Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Welcome to Montenegro
Montenegro, Crna Gora, Black Mountain: the very name
conjures up images of romance and drama - and this
fascinating land doesn't disappoint on either front.
Small but Perfectly Formed
Imagine a place with sapphire beaches as spectacular as Croatia's, rugged peaks as dra-
matic as Switzerland's, canyons nearly as deep as Colorado's, palazzos as elegant as
Venice's and towns as old as Greece's and then wrap it up in a Mediterranean climate and
squish it into an area two-thirds of the size of Wales and you start to get a picture of
Montenegro. You could easily drive clear across the country in a day - or spend a month
and be left wanting more. Ironically, this tiny place is populated by giants - arguably the
tallest people in the world.
Where Land & Sea Embrace
There's not a lot of it - barely 100km from tip to toe - but Montenegro's coast is quite ex-
traordinary. Mountains jut sharply from crystal-clear waters in such a way that the word
'looming' is unavoidable. As if that wasn't picturesque enough, ancient walled towns
cling to the rocks and dip their feet in the water like they're the ones on holiday. In sum-
mer the whole scene is bathed in the scent of wild herbs, conifers and Mediterranean blos-
soms. The word 'magical' is similarly impossible to avoid.
Go Wild
When the beaches fill up with Eastern European sunseekers, intrepid travellers can easily
sidestep the hordes in the rugged mountains of Durmitor and Prokletije, the primeval
forest of Biogradska Gora or in the many towns and villages where ordinary Montenegrins
go about their daily lives. Hike, mountain bike or kayak yourself to somewhere obscure
and chances are you'll have it all to yourself. This is, after all, a country where wolves and
bears still lurk in forgotten corners.
