Information
The Village of Orahovac
Orahovac, a picturesque fishing village on the Bay of Kotor between Kotor and Perast, is perfectly situated for relaxing or exploring the ancient towns and cities of this region and offers tranquillity, history, walking, wildlife and total relaxation in one of the most stunning locations in Europe.
The lovely, south-facing stone beach is by far the nicest in the area with a seasonal beach bar that serves food and rents out sun loungers. Hotel Amfora has it’s own beach with sun loungers and its own restaurant/ bar over-looking the Bay. Further down the local road Kotor direction you have another beach bar with small beach serving wonderful cocktails and wines
There are two excellent restaurants, both a few minutes’ walk from the villa, one at the hotel Amfora with a beautiful view over the Bay of Kotor, and the other at the Perast end of the village which is called the Veranda. We love both restaurants, but if you’re on a budget, the Veranda has more to offer.
The village has two small shops that are open Monday – Saturday in the summer season. The larger one by the main road is open most of the winter for essentials. A regular local bus service operates on the main road from by the village shop between Kotor and Risan with connections to Herceg Novi.
Bay of Kotor
The Kotor Bay (also known as Boka Kotorska) is the Mediterranean’s only Fjord. As one of the four Montenegrin seaside regions, Boka Kotorska is made up of four beautiful bays, and adorned by historic towns surrounded by wild and rugged mountains. This stunning Fjord is a true delight, full of scenic variety, charm and exploring potential.
The old town of Kotor has managed to keep its medieval Mediterranean atmosphere with narrow, zigzag streets and churches dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Kotor has a daily market for fresh produce and a large market on Saturdays.
Further up the bay, opposite the entrance to the Verige Strait, is the village of Perast. Perast has two distinct islands: St George and Our Lady of the Rock.
Perast is a beautiful old UNESCO protected village dating back centuries and steeped in maritime history. It also represents one of the most beautiful examples of baroque architecture.
At the furthest end of the bay is Risan, the oldest town in the area. There is a Mosaic in the town that dates back to the 4th century BC. There is also a small market on Sundays.
There are many wonderful walks in this Mediterranean region with magnificent panoramic views of the bays stretching out to sea. The best time to walk in the area are April to June, or September to October when it is cooler,
Activities
The Bay of Kotor is a wonderful base for day trips and activities.
Activities available locally include:
- Boat Hire and boat trips
- Climbing, Walking/ Hiking/ Mountaineering
- Kayaking, tara river rafting and speed boat cruising
- Mountain Biking
- Golf Driving Range
- Visiting UNESCO World Heritage Monument sites
- Roman Mosaic at Risan
- The National park of Lovcen
- Islands by Perast
You can find out more about these activities by contacting our agent, Ana, or by looking through the information leaflets in the villa on arrival.
Eating Out
Hotel Amfora at Orahovac
Very good local restaurant with tables over-looking the Bay of Kotor. The restaurant is about two minutes walk from the villa.
The Veranda Restaurant
This restaurant is the Perast end of Orahovac on a nasty bend and unfortunately doesn’t have a good view, having said that the food is excellent. If you walk be very careful of the road.
Dobrotski Dvori Dobrota
This restaurant is on the main road to Kotor just before Dobrota on the right hand side. The food is very Good and excellent value for money, one of the best restaurants for meat but they also do fish.
Catovica Mlini at Morinj
This is probably the best fish restaurant in the area and well worth a visit as it is set in beautiful surroundings with a water mill, although it is quite expensive.
Day trips
Kotor Old Town
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor nestles at the head of the bay and offers an expansive area perfect for exploring. Take a stroll around the old town’s maze of narrow, cobbled lanes and climb the city walls to get a stunning view of the bay.
San Giovanni Fortress
Climb up to the top of San Giovanni Fortress above Old Town Kotor about 1 1/2 hours walk going up and 1 hour decent. Summer months when it is hot it is advisable to do this walk early morning and take a bottle of water with you. The view at the top is worth the trek worth.
Roman Mosaics in Risan
Risan is the oldest urban centre in the inner part of Boka Kotorska Bay. The town used to be the throne capital of the Illyrian state in the 3rd century BC, at the time of Queen Teuta. The Romans occupied the town in 167 AD, and after the Diocletian’s reforms, it became part of the province of Dalmatia.
In Risan, there are several archaeological findings from the classical period. The remains of cyclopean walls have been found, as have those of the houses and streets of a place called Carine. In the very centre of the town the remains of the Roman Villa urbana with its floor mosaics have been discovered. The Villa was probably built in the 2nd century AD. The mosaics contain geometrical and vegetable motifs, as well as the exceptionally rare presentation of the classical God of Sleep Hypnos.
The Skadar Lake
Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula, stretching between Montenegro and neighbouring Albania. Walkers can explore its surrounding mountains and you can also get a glimpse of some of Montenegro’s colourful wildlife as the area is home to over 200 different species of birds. This vast freshwater lake and its surrounding wetlands create the ideal setting for a peaceful hike around this famous National Park, with the added highlights of traditional villages and secluded pristine beaches also worth a visit.
Lovćen National Park
Just a short journey from Kotor is Montenegro’s third largest National Park. Lovćen National Park is located in the region of Dinara Alps, between the Lake Skadar basin, the Bay of Kotor and Budva. The rocky, steep limestone Lovćen Mountain rises to a height of 1749 metres, and walkers can be sure to see some fantastic views by walking up to the National Park’s highest climbable peak, Jezerski Peak (1675 metres). There’s also the opportunity to visit some interesting historical and traditional architectural sights such as the village of Njeguši, which is reached by heading uphill from Kotor on the Lovćen’s serpentine road.
The biggest and most important monument of Lovćen national park is Petar Petrović Njegoš’s Mausoleum. The location for his burial place and the mausoleum at the summit of Jezerski vrh was chosen by Njegoš himself as his last wish.
Ostrog Monastery
Among the many attractive churches and remote monasteries, dedicated to Montenegro’s majority Orthodox faith, the most inspiring is at Ostrog , a vertiginous 10km drive up a mountain road off the main highway between Podgorica and Niksic. The monastery is the most famous pilgrimage site in Montenegro. It was founded by the Herzeg Archbishop Vasilije in the 17th century. He was buried here and canonised as a miracle-performing saint. The startlingly white monastery is hewn from the rock face, and there is usually a queue of pilgrims waiting to see the cloth-covered remains of the miracle-giving Saint Basil in one of two little cave chapels.