Herceg Novi Top 10 - Attractions

Every city has those special few spots you have to see in order to be able to say you really visited the place. These can stand toe to toe against anyone.

 

1. Fortress Kanli Kula - Kanli Kula is a monumental fortress in the Old Town, built in 1539 by the Turks and located on the most northern point of the Old town. Kanli Kula means “bloody tower” and this notorious former prison more than lived up to its name during Herceg Novi's years of Turkish rule (circa 1482-1687). In its present form it is a work of Turkish builders, and it has preserved its architectural authenticity from that period, but as different cultures had control of the city over the years, they all left their distinguished footprint on the fort, and today we find evidence of Venetian and Austro-Hungarian architecture in it as well. The inside of the fortress was first reconstructed in 1960 for the then summer stage, perhaps the most beautiful open stage in the entire Adriatic coast, with the capacity of 1000, which can be expanded to 1500, and an amphitheater of rare beauty and functionality. The second adaptation came in 1979 after a horrific earthquake, when the inside of the fortress was pretty much ruined. The reconstruction was made in Venetian style. Even though it did not keep its former spirit and ambiance of the old summer stage, the modern one cannot be taken away from its certain functionality and likeability, even though it was gained at the expense of part of its cultural heritage that it once had. Today the fort hosts various events, the Herceg Novi Film Festival, Suncane Skale Music Competition, Guitar Art Fest, days of music, popular and classical music concerts, kids, and folklore performances, etc. It represents one of the main symbols of the city and the thing to see when visiting.

 

2. Fortress Forte Mare - The fortress Forte Mare (meaning Sea Fortress) is located on the shore and protected the city’s sea entrance. It was one of the main city fortification units that controlled entrance to the city throughout this town’s rich war history. It represents the early formation of the medieval city that was founded by Tvrtko I Kotromanic in the 14^th century (1389). Only remnants of the earliest times is a single part of the wall on the southeast side of the fort and a narrow stairway on the east side. The fortress is built on solid rock, above the walkway, and in the walls, there is a passage from the shore to the top of the fortress. For over 6 decades movie projections are organized on the fortress, and to many, it’s one of the oldest and most beautiful movie theaters under the open sky.

 

 

3. Clock tower - The tower is the main symbol of the town and even takes center stage in the town's crest and flag. During the Turkish reign, this was the main city gate. The old city clock was only replaced in 1995 with a new, electric one, which the city of Herceg Novi got from Zemun, the city with which Herceg Novi has a special friendly bond. In 1753 Russian empress Katarina II donated, to the Herceg Novi residents, a bell that has been preserved till today. The tower has, in its possession, a preserved city archive, where you can find documents as old as 1685. Just to the left of the entrance, there is a memorial plaque, written in Cyrillic, thanking the soldiers of the X Herceg Novi’s brigade that liberated the city on October 28, 1944.

 

 

4. Tito’s villa Galeb - Surrounded by lush pine forest, Tito’s Villa Galeb is positioned so that it brings a beautiful view to the entrance of the Boka Bay. It represents one of a dozen luxurious villa’s that were built for Tito in the former Yugoslavia. The reason behind this one was the treatment Tito had to go to the Institute Igalo, which was so effective they decided to build him a residence nearby. The location of the villa is the exact place where the Mediterranean and the continental climate meet. The climate that is formed here is perfect for recovery, which is why this small town became a healing center. The villa was built in 1976 the construction took only 6 months, it has 4 levels, 137 rooms and a surface of 5500 m2. The most interesting part is located on the fourth level where the atomic shelter is placed, which was made in case of war. In that basement is also the system for water control, in the form of an aquarium, which was supplied with the same water as the rest of the villa. In it lived a special type of fish that can only survive in pristine water, so if it died, it would mean the water was polluted. Underneath we find a park over 75000 m2 big.

 

5. Harbor Skver - The town harbor, Skver, is an informal city center of Herceg Novi. This is where it all happens. Aside from the city harbor and pier, there are still remnants of the former railroad and railroad station that used to be there. It’s the merging point where the city stairs and the Five Danica promenade meet and where the thankful inhabitants of Herceg Novi built a statue for their founder Tvrtko I Kotromanic. In short, the heart and soul of the city. To feel the unique atmosphere that is an integral part of Skver is not difficult. Just compare the sensation there with any other location in the city, and you will see the difference.

