All about Petrovac in Montenegro

Montenegro is one of the countries of Southeast Europe, located on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula. Conventionally, this small state can be divided into three parts - the first part on the eastern side of the country is formed by mountainous regions, the second part is formed by the territory of the sea coast washed by the Adriatic Sea, and between these parts is the central plain area.

The mainland coastline belonging to Montenegro occupies about 300 kilometers, but, in addition, the state also includes 14 small islands located in sea waters. The state is famous for its beaches, their total length is 70 km. The water in these parts is very clean and for 7 months a year it is in the range from 12 to 25-26 degrees Celsius. The climate in Montenegro is moderately continental, with warm long summers and short warm winters.

The urban-type resort village of Petrovac is located on the sea coast of the Budva Riviera, which is renowned for its wonderful beaches. Montenegro is considered an ecologically clean country.

A distinctive feature of this resort is that it has healing sea air.... There are olive and pine groves around the city, and exotic plants can be found everywhere - tangerine trees, kiwi, figs, palms and oleanders grow in the city. The resort is very well located in a small sea bay, where it is protected from both sides from cold winds and bad weather by high mountain ranges. It is thanks to this location that a pleasant microclimate is created on the beach - the weather here is mostly warm, calm and sunny.

Petrovac belongs to the municipality of Budva, and the number of inhabitants inhabiting it ranges from 1500-2000 people. In summer, the small town comes alive with the influx of tourists. There are two beaches on the territory of Petrovac - Lucice and the Central City Beach. The distance between these beaches is 500 meters.

The territory of the city beach has a length of up to 600 meters, so at the very peak of the swimming season it is sometimes crowded here. The beach itself is sandy and pebble, the sand has a reddish tint, and the pebbles are small but sharp. The entry into the water is smooth, without sudden changes, but after 3-5 meters the depth becomes large enough and it can be dangerous for children. The beach area is equipped with showers and changing rooms; here professional lifeguards are constantly watching the swimmers from the tower.

The entrance to the beach is free, you have a choice - relax on your beach towel or rent a sun lounger and umbrella for about 10-15 euros. There is a car park in front of the beach, and if you wish, for a small fee you can get the opportunity to drive up to the beach and park there.

The line next to the city beach is conveniently planned - there are cafes and restaurants, small shops and souvenir shops within walking distance. A well-maintained embankment runs along the sea coast and abuts against a small pier - from here you can go on a small voyage on a small boat and see other cities and beaches of Montenegro.

While relaxing on the beaches in Petrovac, you can go water skiing, catamaran, hydro scooter and banana boat.

Lucice beach is 200 meters long. Although it is smaller in size, some holidaymakers love it more for the reason that the pebbles there are small and round in shape. During the summer season, there are much fewer holidaymakers on this beach. There are no large restaurants on the coastal territory, only small but pleasant cafes. And if you order food or drinks from them, then you can be given a sun lounger and an umbrella for free.

There are few hotels near this beach; it looks quieter and more secluded in contrast to the noisy city beach. It is noteworthy that this area offers picturesque views of the stone cliffs and the sea. For kids on the beach, there is a playground and a water slide, which ends with a small pool on the descent.

The infrastructure of Petrovac includes a post office, a police station, a medical aid center, several churches, a grocery market, a supermarket and many cafes and restaurants for every taste, there is even a nightclub within the walls of the old fortress. There are many different hotels and villas here, so the city is considered one of the most beautiful and well-groomed in the Budva Riviera.

The weather in the resort Petrovac has its advantages - there are about 300 days of sunshine here a year... Even in the off-season it is pleasant to be here and enjoy the clean air, sun and beautiful seascapes.

Table of air and water temperatures on the beach by months of the year

The rainiest month of the year here is November - at this time up to 220 mm of precipitation falls, slightly fewer rainy days fall in February and March, since during these months precipitation falls up to 190 mm and 180 mm. The driest month in Petrovac is August, when up to 15 mm of moisture falls on the ground in the form of rain. In September, the probability of rain increases sharply - more than 80 mm of them fall this month.

The climate of the Mediterranean is very mild and beneficial, even a hot summer can be easily tolerated here. Montenegro is divided into three climatic zones: the part that borders the sea has a Mediterranean climate, in the mountainous regions the climate is correspondingly mountainous, and in the central part of the country the climate is moderately continental. In mountainous areas, winter temperatures can drop to minus marks, while in the coastal part of the country, it has positive dynamics.

Petrovac has more than just beaches. If you like active rest, then you will be interested in the sights of the city, which will be educational entertainment for both adult tourists and those who have a rest with children. Walking around the city, you will see how bizarrely oak and pine trees are combined here, growing next to palm trees.

