Explore Montenegro's hidden gems
For a sure upgrade to your European exploration, you must visit Montenegro. It’s a country with it all: immense heritage, sparkling blue seas, fairytale forests, and ancient towns with Roman and medieval relics. The best way to dive into Montenegro? By meeting locals and taking part in their work to preserve what makes the country great. Whether it’s seeing blacksmiths pound steel into swords as their ancestors did a thousand years ago, watching fresh olive oil drip from a hand-powered press, or sipping beer made by artisans with local ingredients, Montenegro is that uncut gem of a country that will give you experiences that last forever.
Step into Kotor’s medieval past through its rich history
Nestled on the stunning Adriatic coast lies Kotor, one of Europe’s most extraordinary towns. Kotor is noteworthy for its gorgeous architecture and history, but above all, its heritage of craftsmanship is what sets it apart. Going back to medieval times, Kotor was a trading hub. Not only did it help connect east and west, but it also became a center for master artisans, especially blacksmiths and swordsmiths who produced the arms needed by knights all over the region. From the hot roar of furnaces to the rhythmic pounding of hammers, Kotor’s workshops once thrived with hundreds of blacksmiths creating exceptional items as varied as daggers, knives, maces, spears, halberds, and suits of armor.
Today, the great furnaces no longer burn, the pounding of many hammers no longer rings. But the heritage of this time persists, thanks to Montenegrin makers like Andrija Ramadanović. Ramadanović is a Kotor native and master craftsman who is dedicated to preserving the art of ancient weapon-making in his hometown. In his own smithy, he recreates with meticulous detail historical weapons, from Roman gladii to the medieval swords knights once wielded. Every weapon Ramadanović creates tells a story and embodies the dedication, skill, and research of its maker.
The only way to truly experience this heritage is to see Ramadanović’s masterworks with your own eyes. You must feel the cold steel of a sharp blade in your hands, turn it over and watch its polished edges gleam in the light. Luckily for you, this is entirely possible. Ramadanović has an exhibition that gives you this glimpse into Kotor’s medieval past. Visit to examine a wide array of cold weapons, including swords, maces, and polearms, all made by Ramadanović’s expert and knowing hands.
Delve into Montenegro’s rich traditions of craft
In Montenegro, it’s not just about the medieval past! In fact, the craft traditions of this place run deep. Beer-brewing is one such tradition that’s roared back to life in recent years, especially in Risan where there are at least nine craft breweries. These breweries produce brews using local ingredients to create unique flavors. Tour the production floors, taste the fizzy drinks, feel a connection to Montenegro’s culinary past and present. If beer isn’t your thing, what about liquid gold? Yes, Montenegro is an exceptional producer of olive oil. Visit the village of Tići, on Luštica to be welcomed by the Moric family, which has been pressing olives for three centuries. Watch as the green fruits get pressed under the weight of great stones. What drips out of the spigot will be fruity, spicey, fresh oil. And last, if you want to get your hands working, attend a boatmaking workshop. To do so, travel to Prčanj and seek out Vitomir Vujović. His shop is hidden behind an old stone house at the seaside. Here is where you can shape huge logs with chisels and gouges to create boats in the same way Montenegrins have done for centuries.
