here is such a story. In conclusion, I would like to wish Kotor no longer experienced troubled times, not to have human casualties on its account and to be occupied only by tourists from numerous cruise liners and buses.

Enjoy your exploration of Kotor and Montenegro.

The history of the emergence and formation of Kotor. Development and historical events in Kotor.

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Kotor, a city on the territory of independent Montenegro, is known not only for its attractiveness for tourists, but also for its eventful history. And this story began many centuries ago. Research in the vicinity of the city amazed archaeologists: rock paintings, various tools and pottery found in caves indicate that people lived in these places already in Neolithic times.

Since 168 BC, Rome and its successor Byzantium ruled this area. The first mention of the city dates back to this time. The Byzantine government in the city was interrupted several times: either through the fault of Bulgaria, or through the fault of Serbia ...

But historians believe that Byzantium ruled Kotor until 1185, and then, until 1371, its Serbian period continued.

Kotor became part of Serbia as a vassal state, but retained its basic freedoms. During this period, the bishop's residence was located here, and the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries were founded (13th century). Kotor was an important center of the Serbian state and experienced a significant cultural and economic upsurge during this period.

Welcome to Kotor

From 1371 to 1420, the period of independence of the city of Kotor lasted, during which it was, in essence, an independent urban patrician republic. Then came the Venetian period, which lasted until 1797: the city passed under the control of the Venetian Republic on its own initiative, fearing the Ottoman invasion. The period before 1814 is called the period of the Napoleonic Wars, it passed under the sign of fear of French occupation and, nevertheless, French control. The Austrian period lasted until 1914, before the start of the First World War. The fiercest battles of this war left an indelible mark on the history of the city, and after the defeat of Austria-Hungary in the First World War, the city became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes - since 1929 the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

In 1941, Kotor was occupied by Nazi and Italian troops, and the lands around it were annexed. After the end of World War II, Kotor became part of the now communist Yugoslavia. Perhaps only the civil war that broke out in Yugoslavia in the 90s spared this city: there were no military operations in it. Kotor is now part of the state of Montenegro.

In general, it's hard to be a tasty piece for everyone.

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• Where to stay: at one of the resorts of the Hercegnovskaya Riviera. For example, in the ancient and rich in attractions Kotor, tiny Perast, picturesque Risan or modern and cheerful Tivat. Families with children and those who wish to improve their health will enjoy the " botanical garden Montenegro "- in the resort of Herceg Novi and its appendage Igalo, which is famous throughout Europe for its institute of resort and sanatorium treatment.
• Where to go: V national park Lovcen to climb on dizzy mountain, to the tomb of Peter Negosh and honor the memory of the last spiritual ruler of the country; to an abundance of fish of all kinds

Surely, many have heard about the beauty of the Montenegrin Boka-Kotor Bay? Unique natural landscapes this region of Montenegro are complemented by beautiful old towns that keep the history of the country. Today I want to talk about one of the most famous towns - ancient Kotor.

Where is Kotor, why go there, what to see

Kotor is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor at the foot of Mount Lovcen. The history of Kotor begins in Roman times. For many millennia the city passed from hand to hand to many countries: Byzantines, Serbs, Venetians, Croats and many others. The only ones who failed to conquer Kotor were the ubiquitous Turks. If you remember, for Montenegro, wars with the Turks are a sore spot, even until now, many Montenegrins cannot forgive them for attacks and conquests. Just imagine how the patriots of Montenegro are proud of Kotor, its people and history!

Kotor on the map of Montenegro.

View Kotor, Montenegro on a larger map

Very important! Before traveling to Kotor, you need to wear very comfortable shoes, it is desirable that the sole does not slip.

Kotor is located on a rather narrow stretch of land between the waters Adriatic Sea and high mountain range. The height of the high point called Mount Shitrovnik 1749 meters. In addition to natural barriers, Old city surrounded by a serious fortress wall and a moat. The central gate makes an indelible impression, it seemed to me that they are severe, with character.

Sea Gate of Kotor (1555)

Kotor, or rather its inhabitants, due to the advantageous location of the city, have always been actively engaged in navigation, trade, in general, did not live in poverty. Trade developed especially actively during the possession of the towns of the Bay of Kotor by the Venetians, under the flag of St. Mark. By the way, the main appearance the city that we see now was formed precisely thanks to the influence of Venice.

But, as you know, in the 18th century, Napoleon conquered Venice, and the Montenegrin towns (Kotor, Perast, Rovinj, etc.) came under the rule of Austria. After World War I, the Bay of Kotor came under the influence of the kingdoms (Serbs, Croats, Slovenes), which in the future would form Yugoslavia. The Italians once again managed to chop off their territory, but after World War II, Kotor and its neighbors finally entrenched themselves in Montenegro (Yugoslavia, the war ... I think everyone studied history at school).

