Foto: The old medieval center of Budva (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Montenegro - As we approach the coast, Vlado points out the beaches. Many beaches are private property belonging to hotels and resorts. Around Budva, this is no exception. I see numerous tourists walking toward the beach and the old town. Vlado parks close to the old town. I follow him to the main gate of the walled city. I wander through the narrow old streets. Old Budva resembles Kotor, but Budva lies more on a peninsula. The peninsula is surrounded by a high medieval city wall, built by the Venetians in the 15th century. At the tip of Budva lies the citadel. On the central square, the Catholic Church of St Mary of Punta and the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church stand side by side. I find the Orthodox church with all its colorful frescoes the most impressive. Just behind them lie two small churches built against the city wall. These old churches, dating from the 8th century, look somewhat dilapidated and unfortunately are closed. As an alternative, I visit the Budva Citadel. From the fortress, I have a nice view over the old center and the bay. I don’t find the citadel very special—it’s all a bit too restored. Old Budva was heavily damaged in a 1979 earthquake and has been restored as well as possible. In my opinion, sometimes a bit too well. I end my visit to Budva with a walk along the city walls.
Biogradska Gora National Park
Montenegro - I set off toward Biogradska Gora National Park. On the way, I drive through the Tara Gorge. At 1,300 meters deep, the Tara Gorge is the deepest gorge in Europe. At an arched bridge over the gorge, I stop briefly. From a terrace, I have a beautiful view ...
Durmitor National Park
Montenegro - Gašo, the owner of the campsite, drives me to the starting point. Paco, a local boy, is my guide for the day. He leads me through Durmitor National Park. Durmitor is a unique natural area with mountain peaks, deep gorges, and vast meadows. The park is ...
Kotor on the Adriatic Sea
Montenegro - After walking for about 45 minutes, I spot a restaurant and realize I’ve already reached Krstac. I must have missed a turn, resulting in a small detour. It’s frustrating that the initial paths were so poorly marked. I decide to be more attentive in ...
The Njego Mausoleum in Loven National Park
Montenegro - Above Cetinje, dark clouds hang and thunder sounds in the distance. It’s not a question of if it will rain, but when. To be safe, I look for a simple poncho in the shops. If that fails, I’ll settle for a sturdy umbrella. Then Vlado drives me to the ...
The Upper Monastery of Ostrog
Montenegro - After a two-hour drive, I arrive at the Ostrog Monastery. This Serbian Orthodox monastery, dating back to the 12th century, is built into a cliff face. Before visiting the monastery, I order a sandwich on a terrace—I’ve hardly eaten today. Then I ...