The Balkan country is a secret, the rise in guest numbers but. Most are drawn to the Adriatic beaches. The country aims to inspire tourists for the mountain world. A Tour around the Durmitor massif.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
In a small space of enormous diversity
With a surface area of around 14,000 square kilometres of the South-East Europe, Montenegro is just as big as the German Federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. In a small space, it offers a huge scenic diversity. The reason why the tourist numbers are increasing rapidly. The best time to discover Montenegro, before all the other do so now.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Bay of Kotor
Most of the tourists it attracts to the Adriatic sea in the South of the country. The main attraction here is the Bay of Kotor. Around 30 miles it snakes its way into the country and offered to the residents once a place of refuge from pirates and other invaders. Today, she is under the protection of UNESCO and is driven by cruise ships. The steep mountains reach down to the shore – an impressive backdrop.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
Churches and monasteries
From the Baroque town of Perast in the Bay, with ferries to the man-made Church island our lady of the rocks. It was heaped on by again and again stones were thrown to a small rock into the sea. The Orthodox mariners Church interior is decorated magnificently and still today some of the cruise the captain makes a gift here – the Wind, for it may always be conveniently available.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Seaside Resort Of Budva
The “Ibiza of the Balkans” is called the town of Budva. Behind the old town is a sprawling party mile along the beach. However, Budva, one of the oldest cities on the Adriatic coast, also has quieter areas, like here in front of the city wall. The old town is in the summer, with the stage At the annual theater festival in its streets and squares are recorded, the performances are multi-lingual.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Luxury Island Of Sveti Stefan
Who has that can check the: namely, the 5-star hotel island of Sveti Stefan. To do this, especially celebrities and politicians: Sylvester Stallone, Claudia Schiffer and also Willy Brandt stayed here already. Since the 1950s, the entire island is a hotel complex. Operator of the luxury hotel brand Aman Resorts is. Whom lacking the necessary small money, the only view from a distance remains. Nice, too.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Durmitor mountain range in the North
Montenegro is small, which is handy for exploring. From the Adriatic sea in the South, there are only about three hours drive to the North. Here are the wild mountain landscape of the Durmitor mountain range is located: it is with deep spruce woods, fragrant Alpine meadows, barren high plateaus and karst peaks over 2000 meters. The Durmitor is a massif in a national Park and UNESCO world heritage site.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Taraschlucht
Through the national Park of Durmitor, the Tara river flows. It winds through a deep gorge, with a maximum of 1300 meters, is the deepest in Europe. In the world only to the Grand Canyon in the USA and deeper. The gorge is a popular photo motif. In the Tara river you can go Rafting trips and raft through the canyon several Ziplines are curious.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
The National Park Biogradska Gora
No matter where you are in Montenegro: The next national Park is not far away. There are a total of five. The Biogradska Gora national Park to the East, is home to one of the last primeval forests of Europe. In the heart of the forest of the glacial lake Biogradsko Jezero is situated. On its shore the old trees stand for hundreds of years. Adventure factor: A web visitor route leads through a wild marsh area.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Skadar Lake
Like a Primordial landscape at the time of the dinosaurs of the Skadar lake from the top is seen. It is the largest lake in the Balkans and the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, is situated to the South. Wide sections are boggy and inaccessible – a Paradise for birds, of which more than 270 species. Tourists explore old fishing villages, Hiking and making Bicycle and kayak tours.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
Good Wine
Close to the Skadar lake, the largest wine-growing area of Montenegro is situated. The climate is both continental as well as Mediterranean and thus ideal for wine growing. In summer temperatures up to 40 degrees, a cooler of white wine is just Right. Montenegrin wines are world famous, the largest part, however, is to drink directly in the country.