Time passed, power changed, but all this had a beneficial effect on the city in terms of mixing styles and creating a unique look for the city. Here you will find traces of various eras: Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque. Kotor is added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for a reason, look how beautiful it is.

In 1979, a strong earthquake occurred in Montenegro, due to which many buildings in the same Kotor (and in other cities) were destroyed. But loving countries Montenegrins carefully rebuilt the city from the same stones and parts of houses. But this does not spoil the city at all.

City tour of Kotor

It is difficult to say what are the main attractions of Kotor. After all, the entire old city with its powerful walls, massive gates, narrow streets and palaces is under the protection of UNESCO.

The map of the old city is very confusing. By the way, to the left of the main gate of the old city there is tourist centre(regular kiosk), where you can get a map of the city in Russian. Well, or in English, if the cards run out in Russian.

The length of the fortress walls of Kotor is 4.5 km. Thickness from 2 to 16 meters. And the height sometimes reaches 20 meters.

Here is a view of the walls of the Old City for newly arrived tourists.

Fortified walls of the old town of Kotor

And here is the view of the mountains from the side of the river gate.

Gurdic Gate, Kotor

The main attraction of the city is the Cathedral of St. Tryphon. This majestic building was built in 1166, on the site of the church of 809, dedicated to the same saint. The cathedral is a real gem of architecture, I recommend you go inside and see the unique furniture and works of fine art.

Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (1166)

On the side of the Cathedral you can see such amazing carved doors.

Carved doors of Saint Tryphon Cathedral

In Kotor, it is very important to pay attention to details - after all, there are numerous bas-reliefs on every gate, on every palace or cathedral. For example, in a niche sea ​​gate there is such a bas-relief.

Bas-relief in the niche of the Sea Gate of Kotor

On many buildings and walls of Kotor, you can find images of lions - from the time of the Venetians.

Image of a lion on the fortress wall

The clock tower, built in 1602 as an observation post.

Clock tower at the Armory Square

Pima Palace, built in the Baroque style.

Pima Palace, Kotor

More than 10 cathedrals are located on the small square of Kotor. In the photo - the Cathedral of St. Luke.

Cathedral of Saint Luke, 1195

On the streets of the old city.

Narrow streets of the old town of Kotor

But this is not a column, this is a fountain!

Fountain in Kotor

City fortifications

For the most daring and active in Kotor there is a real test - climbing hundreds of steps (or rather 1500 steps) up the mountain to the Castel San Giovanni fortress. Assess your strength - if you have a weak heart - you should not climb to the top. But even climbing to the middle will leave indelible impressions of Kotor in your soul.

Fortress - at the top of the mountain

The path is difficult, especially under the scorching sun, but from a height of 260 meters it opens up a textbook view of the Bay of Kotor. Entrance - 3 euros.

View of Kotor from the beginning of the Stairs

The stairs are quite steep, but the views from it are amazing.

Old Kotor road

Old Kotor road

All the way old road dotted with sights - various towers, fortifications, chapels and churches. It was under this church of Our Lady of Health that I gave up.

Church of Our Lady of Health, Kotor

I did not reach the very top - there was not enough time and energy. After all, we were allocated only 2 hours to Kotor. And one climb up the stairs can take about an hour!

By the way, when I went down the stairs... I got lost! Even with a map, it was hard to get out of the old city.

How to get to Kotor

You can get to Kotor in several ways: with a tour, by car, by public transport.

An excursion to the Bay of Kotor is one of the most popular in Montenegro, as a rule, a visit to Kotor is included in the excursion. If you are relaxing in Budva or its neighboring towns, then feel free to buy an excursion and hit the road (review of the excursion to the Bay of Kotor from Budva).

For those who rest in the bay itself, it will not be difficult to get to Kotor. From Herceg Novi there is a bus to Kotor (ticket price is about 4 euros), as well as numerous boats.

On public transport Kotor can be reached from Budva, Cetinje, Tivat. Just come on bus station, see the schedule and plan your trip.

Well, for those who are going to rent a car in Montenegro, I think it will not be difficult to get to Kotor. Map, navigator and forward.

Kotor is an absolute must see object in Montenegro. The city is original, with history and unique flavor.

What I would do next time: it's good to spend the whole day in Kotor. It’s good to come here from the very morning on your own, since in two hours allotted for the tour, there’s practically nothing to do. Moreover, I recommend that you first climb the stairs to the Fortress (only for those who are healthy), and then explore the old city. And don't forget to bring your swimwear, because Kotor also has a beach.

City of Kotor - famous resort town on the coast, located near Mount Lovcen, on the shores of the Bay of Kotor. It belongs to one of the best preserved medieval Mediterranean cities, and in 1979 city ​​of Kotor was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

History of the city of Kotor.

History of human settlement at the site modern city dates back to very ancient times - evidence of this is the many tools, ceramics, rock paintings Neolithic times found in the caves of the surrounding mountains.

