Old Bar Fortress
Stari Bar
A medieval fortified town at the foot of Mount Rumija.
Within the walls lie remains of palaces, churches and towers, with street lines still legible. It is Bar’s primary historic core and a starting point for exploring the area.
How to Get There
On foot from Bar center ~32-48 min.
From Virpazar by taxi ~25 min.
From Ulcinj by taxi ~29 min.
From TGD airport (Podgorica) by taxi/transfer ~46 min.
From TIV airport (Tivat) by taxi/transfer ~72 min.
Description
What this place is
Stari Bar is a medieval fortified town and archaeological park on Londša hill at the foot of Mount Rumija, ~3–4 km inland from modern Bar. Historically known as Antivari (Antibarium), it controlled routes between the coast and Zeta for centuries.
Key features
- Perched on a defensible rock with a freshwater spring – explains its inland siting and siege resilience.
- Layered fabric – early-medieval gates and citadel, plus Ottoman-era structures (hammam, powder magazine).
- Venetian–Ottoman legacy – Venetian works in the west; annexed by the Ottoman Empire in 1571.
- Siege of 1877–1878 – blasting the aqueduct on 5 January 1878 cut the water and forced surrender.
- 16th–17th-c. aqueduct – destroyed by the 1979 earthquake, later restored and now visitable.
What to see
- Citadel and 10th–11th-c. town gates with wide views to Rumija and the Adriatic.
- Ruins of churches – St George’s Cathedral (11th c.), Gothic St Catherine and St Veneranda – plus the Ottoman hammam and powder magazine.
- The aqueduct north of the fortress and the Old Bar bazaar (čaršija) below with cafés and workshops.
History
In the Early Middle Ages, Antivari belonged to Byzantium (Theme of Dyrrhachium), then to Vojislav’s state around 1040, later to the Serbian Nemanjićs and the Balšić family. In the 15th century it switched between Venice and regional lords until 1571, when it was taken by the Ottomans.
During the Montenegrin–Ottoman War, the siege began on 13 November 1877. After seven weeks of bombardment, Montenegrins blew up the aqueduct on 5 January 1878; the garrison surrendered on 9 January, and the Congress of Berlin (1878) awarded Bar to Montenegro.
The 15 April 1979 earthquake destroyed the aqueduct and accelerated abandonment; residents shifted to the coastal “new” Bar. The aqueduct was later rebuilt, and the fortress became an archaeological park.
Practical information
Location: Londša hill, ~3–4 km from modern Bar, at the foot of Mount Rumija.
How to get there: local bus from Bar to Stari Bar (frequent in season); 10–15 minutes by taxi; ~60 minutes’ uphill walk; parking by the gate.
Access: ticketed archaeological park managed by JU Kulturni centar Bar.
Visiting hours: daily during daylight; seasonal hours vary.
Duration: 60–90 minutes for the fortress; up to 2 hours incl. the lower bazaar.
Best time: morning or golden hour; spring and autumn for milder weather.
Special conditions: uneven stone and slippery after rain – wear grippy footwear; little shade in summer – bring water and sun protection; some wall sections may be closed.
