Montenegro: Holidays, Events and Climate
Public holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date, but are based on the time of Easter. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Lent, which lasts 46 days, begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. The Corpus Christi festival is celebrated on the 2nd Thursday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the 1st Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st. On October 31, Protestants celebrate Reformation Day. The Halloween festival also takes place on this day.
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
January 7 | Orthodox Christmas |
April | Orthodox Good Friday |
April | Orthodox Easter Monday |
April 27 | Day of the state |
1st of May | Labor Day |
July 13 | Day of the resistance against fascism |
November 29 | day of the Republic |
Source: Countryaah – Montenegro Holidays
Cultural events
- Mimosa Festival from January to March in Herceg Novi
- Theater festival in April in Herceg Novi
- Summer theater and opera festival “Theater City” in Budva
- Summer Book Fair in Herceg Novi
- Theater, literature and art festival “Annalen von Bar” in Bar
- “Carnival the Nights of Boka” in Kotor
- Music festival “Song of the Mediterranean” in Budva
- Pilgrimage from Perast to the island of Gospa od Skrpjela on July 22nd with decorated boats
- Film festival in August in Herceg Novi
Sporting events
- International soccer tournament “Beach Soccer”in Becici
- International swimming marathonin July/August in Herceg Novi
Montenegro: climate
Travel times
The ideas of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depend on a number of factors. Pure cultural travelers certainly see the climate differently than people who want to spend a pure beach holiday, for example. The state of health or age can also play an important role.
It should be noted that the country, with the exception of the mountain regions, has a Mediterranean climate
For winter sports
enthusiasts In the mountains of the country, plenty of snow can be expected every winter – the best conditions for passionate skiers and tobogganists. However, heavy snowfalls can make traveling to and from the airport more difficult.
However, due to climate change, winters with little snow are to be expected.
Attractions
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that MW stands for the nation of Montenegro as a two-letter acronym.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Bay and region of Kotor
Kotor has an eventful history, first it was occupied by the Illyrians, later by the Romans, then it belonged to Byzantium, for centuries to the Venetians, then to the Austrians, Russians and French. The old city wall, which was built between the 15th and 19th centuries, the city tower from 1602 and the two gates Vrata and Mora are worth seeing. In 1979 an earthquake destroyed churches and palaces.
The Bay of Kotor is a fjord-like system of bays in the Adriatic, stretching over 106 km. The Bay and Region of Kotor were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
Durmitor National Park
The Durmitor massif is located in the north of the country, the highest mountain of which is the Bobotov Kuk with a height of 2522 m. Glacier lakes and karst gullies, springs, streams and rivers in inaccessible valleys lie between the craggy rocks, glaciers, high alpine pastures and primeval forests. The Tara Canyon has dug up to 1,300 m deep through the mountain range.
The Durmitor National Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980 and expanded in 2005.
Stećci – Medieval tombstones
Stećci is the plural of Stećak, which describes a medieval tombstone of a certain shape. There are more than 58,000 of these medieval tombstones in the various Balkan countries.
Numerous stones can be found in Herzegovina near Stolac in the Radimlja burial ground. Stolac is a small town with a population of 15,000 near Mostar in Herzegovina.
There are also larger collections of these tombstones near Lake Blidinje, which is the largest lake in Bosnia and Herzegovina with an area of 3.2 km².
Rather seldom they are found in the more distant regions of Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. A total of 30 sites in four countries with the tombstones were selected by UNESCO.
These tombstones date from between the 12th and 16th centuries, around 6,000 of which are decorated with bas-reliefs depicting human figures.
Often you will also find scenes from the everyday life of the people of that time, hunting or jousting as well as symbols such as crosses or crescents. Sometimes they are also provided with inscriptions.
The Stećci selected by UNESO cross borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia and were entered on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on July 17, 2016 at the conference in Istanbul.
Venetian defense system from the 15th to 17th centuries
Such defensive structures protected numerous cities of the Republic of Venice between the 15th and 17th centuries. A total of six sites of the defense system, which extends over a length of around 1,000 km between Lombardy in Italy and the east coast of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia and Montenegro, have been included in the World Heritage List. These fortifications reflect the changes in military techniques and construction methods that followed the introduction of gunpowder.
A particularly interesting facility is located in the town of Palmanova, which has around 5,500 residents, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in Italy.
Other protected fortifications are the fortified city of Peschiera del Garda in Italy, the fortified city of Bergamo in Italy, the fortress of Saint Nicholas in the Šibenik-Knin County in Croatia, the defense system of Zadar in Croatia and the fortified city of Kotor in Montenegro.
The Venetian Defense System crosses borders with Italy and Croatia and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List at the UNESCO meeting that met in Krakow, Poland, from July 2 to 12, 2017
Cities
Podgorica
Podgorica is the capital of Montenegro with around 186,000 residents. It should be mentioned that the city was called Titograd between 1946 and 1992.
The city goes back to an Illyrian and later Roman site.
Today Podgorica, located in the mountains of Montenegro, is the country’s economic and cultural center.
Special sights include the Serbian Orthodox Resurrection Cathedral from 2013, the clock tower (Sahat Kula), the approximately 175 m long Millennium Bridge from 2005 and the 105 m long Moscow Bridge from 2008.
Together with the Orthodox Church Hristovog Vaskrsenja, the Millennium Bridge is that landmark of the city
Particularly noteworthy is the Adži-paša’s bridge, which dates back to Roman times and was extensively restored in the 18th century.
