Summary

Herceg Novi, Montenegro, is celebrated for its unique blend of history, natural beauty, and cultural richness, offering an enriching experience that beckons visitors to return.

Abstract

Nestled on the coast of Montenegro, Herceg Novi stands out as a town of profound historical significance and breathtaking natural landscapes. Founded in 1382, the town has a diverse architectural heritage, shaped by various rulers including the Ottoman Empire, Spain, Venice, Russia, France, and Austria. It is characterized by its laid-back atmosphere, contrasting with the busier tourist spots in Montenegro. The article emphasizes the town's appeal through its exquisite cuisine, affordable prices, and opportunities for adventure and exploration, such as hiking on Mount Orjen and visiting historical fortresses. The piece also touches on the transformative experience of connecting with one's ancestry and the warm, welcoming nature of the Montenegrin people, which enhances the sense of belonging for visitors.

Opinions

The author has a deep personal connection to Herceg Novi, describing it as a place that gets under one's skin and evokes a feeling that cannot be put into words.
Herceg Novi is considered a hidden gem compared to more popular destinations like Italy, Greece, Spain, and Croatia, offering a more authentic and less crowded experience.
The town's culinary scene is highly praised, with a blend of Mediterranean, Slavic, and Turkish influences, particularly noted for its fresh seafood and desserts like Turkish coffee and baklava.
The author suggests that Herceg Novi's history is best appreciated through its fortresses, which are rich in stories and serve as venues for cultural events.
The affordability of Montenegro, especially when compared to other European destinations, is highlighted as a significant advantage for travelers on a budget.
Island Mamula is presented as both a historical site with a somber past and a current challenge for adventure seekers who attempt to swim to it from Herceg Novi's bay.
The article encourages readers to explore the ancient caves, such as the Blue Cave, which are noted for their natural beauty and historical significance.
The author reflects on the importance of family and community in Montenegro, emphasizing the local tradition of belonging to specific tribes or clans, which can be traced through surnames.
The author's personal journey in discovering their ancestry in Montenegro's northern regions is shared as an enriching experience that inspired their writing.
Overall, the author conveys a strong sense of love for Herceg Novi, suggesting that the town's charm and the hospitality of its people create a lasting bond with visitors, compelling them to return and share their experiences.

You Too Will Belong In Montenegro

At the birth of our planet, the most beautiful encounter between land and sea happened on the coast of Montenegro.

Herceg Novi is a town you can’t help but love. Many swear that Herceg Novi is the most beautiful city on the Adriatic Sea. Perhaps that is why most people who visit the town are just bound to come back.

And not just because of its architecture, warm sea or pleasant climate. There is something specific in it that pulls you back.

I have visited the beauties of Italy, Greece, Spain, Croatia but somehow the compact town of Herceg Novi has gotten under my skin. The feeling the town evokes in you can’t be described in words.

Herceg Novi is situated on the slopes of the Mount Orjen, the highest mountain in the Dinaric Alps, and faces the entrance to one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

Founded in 1382 as a fortress town Herceg Novi has been ruled over the centuries by the Ottoman Empire, Spain and Venice, Russia, France and Austria. The result is a divergent blend of architectural styles.

Herceg Novi isn’t as busy and crowded as places other Montenegrin cities like Kotor. You get more of a laid-back holiday vibe and you won’t need to worry the crowds.

I have known Herceg Novi all my life, but somehow there is always more to discover. I wish to share just few reasons why Herceg Novi is a must-visit place for you, in your lifetime.

Your appetites will be satisfied

With a mix of Mediterranean, Slavic and Turkish influences, Montenegro is a hotspot for food tasting. Herceg Novi is abundant in seafood. At the town market early morning, you can find the freshest fish caught daily by the many fishermen.

If you oversleep, head out to the promenade and sit at one restaurant right by the beaches and enjoy cooked, grilled seafood with generous amounts of olive oil, parsley and garlic.

For dessert, try Turkish coffee and a slice of baklava, and I guarantee you’ll go home satisfied.

You can reach great heights

There are plenty of mountaineering and hiking to do in Herceg Novi. The town is best seen from mountain Orjen. If you are decisive in the intention to spend one day of your vacation in walking up the mountain Orjen, bring the camera as I guarantee the splendid views.

Orjen is situated at 1.895 metres above sea level. You can see with your bare eye the entire Montenegro, and a part of the neighboring countries. The town of Herceg Novi has a wide selection of hiking and mountaineering clubs, just waiting for you to sign up and test your boundaries.

You will learn a lot

Nowhere is Herceg Novi’s intriguing history as one of the most prized possession on the Adriatic sea more apparent than in its fortresses. Nowadays the diverse fragments of the mighty fortifications range from overgrown ruins to modern festival venues, and all have a unique story to tell.

