Old Town of Kotor is one of the best preserved medieval cultural monuments in this part of the Mediterranean. The Bay of Kotor, the only fiord in the Mediterranean, has favorable geographic position, beautiful relief, rich cultural and historical heritage, and pleasant meteorological maritime conditions.
Throughout the centuries, many empires battled for control of Kotor. The town was colonized by Greeks as early as the 3d century B.C. It was controlled by the Romans, and in the tenth century it was an autonomous city of the Byzantine Empire. From 1186 to 1371, it was a free city of medieval Serbia. It was under Venetian and Hungarian controls for brief periods, was an independent republic from 1395 to 1420, and then returned to Venetian control once again.
In 1797 it passed to Austria and became an important naval base. French occupation from 1807 to 1914 was followed by Austrian rule again until 1918. In that year, the town finally became part of Yugoslavia. As the oldest town in Montenegro, it is a state-protected historical monument.
After the earthquake in 1979, Kotor was inscribed on the World Heritage List to restore this sacred site, as well as to preserve the impressive medieval walls of the city's fortress.
Main page | Montenegro