In ancient times, this area was inhabited by the Illyrians, from the 3rd century BC. in these lands the Roman Empire ruled, and after its fall in 476, Byzantium. It was then that for the first time there are mentions of Kotor, but as the city of Askrivium, then, as about Decater (from "katareo" - "rich in hot springs"), and over time it began to be called Kotor, as it was shopping center Boka Kotorska.

In 535, the Byzantine emperor Justinian finally expelled the Goths from this area and built a fortress around which the so-called “lower” city was built on the surrounding hills in the 10th century. The rule of Byzantium in Kotor was interrupted more than once - in 1002 the city was captured by the First Bulgarian Kingdom, and in 1003 power passed to Serbia. True, Byzantium quickly regained its dominance and held it until the middle of the 11th century, when city ​​of Kotor was captured by one of the representatives of the Slavic family Voislavlevich, who then ruled the State of Zeta. Later, the city was for many years an important Dalmatian city and was known as Italian name"Cattaro".

At the end of the 12th century, the city surrendered without a fight to the great Serbian Župan Stepan Neman (the founder of the Serbian royal Nemanjić dynasty) and, as a vassal state, became part of Serbia, although retaining its own institutions of power and the right to declare war or make peace. It is in Serbia city ​​of Kotor experienced a significant rise in the economy and culture, as it was a developed trade and craft center with access to the sea. Even the invasion of Europe by the Tatar-Mongols in the middle of the XIII century, as a result of which Kotor was burned, did not lead to its disappearance - Kotor was quickly rebuilt and remained an important maritime trade center. Serbian rule over Kotor ended only in 1371 with the suppression of the Nemanjić dynasty, and for the next half century the city was actually an independent urban patrician republic.

In 1420, under threat Turkish invasion The Grand City Council decided to voluntarily transfer to the administration and protection of the Venetian Republic, and city ​​of Kotor became part of it until 1797. All this time Ottoman Empire did not leave attempts to conquer Kotor, but the city never fell under Turkish rule.

After Venice under the Treaty of Campo Formia city ​​of Kotor went to the monarchy of the Austrian Habsburgs, but already in 1805, according to the Treaty of Pressburg, it was transferred to the Italian kingdom, which at that time was a vassal French Empire Napoleon. The transition of Kotor under the control of France, which was then at war with England, potentially meant the transition of Kotor ships to the rank of military booty of the British fleet and the complete collapse of maritime trade. In order to somehow avoid such a prospect, the inhabitants of Boka Kotorska turned to Petar Negosh, who then ruled Montenegro. He, in turn, asked for support from the commander of the Mediterranean expedition of the Russian fleet, Admiral Senyavin, and as a result of their joint military operation in March 1806, Kotor was transferred to the representatives of the Russian admiral.

Peter Negosh suggested that Alexander I create a Slavic-Serbian state with Dubrovnik as its capital, including Kotor, but after the defeat near Friedland (June 1807), Russia was forced to conclude the Treaty of Tilsit with Napoleon, according to which “the province and city of Boko-di -Cattaro" again came under French rule, which lasted until 1813.

Metropolitan Peter Negosh in September 1813 again captured the whole of Boka Kotorska, and in 1814 he again turned to the Russian emperor with a request to patronize Montenegro, but by decision of the Vienna Congress, Boka Kotorska and city ​​of Kotor passed to Austria, and Alexander asked the Montenegrins to leave it. In May 1814, the Montenegrins left these territories and again lost access to the sea.

Before 1918 city ​​of Kotor, being part of the Dalmatian kingdom, was part of Austria-Hungary, but after its defeat in World War I, became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which in 1929 was renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. It was from this year that the name Kotor acquired an official status (previously, the Italian version appeared in the documents - Cattaro).

In 1941, after the surrender of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, city ​​of Kotor was occupied by Italian and German fascists and, by order of Mussolini, along with other cities of coastal Montenegro, became part of fascist Italy.

City of Kotor was liberated from fascist power in November 1944 and at the end of the war, as part of Montenegro, became part of the now communist Yugoslavia. Civil War 90s The 20th century did not touch the city, and today it is part of independent Montenegro.

So rich in events and in the change of owners, the history left its mark on Kotor - there are many ancient buildings creating unique atmosphere. It is worth paying attention to the Cathedral of St. Tryphon with the remains of frescoes of the XIV century, with a rich sacristy with products of Venetian and Kotor jewelers, the churches of St. Luke, St. Anna, St. Mary, the Duke's Palace, the Napoleonic Theater, which are only a small part of the treasures of culture city ​​of Kotor.

Outside the city walls there is a large market where you can find a wide variety of products of local craftsmen and delicacies for every taste. In the city itself, you can wander through the most beautiful ancient streets, have a cup of coffee in any of the many restaurants, take pictures against the backdrop architectural masterpieces and buy a wide variety of souvenirs.