Bar historical places: Stari Bar and the coastal heritage
Bar historical places guide: the abandoned medieval fortress town of Stari Bar, King Nikola's Palace (1885), a two-thousand-year-old olive tree and the Adriatic port.
Bar is one of the most intriguing stops on the Montenegrin coast. The abandoned medieval fortress town of Stari Bar, a few kilometres inland from the modern port, offers a layered history together with the surrounding olive groves and the palace-museum on the coast. As the sites are joined by short drives, they can be comfortably seen in a day. This guide visits Bar's key historical sites, from Stari Bar down to the coast.
Why visit Stari Bar?
Stari Bar (Old Bar) is a walled medieval town, largely preserved as a ruin, on a hill inland from the modern city. Walking among its abandoned lanes, gates and building remains is like touring an open-air museum where different eras overlie one another; from the top, the view opens over mountains and olive groves.
The town's origins reach back to antiquity; in the 6th century the Roman castle of Antipargal was rebuilt here. In the following centuries, Byzantine and Venetian influences shaped the town. Within the walls, the foundations of churches, houses and other buildings from various periods can be seen. Because Stari Bar was largely abandoned in the 19th century, its medieval fabric remained intact; it is regarded as one of Montenegro's most striking archaeological sites and is being restored step by step.
The layers of Stari Bar: from Rome to the Ottomans
Bar's history carries the traces of successive rulers. Venice brought the town under its control at the start of the 15th century (around 1405 and 1412) and strengthened the walls. In 1571 the Ottomans captured the town (as Antivari) and held it until 1878. These periods gave Stari Bar's fabric its present many-layered form.
In the Ottoman era new buildings were added, while the Venetian walls formed the backbone of the defence. After 1878 the region passed to Montenegro, and the population gradually moved to the new Bar on the coast. Stari Bar thus stopped living as a town and remained as a whole history site. Today the building remains of different faiths within the walls and the narrow stone lanes are the main reminders of its layered past.
King Nikola's Palace and the Bar Heritage Museum
King Nikola's Palace in the modern coastal town of Bar was built in 1885. This palace complex of the Montenegrin ruler now serves as the Bar Heritage Museum and hosts cultural events; with its garden and sea view it is among the calmest corners of the city.
The museum holds finds from the region, period objects and collections that tell of the city's relationship with the sea. The park around the palace, with its exotic plants and shaded paths, is ideal for a short break. Modern Bar is also a busy port linked by regular ferries to Bari in Italy; this sea connection carries the city's centuries-long role in Adriatic trade into the present.
The two-thousand-year-old olive tree and its surroundings
The area around Bar is known for its dense olive groves. Near the city stands an ancient olive tree said to be over two thousand years old; this tree is a living witness to the region's thousands of years of farming and settlement, and forms a symbolic stop for visitors.
The olive is an inseparable part of Bar's identity; the surrounding groves are still in production. The area around the old tree, with its shade and calm atmosphere, is easily combined with a visit to Stari Bar. The region's olive-oil tradition continues in local markets and among small producers. These stops are meaningful for those who want to see not only the stone ruins but also the city's living agricultural heritage.
How should you explore Bar?
The natural flow starts at Stari Bar inland and descends to the modern Bar on the coast. The ruins of the old town can be explored in one to two hours at an easy pace; then the palace-museum, park and harbour front follow. The two points are joined by a short drive.
In the summer heat it is pleasant to visit Stari Bar early in the morning and use the cool in the stony area. The coastal Bar suits the afternoon and evening; a walk along the harbour and the movement of the ferries give the city a lively rhythm. Comfortable shoes help in the climbing, stony old town. For more, see our city page on Bar.
FAQ
What is Stari Bar and is it worth seeing?
Stari Bar (Old Bar) is an abandoned, walled medieval town on a hill inland from the modern city. Rebuilt in the 6th century as the Roman castle of Antipargal, it later saw Venetian and Ottoman rule. Because it was largely emptied in the 19th century, its medieval fabric stayed intact, making it one of Montenegro's most striking archaeological sites.
What is King Nikola's Palace used for today?
King Nikola's Palace in the modern coastal Bar was built in 1885 and now serves as the Bar Heritage Museum. The museum displays finds from the region and period objects and hosts cultural events; with its garden, exotic plants and sea view, it is among the calmest corners of the city.
Is Stari Bar far from the coastal Bar?
No; Stari Bar lies only a few kilometres inland from the modern coastal city, and the two points are joined by a short drive. The ruins of the old town take one to two hours to explore; then the coastal palace-museum, park and harbour follow. So the historic inland and the coastal town fit comfortably into one day.