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Ten reasons for Montenegro
Delicious Food
So diverse is the landscape and the cultural influences in the country, so rich in Montenegrin cuisine. Sheep and goat cheese comes from the mountains, fish from the sea and lakes is eaten in every part of the country. Hearty meat dishes are served with fresh salads and some cakes and Desserts are reminiscent of sweets from the Orient.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
In a small space of enormous diversity
With a surface area of around 14,000 square kilometres of the South-East Europe, Montenegro is just as big as the German Federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. In a small space, it offers a huge scenic diversity. The reason why the tourist numbers are increasing rapidly. The best time to discover Montenegro, before all the other do so now.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Bay of Kotor
Most of the tourists it attracts to the Adriatic sea in the South of the country. The main attraction here is the Bay of Kotor. Around 30 miles it snakes its way into the country and offered to the residents once a place of refuge from pirates and other invaders. Today, she is under the protection of UNESCO and is driven by cruise ships. The steep mountains reach down to the shore – an impressive backdrop.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
Churches and monasteries
From the Baroque town of Perast in the Bay, with ferries to the man-made Church island our lady of the rocks. It was heaped on by again and again stones were thrown to a small rock into the sea. The Orthodox mariners Church interior is decorated magnificently and still today some of the cruise the captain makes a gift here – the Wind, for it may always be conveniently available.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Seaside Resort Of Budva
The “Ibiza of the Balkans” is called the town of Budva. Behind the old town is a sprawling party mile along the beach. However, Budva, one of the oldest cities on the Adriatic coast, also has quieter areas, like here in front of the city wall. The old town is in the summer, with the stage At the annual theater festival in its streets and squares are recorded, the performances are multi-lingual.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Luxury Island Of Sveti Stefan
Who has that can check the: namely, the 5-star hotel island of Sveti Stefan. To do this, especially celebrities and politicians: Sylvester Stallone, Claudia Schiffer and also Willy Brandt stayed here already. Since the 1950s, the entire island is a hotel complex. Operator of the luxury hotel brand Aman Resorts is. Whom lacking the necessary small money, the only view from a distance remains. Nice, too.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Durmitor mountain range in the North
Montenegro is small, which is handy for exploring. From the Adriatic sea in the South, there are only about three hours drive to the North. Here are the wild mountain landscape of the Durmitor mountain range is located: it is with deep spruce woods, fragrant Alpine meadows, barren high plateaus and karst peaks over 2000 meters. The Durmitor is a massif in a national Park and UNESCO world heritage site.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Taraschlucht
Through the national Park of Durmitor, the Tara river flows. It winds through a deep gorge, with a maximum of 1300 meters, is the deepest in Europe. In the world only to the Grand Canyon in the USA and deeper. The gorge is a popular photo motif. In the Tara river you can go Rafting trips and raft through the canyon several Ziplines are curious.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
The National Park Biogradska Gora
No matter where you are in Montenegro: The next national Park is not far away. There are a total of five. The Biogradska Gora national Park to the East, is home to one of the last primeval forests of Europe. In the heart of the forest of the glacial lake Biogradsko Jezero is situated. On its shore the old trees stand for hundreds of years. Adventure factor: A web visitor route leads through a wild marsh area.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
The Skadar Lake
Like a Primordial landscape at the time of the dinosaurs of the Skadar lake from the top is seen. It is the largest lake in the Balkans and the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, is situated to the South. Wide sections are boggy and inaccessible – a Paradise for birds, of which more than 270 species. Tourists explore old fishing villages, Hiking and making Bicycle and kayak tours.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
Good Wine
Close to the Skadar lake, the largest wine-growing area of Montenegro is situated. The climate is both continental as well as Mediterranean and thus ideal for wine growing. In summer temperatures up to 40 degrees, a cooler of white wine is just Right. Montenegrin wines are world famous, the largest part, however, is to drink directly in the country.
-
Ten reasons for Montenegro
Delicious Food
So diverse is the landscape and the cultural influences in the country, so rich in Montenegrin cuisine. Sheep and goat cheese comes from the mountains, fish from the sea and lakes is eaten in every part of the country. Hearty meat dishes are served with fresh salads and some cakes and Desserts are reminiscent of sweets from the Orient.
“There is a joke that goes like this: you Could make Montenegro flat, it would be the largest country in the world.” Andri Stanović looks out the car window, into the karst mountain landscape. Montenegro – the Land of the black mountains – is, in fact, covered almost completely by mountains. You fall in the South, steeply up to the Adriatic coast, on top of towers in the North to high mountains. Stanović works for the National tourism organisation of Montenegro to make his country as a holiday destination well-known. And to bring, in addition to the highly frequented beaches on the Mediterranean sea and the famous Bay of Kotor, the tourists, the wild mountain world.
“Montenegro has extremely varied landscapes. We are ahead of other countries in the Region,” he says. The small country on the Balkans has to offer, in fact, a lot of the coast in the South, the high mountains in the North, the largest lake in the Balkans, virgin forests, deep gorges and five national parks. 6000 kilometres of Hiking and Cycling routes, through Montenegro, with a surface area of just 14,000 square kilometres – less than the German Federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Yet Montenegro is more of a secret tip, but the tourist numbers are rising steadily.
We start our Tour in the ski resort of Zabljak. It is located at around 1500 meters and is the highest town in South-Eastern Europe. In the summer of Zabljak is sleepy, only a few hikers are a guest.
Wide valleys, high mountains: the Durmitor mountains located in the North of Montenegro
With the car it goes to the Durmitor Ring along one of four scenic roads, where you can explore the mountains of Montenegro. However, only two of them are marked done. By 2020, the third to be finished. And the fourth? “Let’s see,” says Andri Stanović. On Board is a GPS-controlled audio guide, available as an App in several languages. Also Stanović, this Tour is for the first Time.
The voice from the Smartphone promises us information about “things that one sees and those that one does not see”. Relaxing guitar music sounds, outside noise, dark spruce forests. A first stop: We have a clear view over mountain meadows to the distant Durmitor massif. Where the Name originated is debatable, he could derive from the Latin “dormire”, and mean so much as “Sleeping mountain” or “mountain where the gods sleep”. It has 48 peaks higher than 2000 meters.
More. In the distance are soon realize the building. How colourful pebbles lying scattered in the plane. It is a so-called Katun, a mountain village, the mountain farmers with their cattle life: cows, sheep and goats, from whose milk they make cheese and Butter.
