Europe is home to some of the best natural tourist attractions in the world, and these can be an endless list for every traveler. But when most people think of Europe, Montenegro is not the first thing that jumps to mind. Today’s Clark Weeks’ Montenegro sight seeing recommendation is the Tara River Canyon. Clark Weeks and his wife hope you will consider going to Montenegro and enjoying the spectacular Tara River Canyon.

 In every list of great natural attractions, the Tara River Canyon, situated in Montenegro, is sure to be among the top destinations. As the deepest canyon on the continent, second only to the Grand Canyon in the world, the Tara River Canyon is a sight that everyone should experience.

The Geography of Tara River Canyon

The Canyon has a depth of over 1,300 meters or 4,300 feet. The Canyon starts from Bistrica in Montenegro to Hum in the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, over a total length of 51 miles. The last 22 miles of this canyon is also the border between Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina. It is home to over 80 large caves, rocky terraces, high cliffs, and several sandy beaches.

The Tara River itself is under the ‘Human and Biosphere’ program since 1977, by which it is one of the world’s ecological biosphere reserves. This international convention is to protect the river owing to its water quality and the distinct ecological system that it creates. Several wellsprings and tributaries come together to supply this river.

Activities and What to Do at the Tara River Canyon

Rafting the Tara River

The canyon also is part of the rafting route of the Tara River. This route starts from Brstnovica and goes till Scepan Polje, at a total length of 11 miles. This is also the part of the canyon that offers the highest elevation drop. Over 21 of the total 50 rapids that the Tara has are within the stretch of the canyon. There is also a longer rafting route that is over 62 miles, starting from the Ljutica waterfalls and going to the 541 foot high monumental bridge.

There are also guided rafting tours that tourists can take if they want to avoid rafting on their own. Such tours can be anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour or more in length and take you through some of the best sights in the canyon. Most rafting services also let small groups of 4 or more go together, but you can also pair with other groups if you want to.

Ziplining and Driving the Canyon

In addition to water sports, there is also a zipline through the canyon, something that adventure tourists often enjoy. This zipline can be done from the Tara Bridge and ends at the base rafting camps. Driving along the canyon is also popular here. The roads can be narrow and there are fewer places to stop for photos. Tourists planning to drive here are advised to have 4X4s or SUVs for better driving and comfort. There are several tour operators and rafting agencies in the area, and generally booking these before is not required.

For those who are traveling near the area, the Tara River Canyon is a sight that they cannot afford to miss. As one of the best natural marvels that Europe has to offer, this canyon is sure to be a memorable experience for every kind of traveler.

Clark Weeks Montenegro Sight Seeing Tips

If you do make it there, please comment and let Clark Weeks know how much you enjoyed the Tara River Canyon. We plan to have more Clark Weeks Montenegro sight seeing tips in the future.…

What to Know about Traveling to Montenegro

Clark Weeks believes you will want to travel to Montenegro after learning more about it. As one of the most recent countries on the world map, Montenegro has a long history that has shaped this land and given it a unique charm. The travel world has been agog over the exquisite Croatian coastline. Interestingly, Montenegro shares the same coastline and has equally mesmerizing beaches. Here are the top ten things that you should know about traveling to Montenegro.

Castle of San Giovanni

If you are after one of the best views in Montenegro, then there is no better place than the picturesque Castle of San Giovanni. Situated nearly 1200 meters above the sea level, the scenic spot is reached by climbing over 1400 stairs.

The Old Town of Kotor

Early morning hours are the best time to take in the sights of the old town of Kotor. You can avoid throngs of tourists at this time of the day as well. The town is also surrounded by 10 meter thick medieval fortifications that are a reminder of the numerous invaders that tried to conquer this ancient city.

The Arms Square

Located very close to the main gate of the city of Kotor, Arms Square is the city’s central point of activity and is filled with landmarks and beautiful cafes that you just can’t miss.

