Discovering the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro

Island of Gospa od Škrpjela, Montenegro.

Emilie Chich travelled to Montenegro in September 2009 to explore the Bay of Kotor, located in the southwest of the country, near the Adriatic Sea. She discovered a region dotted with small ancient towns, such as Perast and Kotor. The city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site after an earthquake in 1979, to help restore it. A journey through a region steeped in history and rich in culture. "The landscapes of Montenegro are magnificent, but the maintenance of the country's heritage, the cleanliness of the country and the reception of tourists leave a lot to be desired. This is all the more striking when you come from Croatia, where everything is spotless!"Interview by Martin FossatiSee photos of MontenegroPhoto 1 / 12 - The artificial island of "Gospa od Škrpjela", or Our Lady of the Rocks, was built in the middle of Lake Kotor. The island has a chapel dating from the 17th century. There are several legends about the origin of the island. One of the most famous is that fishermen from Perast found an icon of the Virgin Mary on a rock after a shipwreck, and promised to build a church there. Next photo: Perast

Village of Perast, Montenegro.

Photo 2 / 12 - Perast is a small fishing village on the Bay of Kotor. The white stone used to build the houses is typical of this region. Next photo: The port of Perast

The port of Perast, Montenegro.

Photo 3 / 12 - The harbour is a trace of Perast's prosperous past, when the city had its own navy and most of the baroque palaces had already been built. Next photo: Bell tower of Perast

Perast, Montenegro.

Photo 4 / 12 - The Church of St. Nicholas, whose bell tower overlooks the main square, is one of the seventeen Catholic churches in Perast.Next photo: Multi-storey garden

Multi-storey garden in the Kotor Bay region of Montenegro.

Photo 5 / 12 - On our way around the bay of Kotor, we came across this group of houses and terraced gardens. Charming ! Next photo : Kotor Bay

Kotor Bay, Montenegro.

Photo 6 / 12 - As an extension of Croatia, the landscape along the Dalmatian coast is of great beauty. The Bay of Kotor is often referred to as Europe's southernmost fjord, although it is a submerged canyon. Next photo: Old fortification

Old fortification, outside Kotor, Montenegro.

Photo 7 / 12 - The old town of Kotor was surrounded by walls, towers and a stone fortress, of which only ruins remain today. Those with a strong heart can climb the steps to the top of the mountain and get a great view of the bay and the city.Next photo: Fortified tower

Fortified tower in Kotor, Montenegro.

Photo 8 / 12 - This tower is part of the fortification walls surrounding Kotor. This fortification system extends over 4.5 kilometres.Next photo: Cathedral of St. Tryphon

Cathedral of St. Trophon in Kotor, Montenegro.

Photo 9 / 12 - The twin towers of the Cathedral of St. Trophon in Kotor were built in 809. The cathedral is an outstanding example of Romanesque architecture. Next photo: The centre of the old town

Historic centre of Kotor, Montenegro.

Photo 10 / 12 - These white stone buildings are typical of the region. Unfortunately, in many places, these stones are a bit black. Next photo: Alley

Alley in the historical centre of Kotor, Montenegro.

Photo 11 / 12 - A glimpse into one of the alleys of the old town, characterised by its medieval architecture.Next photo: Cupolas of the church of St. Nicholas

Church of St. Nicholas in Kotor, Montenegro.

Photo 12 / 12 - Last picture of Montenegro: the domes of the church of St. Nicholas, seen from outside the fortified wall surrounding Kotor. I found the shape and the set very nice. Discover other dream trips on GEO.fr

See also