Choose from wide range of fortresses and rejuvenate your brain. It is important to understand that Montenegro is a home to some of the oldest urban settlements on the Adriatic coastline.

And due to it’s yet untouched land, there are many ruins, churches, tombs and graveyards to be discovered. I talk about those in my previous article. If one is to set off for an exciting expedition than there is no better place to start than in the town of Herceg Novi. You can read upon some of my previous expeditions in my previous article.

You can save some money

The country hasn’t caught up with the likes of Italy, Spain, Portugal or Croatia. The prices in Herceg Novi are more than just affordable, they are cheap! Based on the spending habits of travelers, when dining out an average meal in Montenegro should cost around €7 per person.

A large beer will be 2–3 euros. Buying groceries is a different story. Groceries are in general much cheaper than in the UK or Europena Union, so, for example, the bottle of wine you’ll pay 12 euros or more for at a restaurant, may well be bought in the supermarket for 2 euro.

Spending the summer months in Montenegro rather than in your home country will actually save you money.

You can challenge yourself

Island Mamula is an uninhabited islet , just few miles away from Herceg Novi. This islet is more of the fortress than of the island, as the fortification makes 90 percent of its land.

During World War Two the fort was converted into a concentration camp known for its brutal torture and cruelty towards prisoners from the local area by Mussolini and his Fascist regime.

Nowadays, it serves as a tourist attraction, but only true explorers know that the biggest challenge that few have undertaken is to swim from the bay of Herceg Novi up to the Islet.

The Fortress is well preserved and completely open for tours, and I am sure that the island is sure to impress even the most seasoned of travelers. Soon the island will be transformed into a luxurious real estate project, so I would suggest: hurry up and visit this unique place before it becomes off-limits.

You can write along the best authors

Ivo Andrić was a Yugoslav novelist, poet and short story writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1961. This literary giant in the span of his lifetime, has chosen build his home in the town of Herceg Novi.

Nowadays, his house, just few steps away from the sea is a open to visitors and serves as the writers club. Ivo Andric said about Herceg Novi:

“Herceg-Novi is a city of eternal greenery, sun and numerous steps. I can count those steps the whole night, in my sleep, but in the end I am unable to count all of them. And at dawn, when I wake up, in front of me lies a city full of steep, crossed steps that are really worth climbing and descending.”

If a Nobel Prize winner says so — it must be true.

You can explore ancient caves

If you are fan of snorkeling or kayaking then you should head out to the Blue cave. You can either rent a boat and get out there and explore the cave as well as the surrounding areas. Or you can hop on a guided tour that leaves from Herceg Novi by booking in advance or walking down to the harbour to check out a private tour.

Nature and history lovers, photographers will be also impressed as this cave is one of the biggest and most picturesque caves in the series of caves located along the coastline of the Bay of Kotor.

You can also swim in the dazzlingly crystal blue water, a color which results in the reflection of the sunlight off the surface during clearer days.

You will fall in love

One of the things that make Montenegro a fantastic family holiday destination is the standard of customer service. Montenegrin are naturally a wonderfully warm and welcoming people (just like me) — one of the many benefits of having such a diverse melting pot of cultures and ethnicity in a single country.

People will happily go out of their way to help you and families in particular are highly treasured guests. Traditional Montenegrin culture is very family-focused, with large families and multi-generational living the norm in less developed areas, making this an ideal place to come with children.

That is why in Montenegro people will go to the lengths to make you truly feel at home.

You will belong there

In Montenegro people never ask you: “Who are you?”Instead :

“Who do you belong to?”

As a child it puzzled me. Growing up, I understood the importance of tribal structure in Montenegro. Not so long ago, the country was referred to as Montenegro and the Hills. The Highlands were ruled by the seven tribes, which had autonomous power over the tribe-less highlanders.

Once again we can see the importance of family and the question of belonging. Nowadays, many Montenegrin's can identify to which tribe / clan your ancestry belongs just by your surname.

When I was 19 years old, I spent a month in the Northern part of Montenegro just exploring my ancestry: visiting villages, talking to people up till late and listening to stories of past. I have learned a lot, but not enough. I promised myself to come back as now I have way more questions than I had then.

The most valuable thing that searching for ancestry gave me, was the sense of belonging. The next best thing were the stories of elderly. Looking back now, I know that hearing those stories inclined me to write.

Montenegero and Herceg Novi has a specific effect on it’s visitors. You can’t just visit it once, somehow it binds you to come back, and I believe I found out why.

No town, and trust me, evokes the sense of belonging like Herceg Novi. And when you feel that, you can’t help yourself but share it with others.

Thank you for reading.