Bay of Kotor

The Bay of Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage and is not to be missed. Just a short stroll around the shores of this calming lake can help you relax after a long day of sight-seeing. Well, its not really a lake. It just looks like one. It is a bay that goes out to the Adriatic Sea. But it is kind of two bays in one. There is a narrow entrance from the Adriatic and then it widens out. Then on one side there is another narrow strip of water and it widens out again.

The Floating Church

Floating in the center of the Bay of Kotor is the spellbinding Catholic church called Our Lady of Rocks. Built over 500 years ago, the church can be visited via a boat ride.

Lake Skadar

This impressive body of water separates Montenegro from Albania and tourists feel that the view of Lake Skadar is most lovely from the Montenegro side. (Of course, the Albanians might not agree.) Lake Skadar is best seen with a tour guide; You can cover more ground and make the most of your holiday. The lake is also one of the finest bird-watching regions of Europe.

Rijeka Crnojevica

Moving along the winding and turning Lake Skadar, is the small town of Rijeka Crnojevica that has merely 200 residents. Although, the double-arched bridge is what attracts the tourists here.

Perast

Perast is just a day trip from Kotor. so, on the day that the town of Kotor gets too crowded, you can simply take off to Perast. The quaint seaside town is pretty much like Kotor, albeit slightly cheaper.

Cetinje

One of Montenegro’s hidden gems, the beautiful town of Cetinje will leave you wondering why more tourists don’t visit this place. Cetinje is the old royal capital of Montenegro and therefore, is replete with history and charm.

Lipa Cave

The tourists who make it to Cetinje must visit the Lipa cave that is located only a few miles outside the city. It has stalactites and stalagmites and all its passages run for over a mile.

While Montenegro offers breathtaking scenery around every corner, these 10 spots just can’t be missed. We hope this Clark Weeks inspired travel info about Montenegro has you intrigued.

To see more info about Montenegro, click here.…

Since Clark Weeks has been to Montenegro a number of times because that is where his wife’s family is from, he as decided to let people know a little more about the country. Today it is a brief history of the country of Montenegro, one of the newer countries in the world and yet a very old region.

It is very rare to come across a straightforward Balkan history and Montenegro is no exception. Boundary lines in present-day Montenegro have been drawn and re-drawn since time immemorial. Montenegro finally became an independent country in 2006 when it gained independence from Yugoslavia.

Early History

Early history records show that the area that we call Montenegro was first inhabited by the Illyrians. During the Bronze age, the Illyrians made conquests through the Mediterranean and set up trade practices. The Romans finally won over the Illyrian kingdom in the 2^nd Century BC. The Roman Empire’s history chronicles mention the region. Their name for it was the territory of Duklja or Doclea.

The Middle Ages

It was the Slavs who entered this region in the 7^th century and gave it the name of Doclea. They are also credited for the spread of Christianity. Soon Christianity became the main religion of the Montenegro region. In the 9^th century, the Slavs also managed to establish this territory as an independent dukedom of Doclea. The 11^th century saw Byzantine occupation as the Serbian realm fell. In 1077, the Catholic world recognized Montenegro as an independent kingdom by the catholic world. However, this did not last long. By the 12^th century, the kingdom became a subject of Rascia.

Modern Period

Venice controlled the coasts of this diverse land of modern-day Montenegro from 1420 to 1797. A portion of this area was also under the realm of the Ottoman empire till as late as 1912. The last portion of Montenegro became partially independent in 1516 and gained the status of a theocratic state.

The lower levels of priests were not based on heredity and could marry. Then there were Vladikas. These were princes and they also had the title of bishop. Rank has privileges. However, the top levels in the church, including the Vladika remained celibate. Vladikas were the rulers yet they were elected until 1696. In 1696 the current Vladika changed it to a hereditary system. A rather odd hereditary system because the Vladika was supposed to be celibate. That meant the next Vladika was usually the nephew of the current Vladika.

Throughout history, Montenegro has been under constant attack from invaders like the Venetians and the Ottomans. However, the region stood its ground and successfully succeeded in maintaining itself as a partially independent state throughout much of history.