Visiting Petrovac for the first time, start your acquaintance with the city by walking along its famous 3 km long pedestrian road called the "health trail"... Walking slowly, you will be able to breathe the clean pine and sea air, heading to Rezevici. On your way, you will come across 3 pedestrian tunnels that run inside the coastal cliffs. Go inside more boldly - although the tunnels have a long length, they are well illuminated inside by electric lamps.

The Venetian Fortress is the symbol of Petrovac. The 16th century is considered to be the time of the construction of the Castello fortress. In those distant times, these lands belonged to the Republic of Venice and the fortress housed barracks for the military, as well as warehouses for storing provisions.

In the basements of the fortress, according to historical data, captured slaves were kept, who were prepared for resale to European countries. Later, the fortress was used as a hospital, where people infected with the plague were brought, and during the First World War there was a prison for the military within these walls.

Inside the fortress works Museum of Fine Arts, which contains rare ancient samples of Roman mosaics, paintings, and on the walls of the fortress there is a Byzantine medieval painting. The museum has exhibits that date back to the 3rd century BC.

On the observation deck, you will see a commemorative stele, which was erected after the Second World War in honor of the soldiers who died defending their native borders. There were once cannons along the perimeter of the observation deck, pointed with their muzzle towards the sea and designed to protect the city from uninvited guests. Now only one of these weapons remains in its place.

On the territory of the Venetian Fortress there is a large restaurant and the only nightclub in the whole city, Castello, where noisy discos take place behind the thick walls of the buildings. This club is known throughout Montenegro, as it hosts performances of famous pop performers, popular DJs work.

Monastery complex - Orthodox Gradiste, located 4 kilometers from Petrovac and is considered one of the largest and most important monasteries in the whole of Montenegro. This historical monument has 3 churches, a building with monastic cells and a cemetery.

Upon entering the territory you will be met by Cathedral of St. Sava, which has 3 belfries and a carved iconostasis of rare beauty. The walls of the cathedral are lined with rows of red and white bricks.From the south, on the walls, all the paintings are dedicated to Saints Sava and Simeon, and on the north side of the building there is the face of Mary of Egypt, popularly called the "Little Feeder". Young women who have recently given birth bring gifts here in the form of olive oil and grapes so that, through holy grace, they will have more breast milk to feed the baby.

In the center of the monastery complex is located church of St. Nicholaswhere, in addition to icons, all walls and ceilings are painted with ancient frescoes. Built next to the cemetery a small church in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Inside this church there are also ancient frescoes with the faces of saints.

At all times of its existence, up to the Second World War, the monastery devoted a lot of effort and attention to teaching children who came to study from all the surrounding areas. The holy places suffered greatly during the First and Second World Wars. However, the cultural heritage of Montenegro was restored by contemporaries and today it is under the protection of UNESCO. Today the Gradishte monastery is an active male holy abode of the Orthodox community in Serbia.

The island of Holy Week (translated into Russian, the name of the island means "Holy Sunday") is visible from almost anywhere in the city when looking at the sea. At the very top of the rocky islet, there is a small wooden chapel. According to an old local legend, the inhabitants of the city believe that it was built by a sailor who miraculously escaped on this island during a shipwreck and, in gratitude to the holy forces, erected this building with a bell.

During an earthquake in the late 70s, the chapel collapsed, but was rebuilt again. Now this place is a sacred amulet for all sailors and a favorite entertainment for tourists. Boats and catamarans with vacationers constantly moor to the island, who enter the chapel and heartily ring the bell there.

The Monastery Complex Rezhevichi is a male Orthodox monastery located near the town of Petrovac at the foot of Mount Voshtanitsa. The complex consists of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church of the Holy Trinity, buildings for men's cells and outbuildings, and an old olive grove grows around the monastery.

According to historical data, the construction of the monastery was carried out in the XII century and it began with the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, and later other buildings were added - in particular, the Church of St. Stephen was erected, which was later lost during the battle with the Turks. Later, a new Church of the Holy Trinity was erected in its place.

The monastery complex was significantly damaged during the Second World War and the earthquake in the late 70s of the last century. After lengthy restoration work, the buildings were restored and are now under the protection of UNESCO.

The main values ​​of this monastery are the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos from the 16th century, the Ritual Cross from the 18th century, the Four Gospels from the 18th century and the Tabernacle of the mid-19th century. Near the monastery is located observation deck in the form of terraces laid out of stone - this is a favorite place for newlyweds who get married on the territory of the temple and come out here to admire the beautiful landscape.

