Kotor with its walls and the old road Kotor-Njeguši-Cetinje
One of the most attractive walking paths within the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor is a part of the old road Kotor-NjegušiCetinje, leading from Kotor to Cetinje via Špiljari, Praćište, Krstac and Njeguši. This is an important historic road, having been for a very long period the only connection between Montenegrin capital of Cetinje and Kotor, whose port provided a further link with the Mediterranean and the rest of the world. The road’s starting point was at Montenegrin market, once situated near the northern gate of the Old Town of Kotor. One of distinctive features of this old road is that, by a means of stone serpentines supported on dry-stone walls, it goes almost vertically up the slopes of Lovćen Mountain. The serpentines were built in the middle of the 19th century to replace an older road.
Starting from Tabačina site, the road passes between Kotor walls and the Škurda River canyon. The Škurda River, flowing by the northern part of the wall, is only 200-250 m long. However, it has a canyon of exceptional natural value that penetrates deeply into the hinterland. The summit of Pestingrad rises above Škurda canyon, dominating the town and its panorama and being mentioned in different legends about the foundation of Kotor and Alkima fairy.
Two short footpaths lead from Praćište to Krstac ridge (937 m above sea level): the left branch goes through a pine forest and follows Škurda riverbed until it ascends a gravel road. The right branch goes through a pine forest along its whole length and ascends the gravel road immediately under the village of Žanjev do.
The village of Špiljari is situated in a gorge behind Kotor Fortress. Archeological evidence suggests that this settlement, owing to its favourable position, could have been actively lived in between the 6th and the 4th century BC, being probably one of the oldest settlements in Kotor area. In 1838, Špiljari used to have 19 households / houses. However, after the World War I the village has been gradually abandoned, and today there are only two complete houses, while all the others are in ruin. St. George’s church, situated in the centre of the village, probably built between the 13th and the 15th century, was rebuilt in 1559 which is evidenced by an inscription above the entrance.
A view from Praćište
Špiljari and St. George’s church
In both cases the road ascends the gravel road Kotor-Njeguši-Cetinje, built in the second half of the 19th century, on the part of territory of the then Austro-Hungary and Montenegro. The construction of the part of road leading from Montenegrin border to Cetinje, via Njeguši, designed by Josip Slade, began in 1879, while the whole road was finished and opened for traffic in 1884.
A view of Kotor with it walls, Škurda canyon an Pestingrad
A view from serpentines of the Old Town of Kotor
Along the old road, the remains of structures can be seen once used as platforms for a cable railway built in 1916 by Austro-Hungary for military purposes. Praćište site (620 m above sea level), where the part of the road with thick serpentines ends, is used as a viewpoint.
Topographic map: Real estate administration of Montenegro Author of the map: EXPEDITIO Cover photograph: Martin Kmet
The walls of Kotor are a unique example of medieval fortification architecture on the Mediterranean. They were being built from the 9th to the 19th century, although the whole circle of walls was finished from the 13th to the 14th century. The walls make a continuous ring around the old urban core of Kotor and the steep cliffs of Sveti Ivan (San Giovanni) Hill rising above the town. The walls are over 4 km long, between 2 and 15 m thick and in some places up to 20 m high.
A part of the road leading through a pine forest, under the village of Žanjev do
Krstac ridge lies at 937m above sea level. It is a crossroads of different walking and hiking path leading further to Zalazi, a group of villages situated above Dobrota; to Njeguši, a birth village of rulers from Petrović Njegoš dynasty; to Cetinje, an old capital of Montenegro or to the National Park Lovćen.
Adriatic Sea
A network of walking trails and roads connecting coastal settlements with the older ones on the hillsides and with the hinterland, as well as a network of roads created as part of a defensive system, make an important segment of the cultural landscape of Kotor Region. These roads and paths which are suitable for walking and hiking make it possible to view and experience the values of World Heritage cultural landscape from different angles.
The old road’s serpentines
The map has been produced within the framework of project “Trails through World Heritage”, conducted by the non-governmental organization EXPEDITIO. The project was funded by the Municipality of Kotor, with the participation of the Tourism organization of Kotor.
• Hundred Jewels of Kotor, Jovan J. Martinović, 1995 • The Study on the Protection of Cultural Properties in the Municipality of Kotor, 2017 • http://whc.unesco.org/ • Management Plan of the Natural and CulturoHistorical Region of Kotor, 2011 Main sources:
Boka Kotorska Bay Buffer zone Property on the World Heritage List Kotor Tivat Herceg Novi
KOTOR ŠPILJARI KRSTAC Trails through World Heritage Walking and Hiking Trails within the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor
A harmonious relationship between the impressive environment of the Bay and the wealth and diversity of its cultural heritage that has been created over centuries makes the Region of Kotor a cultural landscape of outstanding universal value. The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor, part of the Boka Kotorska Bay, is one of more than 1000 sites all over the world that have been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List because they posses outstanding value for the humankind.
Montenegro The location and surface of the Natural and CulturoHistorical Region of Kotor
4.2 km
9.4 km
14 km
Kotor-Špiljari-Kotor
Kotor-Praćište vidikovac-Kotor
Kotor-Praćište-Krstac-Kotor
0
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
6h 30min
4h 15min
1h 50min
Time
Medium
Medium
Easy
Pine forest
250
500
Gravel road Kotor-Njegusi-Cetinje
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
-100
11
09
07
0,00
05
04
06
Krstac (937m above sea level)
03
02
100
10
01
02
Praciste (crossroads)
Praciste viewpoint
Old serpentine road
St George’s Church
The village of Spiljari
Kotor walls
Skurda River
08
Level of difficulty
Tabacina (Northern Gate of the Old Town of Kotor)
Legend
European unique emergency number - 112
Hiking without a guide is on one’s own responsibility
Length
Trail
KOTOR ŠPILJARI KRSTAC
01
Height (m)
08
7,20 7,00
09
6,50
908m.a.s.l.
6,00
CROSS-SECTION
03
5,50
5,00
4,50
Length (km)
4,00
559m.a.s.l.
08 07
586m.a.s.l.
11
05
04
3,50
02
3,00
10
2,50
2,00
07
06
1,50
04 05
Tivat
1,00
09
223m.a.s.l.
Adriatic sea
Herceg Novi
Boka Kotorska
0,50
01
0,00
0m.a.s.l.
Kotor