Bar Architecture

Explore Bar Architecture: Stari Bar & More

Bar, Montenegro is home to one of the most architecturally diverse old towns on the Adriatic coast. With origins dating back over a thousand years, the fortified site of Stari Bar features a rare layering of Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman, and Baroque elements—often within the same structure. Inside the fortress walls, you’ll find medieval churches, mosques, military buildings, and urban infrastructure like the 16th-century aqueduct.

Beyond the walls, the newer city holds modern Orthodox cathedrals and the remains of early Christian basilicas. This guide highlights what to see and where to go for exploring Bar’s architecture in both its historic core and newer districts.

We spent a month in Bar researching historic architecture. We’ve summarized the information we collected so you can start enjoying these sights as soon as you arrive!

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Attractions in Stari Bar Fortress

Fortress and Walls

Main Gate

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Medieval (Late Gothic–Renaissance orientally influenced)
  • Built: 14th–16th century
  • Address: Unknown

Gate from the 14th to 16th century with the winged lion, symbol of the Venetians.

Tatarovica Citadel

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Fortified medieval–Ottoman
  • Built: 10th–19th century
  • Address: Unknown

Citadel from the 10th to 19th century with a military chapel.

Tower

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Defensive medieval
  • Built: Unknown (part of ramparts’ evolution)
  • Address: Unknown

Tower located in the western corner of the ramparts.

Ramparts

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Oriental influences
  • Built: 11th–19th century
  • Address: Unknown

Defensive walls showcasing layered architectural styles.

Churches

Church of Saint Catherine

Црква Свете Катарине

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Orthodox medieval
  • Built: 14th century
  • Address: 34VP+25M, Podgrad‑gornja ulica, Stari Bar, Montenegro

Saint Catherine’s Church from the 14th century.

Saint John’s Church

St. John’s Church (Svete Jovan)

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: 20th-century build with older complex context
  • Built: 1927
  • Address: Unknown

Church dating from 1927, associated with a 15th-century palace.

Saint Nicola’s Church

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Medieval
  • Built: 13th century
  • Address: Unknown

Saint Nicola’s Church from the 13th-century.

Saint Veneranda Church

Црква Свете Венеранде

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Medieval Orthodox
  • Built: 14th century
  • Address: 34VP+F55, Stari Bar, Montenegro

Saint Veneranda Church from the 14th century.

Saint George’s Cathedral

Црква Свете Венеранде

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Medieval Orthodox
  • Built: 11th–15th century
  • Address: Unknown

St. George’s Cathedral built between the 11th and 15th centuries, dedicated to Bar’s medieval patron saint.

Palaces and Buildings

Prince Palace

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Renaissance–Baroque period palace
  • Built: 15th–16th century
  • Address: Unknown

Palace from the 15th–16th century.

Bishop’s Palace

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Renaissance–Baroque
  • Built: 15th–16th century
  • Address: Unknown

Palace from the 15th–16th century.

Customs House

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Renaissance (Venetian influence)
  • Built: 15th century
  • Address: Unknown

One of Montenegro’s rare Renaissance-era buildings.

Gun Powder Storage

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Military–utilitarian
  • Built: 18th century
  • Address: Unknown

Gun powder storage building from the 18th century.

Medieval House

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Secular medieval architecture
  • Built: Unknown
  • Address: Unknown

Multi-story house with a coat of arms.

Other Attractions in the Fortress

Summer Stage

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Amphitheater ruins or open-air hall
  • Built: Unknown
  • Address: Unknown

Listed among significant structures in Old Town.

Clock Tower

  • Architect: Yahya Ibrahim Osman Agha (builder); architect unknown
  • Style: Ottoman influence
  • Built: 1752–53; reconstructed 1984
  • Address: Near southern gate of fortress

Clock Tower with clocks on all sides; current form restored in 1984.

Turkish Powder Mill

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Ottoman-era utilitarian
  • Built: 18th century
  • Address: Unknown

Turkish powder mill from the 18th century.

Aqueduct

aka Akvadukt aka Aqueduct at Tatarovica

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Ottoman imperial engineering
  • Built: 16th–17th century; destroyed 1979; renovated later
  • Address: Northern side of Stari Bar

Sixteen-arched stone aqueduct supplying water from Mount Rumija.

Turkish Bath

aka Turkish Hammam (Турски хамам)

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Ottoman
  • Built: 18th century
  • Address: Unknown

Reconstructed and functional Turkish bath.

Venetian Thumb

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Unknown
  • Built: Unknown
  • Address: 34VP+9C6, StaroBarska Čarsija, Stari Bar, Montenegro

Landmark in Old Bazaar area, specific details unknown.

Amphitheater

Religious Buildings in Stari Bar

Podgradska Mosque

Dervish-Hasanova

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Ottoman
  • Built: 1900s (replaced original after 1881 Barutana explosion, minaret added 1971, refurbished 1991)
  • Address: 34RP+FFF, Stari Bar 85354, Montenegro

The Podgradska Mosque was constructed by several prominent citizens, including Dervish Hasan Said. In 1881, during the Barutana explosion, the mosque was destroyed. A new mosque was built in the 1900s, the minaret was added in 1971, and it was refurbished in 1991.

Church of St. John the Baptist

Црква Светог Јована Крститеља

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Orthodox
  • Built: Unknown
  • Address: 34VP+875, StaroBarska Čarsija, Stari Bar, Montenegro

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Катедрала Безгрешног Зачећа Блажене Дјевице Марије

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Roman Catholic
  • Built: Unknown
  • Address: 34VJ+Q7X, Bar, Montenegro

Modern Catholic cathedral in Old Town area.

