Bar Aqueduct

What is this place

The Bar Aqueduct is a stone water supply structure on the northern side of Stari Bar, about 4 km from modern Bar. It was built in the 16th century under Ottoman rule to bring water from Mount Rumija to the fortified town.

Key features

• The only surviving aqueduct in Montenegro – a rare Adriatic hydraulic monument.
• Ottoman 16th-century construction – integral to Stari Bar’s water system.
• Main bridge with 17 arches on 18 piers – spans of varying widths adapted to the terrain.
• Water channel formed by stoneware pipes (~12 cm diameter, ~30 cm length) laid along the crown.
• Destroyed by the 15 April 1979 earthquake, later fully rebuilt and back in service.

What to see

• The arcade below the fortress with viewpoints over the ravine.
• The upper channel bed with fragments of ceramic pipes.
• Vistas of Stari Bar and Mount Rumija from the path along the piers.

History

Built in the 16th century, the aqueduct carried water roughly 3 km from a spring on Mount Rumija, crossing a valley by a multi-arched bridge of rough-hewn stone, with the conduit formed by ceramic pipes.

In 1979, a powerful earthquake leveled the structure; it was subsequently reconstructed in full. Today it again operates and stands as one of Stari Bar’s signature landmarks.

Practical information

Location: on the northern side of Stari Bar, at the foot of Mount Rumija, about 4 km from modern Bar and roughly 400–500 m uphill from the entrance to Stari Bar.

Getting there: drive, take a taxi or bus from Bar to Stari Bar (about 10 minutes), then walk along the road towards the valley and aqueduct; the structure is clearly visible from the road and nearby parking areas.

Access: open site with free access and practically no fencing or ticket office; you can view it from the roadside and along small paths around the pillars.

Visiting hours: best visited in daylight; most people stop by on the way to or from Stari Bar.

Visit duration: 15–30 minutes are usually enough for a look around and photos, often combined with a 1.5–2 hour visit to Stari Bar.

Best time: spring and autumn with mild temperatures; in summer, mornings and late afternoons are more comfortable and give good light on the arches.

Notes: approaches run partly along the edge of a road and uneven ground, so sturdy footwear and care with children are important; after rain the soil and stones can be slippery, and there is little shade, so in summer a hat and water are useful.