The youngest town in Montenegro, founded in 1382 by the Bosnian king Tvrtko to improve his control over the entrance of the Bay of Kotor. The inhabitants of the town made their living mainly by fishing and salt trading. A silk factory was also built here (the second in Europe), which attracted a lot of craftsmen. The old town was protected by fortified walls and forts which have been preserved to this day—by the sea is the Sea Fort (Forte Mare) and towards the inland stands the Upper Castle (Gorni grad).
Today, this harbour town is reminiscent of a garden in bloom. More than 200 types of plants have been cultivated on the island, brought here in the past by sailors from their travels. Over the centuries, plants have been brought to the town from every continent creating a unique atmosphere. Eucalyptus trees, pitch pines, cypresses, coconut palms, agave, magnolia, date palms, and mimosa grow here, along with many other types of plants. The town is diverse and home to many historical monuments. The most beautiful include the Turkish clock tower Salaat Kula, dating back to the 15th century., the Karandža Well, the Spanish fort Spanjola, Kahli Kula Fortress (the Bloody Tower), dating back to the era of Turkish dominance (it was used as a prison and currently serves as a theatre), and the Franciscan Monastery with its hospital.
In the centre of the old town is a nice square with cafés and the church of the Archangel Michael. Also worth visiting is the nearby fort on the island of Mamula (the fort was regarded as impregnable, protecting the entrance to the Bay of Kotor and later served as a concentration camp) and the Arza Fortress, which also once guarded the entrance. There is a Nautical Museum in the town (Pomorski muzej) with exhibits of models of old boats and various artefacts of nautical equipment. The town riviera is 25 km long and there are many nice beaches dotted between the villages and olive groves. The Orjen mountain range rises up over the town (the highest peak reaches 1 895 m).
Herceg Novi Harbour
A relatively busy harbour in summer (with plenty of music from the surrounding bars and restaurants and ferries), and usually full, there are several mooring berths here and connections to water and electricity that are subject to a fee. A fuel station is here, too. There is an ATM on the quay, several well-stocked supermarkets, a farmers’ market with fresh vegetables, fruit and fish, and a lot of cafés and restaurants. There is also a doctor and pharmacy in the town. The harbour is well sheltered from winds from the N, NE, and E. The harbour is not sheltered from winds coming from the S (these create waves) and the W (dangerous wind). It is possible to anchor here on the western side of the harbour at a depth of 4–6 m. You are not allowed to anchor by the eastern part of the breakwater.