Agritourism Montenegro
Wineries, Olive Gardens, Farm Stay and many more
Olive Gardens
Wineries
A combination of the taste of local food, tradition and vivid nature of the smallest country in the Balkans
The smallest country in the Balkans, Montenegro, is specific in terms of its tourist offer, which is characterized by contrasts that tourists can experience in one day – the sea, lakes, rivers and mountains. Just two examples: from the sea coast, in less than three hours, you can reach over 1,456 meters above sea level in the national park Durmitor, which is under the protection of UNESCO, and has 48 peaks over 2,000 meters. The villages in the hinterland of the coastal cities traditionally nurture the production of wine and olive oil, so more and more tourists pass through the wine and olive roads.
Katuns in the north, stone houses in the south surrounded by vineyards, olive groves whose trees bear witness to life in these areas for more than 2,000 years, along with naturally beautiful and home-made food and traditional preparation, launch Montenegro into the top of the tourist offer.
The combination of taste, tradition, natural environment and the hospitality of the hosts are the characteristics of the rich offer of villages and rural households. In Montenegro, the offer of agritourism is comprehensive and increasingly attractive.
What is agrotourism?
Agro tourism is an increasingly popular form of vacation spent on farms, agricultural holdings, and accommodation in nature in rural areas. Agrotourism is also a form of active vacation, whether tourists participate with the hosts in the production and processing of agricultural crops, or in visiting natural and cultural attractions close to the farm.
Agrotourism is a fantastic way to teach your children that milk does not come from a tetrapack and an egg from a plastic box, that you enjoy original organic food and that you actively participate in its production. And finally to help the survival of rural areas. We are witnessing the abandonment of villages in many countries, but also the return to them through agrotourism offers.
Agritourism, current throughout the year, offers an “escape” from everyday life to the natural environment, where at different times and locations tourists participate in interesting activities such as grape harvesting in September in Crmnica, preparation for drying meat in Cetinje in December, olive harvesting in Baru from November to February, collecting blueberries and medicinal herbs in Kolašin in July….
What makes agritourism in Montenegro unique?
Montenegro is characterized by a specific geographical position. It extends from the Adriatic coast in the south, across the Skadar lake basin in the central part to the area of high mountains, over 2000 meters above sea level in the north. The different altitude as well as the influence of the microclimate caused the development of different agricultural crops and at the same time the development of villages in different ways.
In the south of the country, in the hinterland of Bar and Ulcinj as well as the Bay of Kotor, the olive tree has been present since the time of the Greek colonization of the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea from the second to the fifth century BC. In some households in Ulcinj and on the Luštica peninsula, olive oil is still produced in the traditional way in mills with stone presses.
The hinterland of Bar alone has over 100,000 olive trees, among which the queen is the Old Olive, one of the three oldest olive trees in Europe.
The region in the hinterland of Bar, Crmnica, whose villages are located at altitudes between 200 and 700 meters above sea level, are ideal for growing vines. Crmnica is Montenegrin Tuscany. Right in Crmnica is the cradle of the autochthonous variety of Vranac red wine, which spread from this region to the Balkans. Vranac is also grown near the capital Podgorica in the largest vineyard in one piece in Europe, which has almost a million vines.
The central part of Montenegro at the foot of the Lovćen mountain in the National Park of the same name is characterized by the meeting of the Mediterranean and mountain climate, which created ideal conditions for drying meat and meat products. The traditional way of preserving meat is still present in rural households. The village of Njeguše is visited by a large number of tourists and enjoys tasting Njeguš prosciutto, sausages and ham. Njeguš cheese is also characteristic for this climate due to its specific taste and method of preparation.
In the north of Montenegro, the processing of milk into products such as custard, cream and cheese are a special salty delicacy for gourmets. The nomadic way of herding livestock in these mountains led to the construction of temporary settlements under the unique name katun. Today, Katuns are an interesting attraction for tourists, eager for organic food, fresh air, colorful nature and a peaceful environment.
The specificity of the agricultural offer in Montenegro?
Montenegro, located in the Balkans, during its rich and turbulent history shared the fate of its neighbors and was the target of various invaders. At the meeting point of east and west. All the conquerors who ruled Montenegro have in common that they left their traces both in culture and in gastronomy, so Montenegro today has a rich and diverse gastronomic offer. Tasting oriental delicacies in Ulcinja, Plava or Gusinja households, a traditional Montenegrin breakfast at the foot of Lovcen, a Venetian table in the Bay of Kotor are challenges that can hardly be resisted in the specific offer of Montenegrin agrotourism.