Historians consider Nicholas I to be the most prominent leader in the modern period. Under him, the country not only was granted the status of a kingdom but also established its first-ever constitution in 1905. However, some feel that king Nicholas abandoned the country during the 1^st world war. In 1941, during the second world war, Montenegro came under Italian occupation. At the same time Montenegro started fighting a civil war. After World War II, Montenegro became a republic of Yugoslavia. In spite of being the smallest republic in terms of area and population, Montenegro gained economic strength.

Conclusion

While Montenegro saw nearly seven incarnations as different occupants adorned its lands throughout history. The one thing that remained consistent was its striving for freedom. On May 21, 2006, the republic sought a referendum and most of its citizens voted for independence. This varied history has made it an interesting destination that attracts numerous travelers every year. Clark Weeks hopes you liked this history of Montenegro and recommends that you visit Montenegro between June and September.

We hope you like the other posts in this blog.…

Clark Weeks’ wife is from Montenegro and they wanted to give an intro to Montenegro and share this wonderful country with the world. It has a beautiful coastline with charming towns, mountains with ski resorts and the people are friendly.

Picture this: a quite riverside village basking beneath the golden sun, the water upon the horizon glistening and dancing beneath the distance image of a smaller isle of green and shoal. The buildings climb up the cobblestone streets and walls, and a bell tower with an orange roof stands proud above the streets and seas, the simple imagery causing the sound of bells ringing far away in the distance to resonate in your ears.

This seems like a picture you’d only see on one of those hokey inspirational quote posters from the early 2000s, but what if I told you such a place exists in the country of Montenegro? One of the newer countries in Europe after becoming an independent land in 2006, chances are you’ve seen a picture from this beautiful place, but never knew its name until now.

It boasts some of the most breathtaking views Europe has to offer, from the gorgeous country sides that look as though they were shaped by divinity and finished with an emerald touch, or the old villages whose architecture has withstood the test of time.

Perast

Even a day trip around Montenegro won’t be enough to show you all it has to offer, but it can show you a lot! You could begin your day by venturing out to Perast, a sleepy little seaside town where a day in the life of the locals is easy to observe, fishing and sailing the tranquil waters, and selling their goods to one another at arguably some of the best prices you’ll find around! It’s a lovely place to go, and there’s a lot less tourist density here, so if you are one to escape the mundane crowds, this is certainly among the best places you could visit!

If religious sites and architecture are more your venture, you’ll find no shortage of famous houses of worship that will not only leave you in awe, but look truly unique in your photo album! “Our Lady of the Rocks” is like something out of a postcard that you just don’t believe is a real place, and when you hear about its origins, you may still question it. Built upon a manmade island of blocks and stone over half a millennium ago by fishermen just off of Perast, it is one of the few Catholic Church located in the country, which is Orthodox in majority.

Bobotuv Kuk and Kotor

But if you want to see from the eyes of heaven itself, the most adventurous thing to do in any country is to climb to a really high place and take it all in, right? Bobotuv Kuk is quite an endeavor to make, but for the thrill seekers and moderately seasoned hikers, you will never see a better view than this place. It will take several hours, and you will most definitely need proper climbing equipment to make it to the summit, but the view is ultimately worth the journey if you want to see the sunset horizon bask the glacial lakes in amber glow. Another spot that offers incredible views is the Castle of Giovanni in Kotor. It’s not a long hike to the formidable fortress but it is incredibly exhausting as the hike has 1355 stairs to climb and 70 switchbacks. But hey, the stunning sunset view on the castle is spectacular! I’d say it’s worthwhile.

Montenegro is a hidden gem among European travel destinations, and may not be for everyone. A lot of tours don’t appear to divulge much about the nation’s history or culture, but maybe in time that will change as tourism becomes more popular. It’s definitely a must see for anyone who appreciates the simple beauties of the world, or maybe just to someone looking for inspiration from more than just a picture with some nice words on it.

Clark Weeks and Wife Hope You Enjoy this Blog

From various trips to Montenegro, Clark Weeks has come to see why Montenegro is so special to her. We hope that with this blog we can help show you why they love the country.…