In Montenegro, the legend of the island of Our Lady of the Rock

In the middle of the Kotor mouths, in front of the village of Perast, there is an artificial island. Its name? Our Lady of the Rock. This small piece of land, which can be circled in a few minutes, never ceases to attract tourists. And it is easy to see why. Beyond its dream location, which offers a sublime panorama of the bay, its history is fascinating in every way.

It all began in the 15th century, when two fishermen brothers found an icon on a rock depicting the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ by chance. Surprised by this discovery, they decided to take it home. They were surprised when their third brother, who was seriously ill, began to recover. There was no doubt that this could only be a miracle!

To thank the Virgin Mary, the siblings, with the help of the locals, decided to build a Catholic church around the famous rock, in the middle of the bay. They first had to build an island," explains Slavena Asanovic, a French-speaking Montenegrin guide. They had to throw large stones around the rock. It took more than two centuries to build. The church and the island - which share the same name - were completed and opened to pilgrims in 1630. He added:"The Virgin Mary is a very important saint for both Catholic and Orthodox Montenegrins. She protects sailors, fishermen and navigators.

Inside the church, behind the main altar, it is possible to touch the famous rock. But as in every legend, it is difficult to determine how much of it is true.The two brothers really found this icon," says Slavena Asanovic. But we don't really know what happened next. Legend has it that the brother was healed and that the icon appeared here and there in the villages of the Bay of Kotor.

Today, no one knows where the icon is. But a replica has been made by a Montenegrin painter. It is on the main altar of the church. See the story in pictures in the video at the top of this page.

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