The citadel of Podgorica and the 55 m high observation tower Toranj na Dajbabskoj Gori, completed in 2011, are also worth seeing.
Numerous theaters such as the City Theater, the Montenegrin National Theater and the Puppet Theater offer the linguistic visitor a variety of performances.
The most popular exhibition venues for changing art collections are the Natural History Museum and the City Museum.
Cetinje
Cetinje was the seat of government of Montenegro until 1918 and is an important cultural center of the country. The city is now the official residence of the President of Montenegro.
Of the city’s 16,500 residents, around 90.5% are Montenegrins and around 4.5% Serbs.
Some well-preserved former royal and government buildings as well as a monastery are worth seeing. Museums have been converted into two former palaces.
And not to be forgotten are the numerous former embassy buildings, such as those of Russia or Austria-Hungary.
The Faculties of Art, Music and Drama of the University of Montenegro are based here.
Ulcinj
Ulcinj (Улцињ) has around 20,000 residents and, with its old town, is considered the most interesting city in Montenegro. The city is located on the Adriatic Sea near the border with Albania.
The population consists of around 70% Albanians, 12.5% Montenegrins and almost 6% Serbs. The vast majority of the population are Muslims.
The cityscape reflects the Ottoman past. In addition to the local museum, the many mosques – such as the church mosque or the Namazgjahu mosque – are worth seeing.
A special feature is the 13 km long sandy beach that stretches to the border with Albania.
Special buildings
Remains of Villa Rustica
The remains of Villa Rustica in Risan date from the 2nd century. It is equipped with interesting mosaics.
Herceg Novi
clock tower The Herceg Novi clock tower, which is worth seeing, was built in 1667.
Palace of Podgorica
The Palace of Podgorica was built in 1891. The building includes a small chapel and a residence for the king’s bodyguards. Today the palace houses a gallery and an art museum that displays a collection of over 1,500 works.
Museums
Herceg Novi
clock tower The Herceg Novi clock tower, which is worth seeing, was built in 1667.
Podgorica
City Museum The Podgorica City Museum displays archaeological finds from the region and objects related to the city’s history.
Natural History Museum
In the Natural History Museum in Podgorica you can find out more about the flora and fauna of the country.
National Museum of Montenegro
The National Museum of Montenegro in Cetinje was founded in 1890 and shows a cultural-historical collection of the country.
Archeological
Mausoleum of Petar II. Petrovic Njegos
The mausoleum of Petar II. Petrovic Njegos on the top of Mount Lovcen was built on the centenary of the prince’s death in 1951 until around twenty years later. It is made of marble and granite. Two huge sculptures adorn the entrance.
Budva
City Walls The Budva City Walls were built on the remains of a 9th century wall in the 15th century. Today it is a listed building.
Archaeological sites of the ancient Roman city of Dioclea
The archaeological sites of the ancient Roman city of Dioclea near Podgorica show ruins of ramparts, a palace, a bridge, tombs and tombstones with Latin inscriptions.
Churches and monasteries
Parish Church of St. Nikolaus von Perast
The parish church of St. Nikolaus von Perast dates from the 15th century. The landmark of the city, a 55 m high, octagonal bell tower belongs to the church. The treasury belonging to the church houses gold and silversmiths worth seeing.
Cathedral of St. Tifun
The Cathedral of St. Tifun in Kotor was built in 1166. The interior of the church, which is lavishly decorated, is worth seeing. The two church towers date from the 17th century and were built in the Renaissance style.
Franciscan monastery
The Franciscan monastery on the island of Otok dates back to the 15th century.
Church of St. John the Baptist
The Church of St. John the Baptist in Budva dates from the 9th century. It has been restored several times over the centuries. The church’s bell tower was built in 1867.
Moraca Monastery The Moraca
Monastery in Kolasin was built in 1252 and is an important cultural asset. It is decorated with numerous precious frescoes.
university
The University of Montenegro was founded in 1974. Its headquarters are in the capital Podgorica. Around 10,000 students are currently studying here. Around 1,300 lecturers and professors work at the 14 faculties in around 85 courses. In the 2004/05 academic year, German language and literature was taken up as an independent subject in Niksic at the Philosophical Faculty.
Natural beauties
Biogradska Gora National Park The Biogradska Gora
National Park is the only primeval forest in Europe besides Perucica in Bosnia, its area is 5,400 hectares. Part of the National Park and the Tara Gorge were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.
River Tara and Tra Gorge
The river Tara and the Tra Gorge with its over 140 kilometers length is the longest mountain river in Montenegro. The canyon formed by it is approximately eighty kilometers long and reaches a depth of 1,300 meters, it is the second deepest and second longest canyon in the world after the Colorado Gorge in America. Because of its rapids and waterfalls up to 60 m high, the river is a challenge for every water sports enthusiast. The Tara flows into the Drina, which in turn flows into the Save.
Bay of Kotor
For more information, see UNESCO World Heritage Site above
Durmitor mountain range
For more details see above under UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tivat
Botanical Garden and City Park The Tivat Botanical Garden and City Park is home to numerous exotic plants from all over the world.
Adriatic, Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
This sea – actually the “European Mediterranean” – extends over approximately 2,500,000 km² between Europe, Asia and Africa.
In the west (near Spain and Morocco) it is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the “Strait of Gibraltar”. Connections exist via the Dardanelles, the Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus with the Black Sea and via the Suez Canal with the Red Sea.