www.bar.cg.yu 

Residents remember the words of a merry fellow townsman, a passionate lover of “good alcoholics beverage”, and former port worker, “I settled down in Bar since I am a habitual drunkard”. Bar is primarily a significant port in this part of the Balkans and an important railroad destination.

Bar has “its older brother”, Bari, on the Italian coast of the Adriatic sea. This parallel is mentioned in regards to the old town of Bar, which is situated five kilometers from the pier, on the slopes of Rumija. After a decade of “lonely existence” the ramparts of old Bar are a cultural center today. Take a little time to visit the studio of the unusual Montenegrin painter Naod Zorica, as well as the studios of the other painters located in the restored stone houses. There are relatively well-preserved remnants of the old towers, streets, and city ramparts, especially the cathedral of St. Geogre and the church of St. Nicolas dating form the XII and the XIV century. There is also a palace with painting remnants and a  Turkish bath.

The new, clean and elegant settlements of Bar, near the port, make a big impression. Bar is not only a port, but also a tourist town. The beaches begin near the marina, and extend up to Sutomore’s slopes. The well known beaches of Sutomore and of Canj cove, have a number of hotels and tourist villages.

This is the region of the great olive-growers and olive oil producers. They can boast about having the oldest olive tree which sprouted two millenniums ago! This olive tree, with the developing port, are the dominant symbols of the town. The medallion of the International Television Festival, which is held every year in this peaceful town, has the shape of this ancient olive tree. According to legend, no resident of Bar could get married unless they planted at least ten trees of this noble Mediterranean plant. 

Traditionally  the olive trees are not planted for ourselves but for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, since you must wait ten years for the first fruit. Many of the old olive trees have the names of those who planted them. We have Radun’s, Djuro’s, Todor’s, and Risto’s olive trees. The old olive trees, which give the best fruit, even today are named after their owners. More than a half million olive trees are growing along the Adriatic coast and they are densely planted in the region of Bar.