Bar, Montenegro
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Bar (Montenegrin and Serbian Cyrillic: Бар, Albanian: Tivari, Greek: Θηβάριον, Thivárion) is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 13,719 (2003 census). Bar is the centre of Bar municipality and a major seaport of Montenegro.
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[edit] Name
In Serbian, the town is known as Bar (Бар), in Albanian as Tivar, and in Italian as Antivari. The name of this city is connected to Bari, Italy as those cities are located on the opposite side of Adriatic sea.
[edit] History
The archeological excavations from older Neolithic confirm that there were people in Bar even in prehistory. The material remainders from Illyrian times can be found everywhere in Bar's municipality. It is assumed that Bar was mentioned as the reconstructed Roman castle Antipargal in the 6th century and the name Antibarium was quoted for the first time in the 10th century.
Although it is not known exactly when the town fell in the hands of the Doclea rulers for the first time, because the Slavs influence predominated for a long time before the event, it probably took place already in the 9th century. Many rulers of Doclea seem to have stayed in Bar - for instance, Mihailo, the first king of Doclea whose royal title was confirmed in Bar, as well as Bodin, who enthroned Bar's archdiocese. After the fall of Doclea the seat of the archdiocese was moved to Bar. In that period Doclea was leading fierce fights against its neighbours - The Byzantine Empire and Samuil's "The West Bulgarian State" - and the most famous ruler of Doclea, prince Vladimir had its seat in Krajina, near Bar. In order to free Doclea from Byzantine pressure, the son of Vojislav – prince Mihailo, asked for and got the royal crown from Rome in 1077 and that date for historians marks the official beginning of the separation of Doclea from the Byzantine power. Later on, following an appeal from Mihailo’s son Bodin, in 1089, the Pope enthroned Bar’s archdiocese.
The Byzantine Empire ruled again in Bar from 1166 till 1183 when Stefan Nemanja made a breakthrough which demolished towns on the Adriatic coast, including “the famous town Bar”, and joined Zeta to his state – Raška.
From 1443 to 1571 this region was under the rule of Venice, and Bar (called Antivari in venetian language, spoken there until the eighteenth century) was part of the Albania Veneta. During the Middle Ages, Bar was the centre of the South Adriatic coast, a city–state which had a coat of arms, flag, statute and minted its own coins. The Ottomans captured Bar in 1571 and it remained in their hands until 1878. During this period it still had an archbishop. One of the more famous men to hold this office was Andrija Zmajević.
The Italian scientist and one of the pioneers in wireless telegraphy, Guglielmo Marconi made a radio connection between Bar and Bari on August 30, in 1904, and in 1908 the first railroad in this part of the Balkans was put into operation in 1913.
On July 13, 1941 in Bar’s municipality the uprising against the occupying power began and the first shots were fired in districts of Bar and Cetinje.
[edit] Population
Bar is the administrative centre of Bar municipality, which includes the town of Sutomore and many more small towns along the coast. The 2003 census put the population of Bar Municipality at 40,037. The city of Bar itself had 13,719 inhabitants.
Population of Bar (city):
Population of Bar (municipality):
Ethnicity in 2003
| Ethnicity | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Montenegrins | 19,960 | 44.14% |
| Serbs | 11,218 | 24.81% |
| Albanians | 5,450 | 12.05% |
| Muslims | 2,852 | 6.31% |
| Bosniaks | 1,026 | 2.27% |
| Croats | 268 | 0.59% |
| Roma | 50 | 0.11% |
| Other | 722 | 1.60% |
| not declared | 1,771 | 3.92% |
| no data | 1,906 | 4.21% |
| Total | 45,223 | 100% |
[edit] Economy
Economic symbols of Bar are the Port of Bar, Belgrade - Bar railway and the Sozina tunnel.
The Port of Bar is the most recognizable feature of the city. With 3,100m of seacoast, land area of 800 ha and aquatorium of 200ha, the port is capable of reloading 5 million tons of different goods annually. The port made Bar an entry point for large amount of goods imported into Montenegro, and thus manu merchant companies and small-scale traders are based in Bar.
In 1976, the Belgrade - Bar railway was opened, and thus made Adriatic sea easily accesable for tourists, and also provided new markets for the Port of Bar. The railway, along with the Port, made Bar more economically active throughout the year, in contrast to other Montenegrin coastal towns, which mostly relay on tourism during the summer season.
The food industry “Primorka” has been operating in Bar for more than 50 years and it produces olive oil and well known pomegranate juice. There are 95,000 olive trees, about 80,000 citrus trees (lemon, orange, tangerine and grapefruit) in the municipal area .
