Montenegro
Europe · Southeast Europe
Overview
Montenegro lies in the western Balkans, on the Adriatic coast, bordered by Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. The country's name, of Venetian origin, means "black mountain," referring to the dark, pine-covered highlands rising above the coast. For centuries, Montenegro existed as a buffer zone between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice, its relative independence aided by the inaccessibility of its mountainous terrain. The country split from Serbia in 2006 following a referendum, becoming an independent state. The official language is Montenegrin, grammatically close to Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian.
The Bay of Kotor, often described as the southernmost fjord in the Balkans despite being geologically a submerged river canyon, with its medieval towns including Kotor, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Kotor's old town, with Venetian-style buildings and the mountain fortress wall surrounding the city, is one of the best-preserved medieval town centers in the region. Budva, another historic coastal town, with its old town and lively summer tourism, is one of the hubs of the Montenegrin coast. Cetinje, the country's former capital, preserves the royal palace and numerous museums as the symbolic center of Montenegrin statehood and cultural heritage.
Durmitor National Park, with its mountainous terrain and the canyon of the Tara River, the deepest gorge in Europe, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980, offering excellent terrain for both hiking and rafting. Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans, shared with Albania, is home to rich birdlife, including one of the largest pelican populations in Europe. Montenegro's coastline, particularly around the Budva Riviera, with its sandy and rocky beaches, is the main destination for summer coastal tourism. Local cuisine blends Mediterranean and Balkan influences, with njeguški pršut, smoked ham from the village of Njeguši, and fresh fish dishes in coastal regions, as signature items.
Map
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Browse all UNESCO sites →Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor
In the Middle Ages, this natural harbour on the Adriatic coast in Montenegro was an important artistic and commercial centre with its own famous schools of masonry and iconography. A large number of the monuments (including four Romanesque churches and the town walls) were seriously damaged by the 1979 earthquake but the town has been restored, largely with UNESCO’s help.
Durmitor National Park
This breathtaking national park was formed by glaciers and is traversed by rivers and underground streams. Along the Tara river canyon, which has the deepest gorges in Europe, the dense pine forests are interspersed with clear lakes and harbour a wide range of endemic flora.
Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards
This serial property combines 28 sites, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, western Serbia, western Montenegro and central and southern Croatia, representing these cemeteries and regionally distinctive medieval tombstones, or stećci. The cemeteries, which date from the 12th to 16th centuries CE, are laid out in rows, as was the common custom in Europe from the Middle Ages. The stećci are mostly carved from limestone. They feature a wide range of decorative motifs and inscriptions that represent iconographic continuities within medieval Europe as well as locally distinctive traditions.
Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Stato da Terra – Western Stato da Mar
This property consists of 6 components of defence works in Italy, Croatia and Montenegro, spanning more than 1,000 km between the Lombard region of Italy and the eastern Adriatic Coast. The fortifications throughout the Stato da Terra protected the Republic of Venice from other European powers to the northwest and those of the Stato da Mar protected the sea routes and ports in the Adriatic Sea to the Levant. They were necessary to support the expansion and authority of the Serenissima. The introduction of gunpowder led to significant shifts in military techniques and architecture that are reflected in the design of so-called alla moderna / bastioned, fortifications, which were to spread throughout Europe.
Data: UNESCO WHC · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Montenegro?
The capital of Montenegro is Podgorica.
What is the area of Montenegro?
The area of Montenegro is 13,812 km².
What is the population of Montenegro?
The population of Montenegro is 632,700.
What is the currency of Montenegro?
The currency of Montenegro is Euro (EUR).
What is the official language of Montenegro?
The official language of Montenegro: Montenegrin.
What side of the road does Montenegro drive on?
Montenegro: Right-hand traffic.
Is Montenegro a member of the United Nations?
Yes, Montenegro is a member of the United Nations.