Kolasin: attractions, weather and directions

The small Montenegrin resort of Kolasin attracts more and more tourists every year. Ski slopes, beautiful nature, special peace and tranquility, and, of course, delicious meat dishes - this is the secret of the increased popularity of the town. How to get there, where to go and what to eat, we will tell you in this article.

Kolasin is a small town in Montenegro, surrounded on three sides by mountains (Belasitsa, Sinyaevina and Komovi). Kolasin is an ancient city, takes its history from the 17th century, when it was founded by the Turks. They used the settlement as a transit point, on the way of caravans from Istanbul to the Adriatic Sea.

Due to the differences in height, the resort is suitable for both beginners and more experienced athletes. The town is surrounded by a century-old forest, which is protected by the state and is part of the national park. By the way, another name for the city is "air spa". It was obtained for the healing air and pleasant climate of the area.

For a long time, Kolasin remained in the shadow of the larger ski resorts - Zabljak (Montenegro) and Kopaonik (Serbia). However, in 2008, a large investment company drew attention to Kolashin, having bought the ski slopes and built 2 hotels. Since then, the city began to actively develop, attracting tourists.

The climate on the territory of Kolashin is moderate. This resort is not suitable for a summer beach holiday in the classical sense. The tourist season starts with the arrival of winter, in early December, and lasts on average until mid-April... In the summertime, Kolasin is just as beautiful, but it often rains.

The average annual rainfall is 1200 mm, and sometimes even higher, so a ski vacation is ideal here. Most of the precipitation occurs between November and the second half of January. The least precipitation is recorded in July and August. The slopes are relatively warm and there is a lot of snow. In general, the weather is quite pleasant - summers are warm, and winters are snowy, but without severe frosts. The maximum summer temperature rises to +30 degrees, in winter it drops to -10.

Kolasin is not only a ski resort, but also an old town with many attractions.

One of them is the Moraca Canyon, located immediately on the territory of Kolasin and Podgorica. Rocks are considered a feature of the gorge - they are bare, steep, vertical. The shores are rich in flora and fauna. The best view of the canyon opens from the Djurdjevic Bridge and the observation deck (near the deepest point of the canyon - Platie Gorge).

On the territory of the canyon, there is the Moraca monastery, built in the 13th century. Services are still being conducted in it, pilgrims and tourists are received. An example of the architecture of the 17th century is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, where ancient frescoes and rare icons have been preserved. The Church of St. Nicholas is also worth a visit.

During it, tourists enjoy the view of the forests, and the climax of the hike is the descent to Lake Biogradskoe. Its uniqueness is that it is one of the five glacial lakes. By the way, there are guest cottages nearby. You can rent a room in them to live in the bosom of nature. The trip to Lake Biograd will be remembered not only for the most beautiful places, but also for fishing. For amateurs, special tours are even organized. In winter, the lake is also crowded. Here they fill the skating rink, build slides for adults and children, organize rental of sports equipment.

Biogradska Gora delights with its forests. According to local data, some trees are one thousand years old, and in girth they reach half a meter. At the very beginning of the forest zone, tourists are greeted by the already described Biogradsko Lake. In addition to it, there are 4 more glacial lakes, hidden among the unspoiled greenery of the forest. Most of the tourist routes involve visiting the highest point of the reserve (2139 m).

Naturally, it is worth visiting the ski slopes located 8 km from Kolasin. There are 2 ski resorts here - Belasitsa and Trebalevo, it would be more correct to call them Kolashino 1450 and Kolashino 1600 (in fact, this is one resort). The first has a total length of 15 km, and the longest track is 4.5 km. Since some tracks are of the FIS class, international competitions are held in Belasitsa.

If you go east of the city, you will find yourself in a picturesque place - the Prokletije National Park. The name is translated from Serbian as "cursed mountains", and from Albanian - as "Albanian Alps". Despite the gloominess of one of the names, this place is distinguished by lush vegetation, rich in wildlife. That is why in 2009 at the state level it was decided to decide the status of this territory - to declare it a national park. Connoisseurs of mountain climbs can climb the highest point of Prokletija - Zla-Kolata peak (2534 m), as well as visit numerous beautiful canyons.

Prokletije is also rich in waters - many mountain rivers and rivulets flow here, which resemble springs during a drought. One of the attractions is Lake Plavskoe. In summer, excursions are organized to it. In winter, it is inaccessible to tourists - the lake itself freezes, and the road to it is covered with snow. A visit to the lake will be interesting not only for nature lovers, but also for anglers.

On the territory of Prokletiya there are old buildings and sights: the Tsar's and Vizir's mosques, the Church of the Holy Trinity (architecture of the XII century), Kula Rajepagicha, the Vysokie Dechany monastery. In addition, ancient residential buildings in the typical Montenegrin style of construction have been preserved here.... These are small in appearance, but spacious and cozy houses made of stone and wood. You can touch the history by getting acquainted with the rock carvings, which are also available in the reserve.