 

6. Fort Mamula - Fort Mamula was built on a small island on the entrance to the Boka Bay. It got its name after an Austrian General Lazar Mamula, a man from Lika, who built Mamula in the middle of the 19th century. This island it is on is called Lastavica on certain sea maps. The island, and the fort itself, is now deserted and today serves as a kind of “kingdom of seagulls,” and in the summertime, it is a popular field trip destination. Even though the main function of the fort was to protect the entrance to the Boka Bay during the WWI and WWII, it was used as a prison in which the Austrians (during WWI) and the Italians (during the second) held and tortured the locals.

 

7. Portonovi - Portonovi Montenegro is a world-class resort community with a state-of-the-art Marina. The perfect home away from home—it will be a place where people of all ages and generations can fully breathe life. Exclusive yet soulful in character, the Portonovi lifestyle experience includes Europe’s first One&Only, which organically complements the Espace Chenot Health Wellness Spa. Envisioned on a human scale, this sophisticated nautical universe also harbors an iconic collection of villa’s and residences, set amid a constellation of high-end boutiques, vanguard gastronomic venues, and lively leisure offerings. Portonovi will soon radiate as an ultra-premium lifestyle destination, set at the very heart of the Adriatic. This stunning, new 60-acre resort represents an enticing opportunity for those considering property ownership in Montenegro. The resort’s sophisticated, luxurious properties overlook the entrance to the pristine Boka Bay, offering the perfect headquarters to discover Montenegro’s stunning 300-kilometer coastline with the quickest access for mega yachts to the open sea.

 

8. Ilinica - Aside from the church that is located by the very border that separates Montenegro and Croatia (or as the locals would frequently say what falls to the left is theirs, and what falls to the right is ours) a unique monument to the French soldiers that died in that area in 1806 during the Napoleon conquests was built in 1919. The monument was constructed on request of the soldiers themselves so that everyone can see the land they came from. Aux braves soldates morts pour la patrie (“To the brave French soldiers that died for their country”). Aside from these two unique monuments, this place is one of the rare locations from where a beautiful view stretches with Boka Bay on one side and Konavle on the other.

 

9. Njegos’s school - The school was built in 1812, and from its inception in 1713 was located in one of the monk's cells in the Church of Holy Salvation on Topla, which was built almost a hundred years prior. Certainly, the church’s most famous student was Radivoje Petrovic the future bishop and ruler of Montenegro, and later more famously known as Petar II Petrovic Njegos. He started attending at the age of 12 and stayed there because he enjoyed the climate, lush vegetation, nature, and other beauties that Herceg Novi had in its possession, which were so different from his native Cetinje. It is considered that he stayed in school for a year and a half because his teacher thought he had learned all he could from him. Young Njegos kept Herceg Novi in a nice memory and even dedicated lyrics to it in his epic work Gorski Vijenac.

 

       10. Blue cave - Plava spilja (Blue cave) is one of the most attractive, in a sequence of caves that are located on the Lustica peninsula. Blue cave is placed between Zlatna luka cove and the Mokra Gora Cape. It is also 5,7 nautical miles away from Herceg Novi. It has two entrances under 45 degrees angle, height from sea level to the top of the cove is 9 meters, and the depth is 3-4 meters. Total surface of the cave on the sea level is 100m2. It got its name after an unusual blue color that forms during clear days when the sun rays reflect and bounce off its surface. This is due to the cave’s two openings. The cave is very resonant, so even a simple conversation turns into an echo. The cave’s former name Buongiorno kumpare (Good day, godfather) was given to it by fishermen who sought refuge in it during storms and sudden mishaps on the sea. But there is also a second version of the name that says this cave was ideal for hiding smugglers who were chased by the law. However, when the law eventually found them, they sealed both entrances and issued a “welcome” to the smugglers with the same words. It was also the call for them to surrender along with the stolen goods. Visit to this cave is a necessity as a part of any tour that goes through the Boka Bay, and the entrance to it is possible either by boat or by a small galley.