In addition to local attractions, there is an opportunity to visit excursions in other directions from Petrovac. The most popular topics for such entertainment can be the following:

• informative bus excursion around the city of Budva;

• inspection of the Boka Kotorska Bay;

• boat trip on Lake Skadar - the largest and most beautiful in the Balkans;

• visiting the cultural pearl of Montenegro - the city of Cetinje with a stop at the Cetinje monastery;

• excursion trip to the national park Lovcen;

• sightseeing tour with wine tasting at the Plantage winery;

• inspection of mountain canyons and the Moroch monastery;

• paragliding over the coast and Budva;

• diving and sea fishing on a yacht;

• jeep safari in the most beautiful places in Montenegro.

If you are an avid fisherman and would like to try fishing in the sea, this dream can come true. The sea harbor in Petrovac is considered one of the most fishy places. You can fish from the shore or rent a boat to go out to sea.

Most often, you can catch predatory fish here, but you can also catch seabass, wolf fish, scorpion fish, lizardhead and many other species of marine life.

Most of the traditional dishes in Montenegro were borrowed from neighboring countries - Montenegrin cuisine includes Turkish, Italian, Hungarian, Albanian culinary culture. Local herbs and spices were added to the dishes, the composition of the ingredients, the manner of preparation was slightly changed, and the result was a delicious and original national Montenegrin cuisine.

Food in Montenegro is based on fresh vegetables, fish, meat, dairy products and olive oil. In the country the use of products with GMOs is prohibited, so you don't have to worry about the quality of the ingredients in your dishes.

What is the best to try during your spa vacation.

• Njeguški pršut (Negushsky pršut) - so called dried or smoked ham from pork or beef. The meat is dried in the sun and in order for it to be ready for consumption, it can take from six months to a year - the longer the drying period, the more expensive the final product will be. In cafes and restaurants, prosciutto is served as an appetizer, which is literally cut into transparent pieces.

• Pljeskavica (pleskavica) - an incredibly large meat cutlet, which can reach 15-20 cm in diameter. To make it easier to eat, the cutlet is made flat. It is very common in Montenegro and you can buy pleskavica everywhere. Burgers are made with the cutlet, and if you want to fry it yourself and eat it with a side dish, you can buy a semi-finished product in the store and ask you to grill it there. This service will surprise no one and it is performed for the buyer free of charge. Pleskavitsa is a very satisfying and tasty dish.

• Riblja corba - this is the name for a rich fish soup made from different types of fish. According to the recipe, at least 10 varieties of fish are included in the ear, but in reality they are usually limited to at best three varieties. Chorba is very thick and contains vegetables, tomato, noodles, red hot peppers, nettle greens and spices. In the resorts of Montenegro, this is one of the favorite and widespread delicacies that can be tasted not only in a restaurant, but also in a cafe.

• Kajmaḳ (kaymak) Is a fermented milk product that looks like ice cream. It is prepared from fatty milk. Kaymak tastes slightly salty, it can be spread on bread toast or used as a side dish for meat. Kaymak is sold in the supermarket, but it tastes not as good as you can see by trying a home-made or restaurant-made dish.

• Vranac (liar) Is a national drink. This red wine with a distinctive tart taste is widespread and of excellent quality. After visiting Montenegro, you should definitely try it.

• Krstac (kstach) - this is the name of one of the best wines made from white grape varieties. You can try this wine in a cafe or restaurant, or buy it in a factory bottled bottle.

In Montenegro, they are very fond of various pastries - here you can buy them almost everywhere and for every taste. Bakery bakes bread, rolls, pizza, pies of various shapes and sizes from puff pastry with a variety of fillings from meat, cheese, chopped spinach and eggs, mushrooms. Sweet lovers can always choose their own cakes, pastries, baklava with nuts and dried fruits, pancakes with all kinds of sweet fillings, donuts with custard or chocolate, puff tulumba with honey and many other sweets.

Among the drinks, hot natural coffee is considered the most common - it is customary to drink it at any time of the day. And in cafes and restaurants, you will definitely be offered to try lemonade. This drink is made directly in the institution only from natural citrus products, traditionally it has a sour taste, and you can add sugar to it as you wish.

If you want to travel to Montenegro from Moscow, the easiest way to do this is by plane with direct flights. Petrovac is located near two major airports - Tivat and Podgorica.

The distance on the map from Tivat to Petrovac is 38 km, and from Podgorica a little more - 46 km. It is best to choose the airport of arrival in Tivat, since the largest number of flights depart from Moscow.

In addition to these airports, it is possible to get to Montenegro through the air gate in Dubrovnik, this airport is located 70 kilometers from the city of Budva. There are direct buses from Budva to Petrovac every half hour.