At least the sheep are not lonely: a Katun river in the Durmitor mountains
“Only 14 people live year-round in the village,” says the voice from the phone. In the Winter it is cut off by the snow completely from the outside world. And in case of emergency? “A helicopter,” says Andri Stanović. “In the Winter, by the way, is also blocked by the panoramic road. The one who comes in the spring or autumn, you must ask in advance whether the Route is passable.”
The seclusion is not for everyone. More and more residents of the mountain villages in Montenegro better in the city. The traditional way of life of shepherds in the mountains died out slowly.
The panoramic road that leads over long distances through the founded in 1952, Durmitor national Park. There are more than 1600 species of plants, including many endemic, i.e., found only in the national Park. About 50 species of mammals live here, including wolves, brown bears, lynx, chamois, Golden eagle and capercaillie. The entrance to the Park costs around three euros. Since 1980, he is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
With black pines and spruces, The susica covered:-gorge
On the recommendation of the audio guides, we stop at the road edge and run along a path until in front of us a ravine opens. “Don’t go too close to the abyss, there is a risk of falling exists!”, thus, the warning. 700 meters in the depth of 15 km in length, susica canyon – a spectacular sight. Tectonic forces and the susica river have formed them.
We are now driving downhill. The narrow road is extremely curvy, in addition to us, it goes almost vertically downwards. The slopes are not backed up, rockfalls are not uncommon. Our driver stops to clear a football large Rock from the road. This route should trust only safe driver. A car comes to us only rarely. But then the nerve-wracking maneuvers are necessary. For campers over seven meters in length or 2.30 meters width of the Route is not recommended.
Timing is everything: the Sušičko lake exists only at certain times of the year
Behind the next bend is another breathtaking sight awaits them: The valley green, the Sušičko lake dazzles. Silently and lonely he is between the rock walls. Only two tourists walk on the shore path. As we arrive at the bottom, you are gone.
Idylle pur in the Durmitor mountains
Who wants to see this lake, you must have luck: “In the summer it dries up completely,” explains our Guide. On the shore of a mountain hut can stay in the Walker for about ten Euro per Person. A Hiking trail starts from the lakes here are seven kilometres of two other mountain.
The car uphill torments now again. We reach a plateau, covered with a flower carpet, on the cows graze. This could also be the location of a Fantasy Saga. It smells of wild thyme, crickets chirping, birds chirping, otherwise rest. To several motorcycle drivers pre-crack. “Motorcycle tourists from all over Europe come here,“ says Andri Stanović. “For you to Montenegro is because of the winding roads is a huge playing field.”
The framework for tourism is set: Andri Stanović at the photo stop in front of the Prutaš
We drive further and further up into the Durmitor mountains, the lush meadows, soft steinigerem terrain. The mountain is part of the Dinaric Alps and, due to the plate movements have emerged. The audio guide plays Interviews with inhabitants of the Region, sound examples of the traditional Montenegrin instrument, the Serbian epic, the names and altitude of the mountains all around.
We are now about 1800 meters high. In front of us the summit of the Prutaš rises to 2393 metres. In some of the crevices of snow is lit, it is around 15 degrees Celsius. According to a legend, it is supposed to be the fairies have been scratched with your finger on the distinctive structures of nails into the Rock of the mountain.
Spell for the Montenegro tourism advertising: “Wild Beauty” – the not-so-inappropriate
Our last stop we make at 1907 meters, on the Sedlo Pass. From here, several Hiking routes start on the with 2523 meters, the highest peak of Durmitor massif, the Bobotov Kuk. Two women in Outdoor clothing, scrambling straight up the slope, ants are small in the valley before the mountain chain.
For tourism professionals Andri Stanović the concept of the panoramic road goes on: “We have 40 percent more visitors in the Durmitor national Park, since the Route was opened in the autumn of 2018,” he says.
After about four hours, and 76 kilometres, we are back to our starting point in the town of Zabljak. From here we make a detour to the Black lake. He is regarded as a tourist Highlight of Montenegro. From the Parking lot, also a lot of tourists flopping in flip-flops the direction of the lake. A Chinese woman with a straw hat, and – Yes, High Heels – here is walking in front of us. On the shore, posing with a purple dotted umbrella.
The Black lake is one of 18 glacier lakes on the Durmitor mountains. They are also called “eyes of the mountains”. Its Name comes from the dark coniferous trees that surround him. A picturesque setting – but after the solitude in the mountains, this is a kind of culture shock.
We are in the wild nature: This pier is for fishing. It is a Selfie-web
On the four-kilometre-long path around the lake, there are various possibilities for Self-presentation: webs, frames, rustic benches. Tourists from all over the world to pose for an Instagram Post: “And that’s not all,” says Andri Stanović. “When the water level of the lake drops in the summer, and more on the webs and platforms to the fore.”
The mountains of Montenegro are the perfect backdrop for a photo that looks like Outdoor, Wilderness and adventure. The Good: anyone Who wants to, can look only so, but all the experience and still pretty much undisturbed. Or convenient is a tour with the car.
Editorial note: The article is part of a press trip.