Kolasin, like any tourist town, despite its small size, is replete with cafes and restaurants. Most of them work until late at night, and open as early as 10-11 am. The portions in Montenegro are large, sometimes one is enough for two people.

Montenegro is a meat country. At first glance, it seems that the usual cutlets and steaks are served here, however, thanks to the specialty sauces, they acquire an authentic taste. National dishes prepared according to ancient recipes now lost can be tasted at Konoba and Savardak. In the first one, candles are lit in the evenings, the second is also no less atmospheric, since it is made in the form of a wigwam. Another restaurant that has preserved the authentic national style and cuisine is Viline Vode.

As in any other mountainous region of Montenegro, Kolasin serves a variety of meat delicacies. Popular is the hanger - a chop cooked with an incredible combination of spices, chevapchichi - sausages from different types of minced meat with spices, razhnichi - veal and pork kebabs.

Lamb is also worth trying, which is prepared in a special way in Montenegro. They are placed in a cast-iron pot and covered with a massive heavy lid (sach). Hot coals are placed on top of the lid, and this is how the meat is cooked. As a result, the lamb from under the sacha (this is the name of the dish) turns out to be incredibly tender and juicy.

Since Kolasin is more mountainous than a seaside region, fish and seafood are slightly less popular here. But still, seafood is served, however, the cost is overpriced. Please note, unlike meat dishes, seafood dishes indicate the cost per 100 g, and not for the entire serving.

In Kolasin, you can also find a national dish with seafood. This is a thick chorba soup made from several types of fish, flour and spices. Unlike ordinary fish soup, it is cooked without adding cereals, and has a much thicker consistency.

Cheese is definitely worth trying in Montenegro. There are many varieties of them here, since there is a special attitude towards cheese in Kolasin. It is served as an independent dish, as an addition to the main dish, and also put in cereals, make sandwiches, sauces. National flatbreads are prepared with cheese: kachamak, kashkaval. The most famous cheese - kaymak, resembles sour cream in consistency, has a pronounced creamy shade.

If you prefer classic European and world cuisine, although you want to taste local delicacies, go to Traditional Restaurant Vodenica or Restoran Slavija.

You can accompany your dinner with wine, although Montenegrin wine is not very appreciated in the world market. Alternatively, try vranats, a special wine with a pronounced tart taste. If you want a stronger drink, you can recommend krunak - grape vodka.

Since the town does not have its own airport, it is more convenient to fly first to Podgorica. The distance to Kolashin is 80 km from it.You can fly to Tivat, but then you will have to get 150 km to Kolasin.

Budva is located 2.5-3 hours away from Kolasin by car. Many go to Budva for a cultural holiday, and stop there, and they only come to Kolasin to go skiing. At the same time, the road between the cities is very picturesque, so a car trip turns into a full-fledged journey.

In this case, the journey will take 5-6 hours. In winter, it gets dark early in Montenegro, this should be borne in mind when planning a trip. As a transfer, you can hire a taxi or use the public bus. Prices for them vary, depending on the characteristics of the route and the season.

You can get around the city on foot or by taxi; there is almost no public transport. However, the city is quite small, so walking will not be tiresome. If you are planning to travel to the suburbs, it is more profitable to rent a car.

You can choose a hotel or a hotel in the center as accommodation for the period of your vacation. They are classic vacation spots, prices vary depending on the status of the hotel, service level, proximity to entertainment venues. Most hotels include breakfast. In addition, when booking a room, you can immediately order a transfer from the airport.

If you are relaxing with a large family with children or companies, take a look at the country villas. In addition to rooms and bathrooms, they usually have a kitchen equipped for cooking.

The SPA-hotel Bianca Resort & Spa enjoys great popularity, its windows overlook Mount Belasitsa. The rooms range from standard to suites, most of the hotel is covered with wood, which creates a special atmosphere of comfort in the hotel. Another popular tourist destination, the Apartmani Villa Bjelasica, is located 3 km from the center. The view from the window here also opens onto the mountains, in addition to bedrooms and guest areas, there is a kitchen. For an additional fee, you can use the gym and sauna.

Consider other popular hotels in Kolasin.

• Chalet Kolašin - has 4 stars, rooms of varying degrees of comfort, kitchen.
• Apartments Šcepanovic - the best place to stay with children. Cozy houses for one or several families are surrounded by a garden. Has a storage space for skis, parking.
• Holiday Home Bijeli Potok - an institution for those who travel with four-legged pets. Pets are allowed, the hotel has a children's play area, parking, sauna.

See below for an overview of Kolasin's sights.