The centre for subtropical cultures, founded in 1937, is the oldest scientific institution in Montenegro. It conducts research in the field of subtropical cultures and environmental protection.
The future of Bar is considered to be in the development of small and medium sized companies, in the creation of new industrial zones and in pursuing activities for creating the Custom Free Zone.
[edit] Tourism
Besides being Montenegro's main seaport, Bar and its surroundings are also a major tourist destination. Today's Bar is a modern city, built almost entirely after World War II, with modern buildings, wide boulevards and lots of parking space.
Although there are some nice cobble beaches in Bar itself, many tourists choose destinations in other small towns in Bar municipality, notably Sutomore, with its beautiful long sandy beach.
The entire area around Bar is mostly untoutched nature, and is rich in vegetation. The Bar municipality also stretches to the southern shore of Skadar lake and encompases Krajina region. This entire area is suitable for leisure activities and hiking. Smaller settlements near Bar, such as Dobre Vode, Sutomore and Čanj, are favourite destination for sunbathing, as they incorporate long sandy beaches.
Bar has a wind blowing for the south about 88 days a year, mostly during the winter. The southern wind is very soft and warm, but raises the waves in the sea. The weather temperature is as in July – about 28°C (82°F). There are approximately 2160 sunny hours a year. In winter the temperature drops down to 10°C the lowest.
[edit] Divisions and settlements
Municipality of Bar is divided up into 12 communes (mjesna zajednica) and 83 settlements:
| Commune | Settlements |
|---|---|
| Bar I | urban part of the town |
| Bar II | Polje, Burtaisi, Čeluga, part of Rene; |
| Bar III | part of Bjeliša, Sokolana, Stara ambulanta, zgrade Prvoborca; |
| Bar IV | Popovići, part of Bjeliša, Ahmetov Brijeg, Vuletića Brijeg, part of Rene and Trsanj |
| Bar V | Sustaš, Zupci, Marovići, Tuđemili |
| Šušanj | Zukotrlica, Novi Pristan, Zeleni Pojas, Ilino, Šušanj, Carevići, Vitići and Paladini |
| Sutomore | Brca, Zelen, Obala Željezničke Kolonije, Mirosica I, Turke, Pobrđe, Gorelac, Miljevci, Sozina, Zankovići, Suvi Potok, Mirosica II, Zgrade, Bjelila, Papani, Haj-Nehaj, Zagrađe, Mišići, Đurmani and Čanj |
| Stari Bar | Stari Bar, Baukovo, Belveder, Velembusi, Gretva (with wonderful catholic cathedral), Brbot, Turčini, Menke, Mikulići, Podgrad, Bartula, Rap, Gornja Poda and Donja Poda, Tomba, Gornje Zaljevo and Donje Zaljevo |
| Mrko(je)vići | Pečurice, Dobra Voda, Grdovići, Pelinkovići, Dabezići, Velje Selo, Kunje, Velja Gorana and Mala Gorana |
| Krajina | Arbneš, Veliki Ostros, Mali Ostros, Martići, Kostanjica, Bobovište, Ckla, Tejani |
| Šestan | Livari, Gornja i Donja Briska, Gornji Murići, Donji Murići, Besa, Pinčići, Bapsulj, Šestan |
| Crmnica | Virpazar, Orahovo, Bračeni, Mikovići, Zabes, Boljevići, Sotonići, Bukovik, Mačuge, Dupilo, Popratnica, Komarno, Trnovo, Gornji Brčeli, Donji Brčeli, Brijege, Ovtočići, Tomići, Utrg, Godinje, Seoča, Krnjice, Limljani, Gluhi Do |
[edit] Transport
Bar is well connected with inland Montenegro, as well as with the rest of the Montenegrin coast. The Sozina tunnel, completed in 2006, shortened the road connection with Podgorica to around 50 km. Bar will also benefit significantly from the future Beograd - Bar motorway.
Bar is connected to the rest of the coastal towns of Montenegro by the Adriatic motorway, which extends from Ulcinj to Herceg Novi, and on to Croatia.
Bar is also the final station of the Belgrade - Bar railway, which connects Bar with Podgorica, northern Montenegro and Serbia.
Podgorica Airport is some 40 km away, and has regular flights to Belgrade, Budapest, Zurich, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome and Vienna.
[edit] External links
- Official site of Bar municipality
- News site for Bar
- Tourist Organization of Bar
- Car Hire Montenegro Bar-Car Rental in Bar
[edit] References
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