The most economical way to get to Petrovac is to travel from Tivat by bus - the whole journey will take a little over an hour, and the cost will cost no more than 20-25 euros. If you go from Tivat by car, then on the road you will spend about 40 minutes and 3-3.5 liters of gasoline, which will cost you 5-6 euros at most. It is not worth catching a taxi near the airport - it is better to order a transfer through the specialized KiwiTax service with the ability to choose the time and car of your preferred class. Such a trip will cost you 35-40 euros, which is much cheaper than the prices for a taxi.

To stay in Petrovac during the beach season, apartments, hotels or villas must be booked in advance using special services or by contacting directly. The level of service and the cost of living are varied. Here is a list of hotels that, in our opinion, will be the best for relaxation, among them there is an option with a private pool and close location to the sea.

Located 450 meters from the sea. Vacationers can enjoy free parking, a beautiful and large garden, an outdoor pool, a sauna, a barbecue area and a terrace overlooking the seascapes. It has its own kitchen with all the necessary utensils, bathrooms are equipped with hydromassage showers, all rooms are equipped with air conditioning, TV and Internet are at your service.

The rooms are well soundproofed and adapted, if necessary, to accommodate people with disabilities, as well as guests with pets. The administration organizes a free transfer from and to the airport for its guests.

Located on the first line to the beach.

Guests have free parking and Wi-Fi, and all rooms are equipped with modern TVs and air conditioning. There is a restaurant and small shops on site. Rooms are accessible for people with disabilities. Guests of the hotel can rent a car. The hotel will carry out a transfer to the airport for an additional payment.... The hotel has rooms for large families, a non-smoker room, and a honeymoon suite.

The hotel can provide a safe, luggage storage, beach umbrellas and sun loungers - for a fee.

Located on the first line to the beach. The area is surrounded by an olive grove and orange trees.

Rooms are equipped with air conditioning, cable TV and Wi-Fi. Going out to the balcony of the room, you can observe the beautiful seascapes. Guests can use the bars and sports mini-complexes on site. The hotel has its own restaurant where you can order breakfast in your room.

It offers vacationers a semi-open pool, sauna and massage room. You can play tennis or bowling near the hotel.

Located on the coastline in the very center of the sea bay.

For vacationers there is free internet, air conditioning, street parking, safe. On the territory of the apartment there is a bar-restaurant complex, from where guests order meals and with delivery to their rooms, if you wish, here you can even choose a diet menu. For a separate surcharge, you will be assisted in organizing car rental, meeting from the airport, diving, fishing.

They are located almost in the very center of Petrovac and 800 meters from the Lucice beach.

All rooms are equipped with Wi-Fi, air conditioning, cable TV, you can use a shared or your own kitchenette with a dining area. All rooms have a bathtub, and some bathtubs have a hydromassage unit. For vacationers, a terrace with the possibility of barbecuing is provided, a convenient playground for children is planned. If necessary, the child can order a nanny here.

The property can help arrange diving, fishing, excursions, bike and car rentals. Parking for vehicles of tourists is provided free of charge. Restaurants, shops and a bus station are within walking distance.

The town of Petrovac is sometimes called "Russian Ruble", here you will see many beautiful and comfortable buildings, which are located next to the sea. There are expensive accommodation options and budget proposals.

Studying the reviews of those people who have visited the resort in Petrovac, we can conclude that the rest here is calm and pleasant. Most of the tourists come here from Russia, and the rest are Europeans. Russian people feel comfortable here - in hotels and cafes, the staff speaks Russian or English, so there is usually no difficulty in understanding.

Hotels and apartments are designed for a small number of guests, which creates a comfortable atmosphere among vacationers. Housing prices are very diverse, but in Petrovac they are higher in any month of the season than in nearby settlements, for example, in Budva. Petrovac differs from other places in that it has a special atmosphere of peace. Life here flows smoothly and unhurriedly, vacationers leisurely walk along the embankment, drink coffee in cafes and dine in restaurants. The beauty of the nature surrounding Petrovac enhances the feeling of peace and comfort.

There are many holy monasteries near Petrovac, and people of the Christian faith appreciate these places not only for the possibility of a resort vacation, but also for the introduction to the ancient Byzantine culture. A trip here will be an excellent educational tour that will leave indelible impressions in your memory.

It will be pleasant to rest here for those who are looking for peace and regularity - married couples, older people with grandchildren, newlyweds, couples with small children. If you are looking for activity, adventure and fun, then you will have to look for more lively corners of Montenegro. However, most of those people who have been on vacation in Petrovac at least once, either come back here again and again, or plan to do so in the near future. These places fall in love at first sight, and such love lasts forever.

For your impressions of the rest, see below.