Omerbasha Mosque

aka Dzamija Omerbasica

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Ottoman
  • Built: 1662 (constructed by Omer Baša and sons; renovated 1971; repaired after 1979 earthquake in 1986)
  • Address: 34VM+RP2, Stari Bar, Montenegro

The Omerbasha Mosque is just a few steps from the Main Gate and dates back to the 17th century. Next to it, visitors will find the Dervish-Hasan mausoleum and a public fountain. It’s a charming location.

Skanjevica Mosque

Škanjevića Džamija i Nakšibendijska Tekija

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Ottoman with Naksibendi Sufi features
  • Built: 1819 (reconstructed 2009)
  • Address: Unknown

The Skanjevica Mosque stands across from the Omerbasha Mosque and is named after the wealthy nobleman from Bar, Ahmed-beg Skanjevic. This mosque features a distinctive 22-meter-high stone minaret, built in 1819 and fully reconstructed in 2009. Adjacent to the mosque, visitors can admire a Sufi shrine of the Naksibendi order.

Selimiye Mosque in Bar, Montenegro

Selimiye Mosque

aka Dzamija Selimija

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Contemporary Islamic cultural architecture
  • Built: Modern (20th–21st century)
  • Address: b.b Stari Bar, Bar 85000, Montenegro

The Selimiye Mosque is a newly constructed, large mosque that also serves as an Islamic cultural center, guesthouse, restaurant, kindergarten, and library.

Ali-Aga Hasećija’s Minaret

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Ottoman
  • Built: 1819; restored 2005 after fire (1912) and earthquakes
  • Address: Unknown

Built in 1819, this structure suffered damage from a fire in 1912 and experienced several earthquakes. Standing at 22 meters tall, it is constructed of finely hewn stone and underwent a thorough restoration in 2005. The minaret is one of the most significant monuments of oriental architecture in Montenegro.

St. Nikola’s Church

Crkva Svetog Nikole

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Medieval Orthodox
  • Built: From early archbishopric (1089 origin)
  • Address: Unknown

St. Nikola Church represents the Archbishopric of the City of Bar. In 1089, this archbishopric was founded and confirmed by Pope Clement III when he sent the palij (mantle) to the Archbishop of Duklja. The archbishop was given the title Primas Serbiae.

Roman Catholic Church of Saint Nicholas

Римокатоличка црква Светог Николе

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Catholic
  • Built: Unknown
  • Address: 34V7+6CP, Bar, Montenegro

Other Attractions in Stari Bar

Vruca Rijeka Bridge

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Unknown
  • Built: Unknown
  • Address: 34RQ+942, put za maslinjake, Stari Bar, Montenegro

The Old Olive Tree

ala Stara Maslina

  • Architect: Natural monument
  • Style: Natural heritage
  • Built: ~2,000 years ago
  • Address: Somewhere in vicinity of Stari Bar

The olive tree is over 2,000 years old and it is considered to be the oldest tree in Europe and one of the oldest trees in the world.

The House of Olives

aka Kuća Maslina

  • Architect: ARHINGinženjering (Principal architect Rifat Alihodžić, design year 2018, completed 2021)
  • Style: Contemporary civic architecture with limestone façade
  • Built: Completed in 2021
  • Address: Okretnica, Stari Bar, Montenegro

The House of Olives serves as the administrative center of the Association of Olive Growes of Montenegro.

Monument to the Liberators of Bar in 1881

Споменик Ослободиоцима Бара 1881

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Monumental sculpture
  • Built: Unknown
  • Address: 34VM+25C, Stari Bar, Montenegro

Religious Buildings in the New City of Bar

The Church of Saint John Vladimir in Bar, Montenegro

The Church of Saint John Vladimir

aka Church of St. Jovan Vladimir

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Modern Orthodox
  • Built: 2006–2016 (unfinished)
  • Address: 38 Ulica Jovana Tomasevica, Bar, Montenegro

Dedicated to Saint John Vladimir of Montenegro, the Church of Bar is the largest Orthodox church in the country. Its construction occurred between 2006 and 2016, and although it remains unfinished, the vibrant and ornate interior is truly a sight to behold.

Ruins of Triconch Church – Topolica

Barski trikonhos

  • Architect: Unknown
  • Style: Early Christian
  • Built: 6th century AD (Justinian era)
  • Address: 33WW+643, Bar, Montenegro

The remains of the Bar Triconch’ church lie in the center of Bar. It is the oldest Christian religious building in Montenegro, dating to the 6th century AD. It was built during Justinian’s reign.

Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostile

Konkatedrala St. Petra Apostola

Things to Know About Bar Architecture

Historical Evolution of Bar’s Architecture

The architecture of Bar, Montenegro features Late Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Oriental elements. The Old Town of Bar is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Where Is the Best Place To Stay In Bar?

Choosing Where to Stay

When selecting accommodation in Bar, consider proximity to key attractions like Stari Bar or the waterfront area. Opt for hotels near public transportation hubs like the train or bus stations for convenience. Whether you prefer luxury hotels or cozy guesthouses, Bar offers a range of options to suit every traveler’s needs. For a memorable stay, choose a hotel with stunning views of the Adriatic Sea or easy access to the bustling nightlife areas. Research well to find the perfect accommodation that enhances your Bar travel experience.

Hotels in Bar

For the best experience, we recommend staying near Stari Bar (the castle marker on the map below is a great square inside the Old Town).

Below is an interactive map with hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

Book your stay now!

FAQs About Bar Architecture

What is Bar Montenegro known for?

Bar, Montenegro, is a port town, with Stari Bar—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—situated just outside the new city.

How old is Stari Bar?

Historical sources first mention the Old Town of Bar in the 10th century, but some evidence suggests it existed as early as the 6th century.

What does stari mean in Montenegro?

Stari means “the old one” in Montenegro.