about herceg novi
Welcome to Herceg Novi, a magical town at the very entrance to one of the most beautiful bays in the world – the Bay of Kotor. Known as the city of eternal greenery, sunshine, and over 100,001 steps, Herceg Novi offers the perfect blend of Mediterranean charm and rich cultural heritage. If you are planning your ideal summer vacation, you are in the right place – explore our offerings and book the finest apartments in Herceg Novi, which will become your perfect base for discovering the Herceg Novi Riviera.
Founded over 600 years ago (in 1382), this town is an open-air living museum. The turbulent centuries gone by are still proudly reflected in its grand fortifications – fortresses from the Ottoman, Venetian, Spanish, and Austrian periods – which form an unmissable backdrop to every sea view.
HISTORY OF HERCEG NOVI
According to the most relevant historical data, the city of Herceg Novi was founded by the Bosnian king Tvrtko I Kotromanic, in the spring of 1382. Tvrtko I was also “the king of the Serbs, Bosnia and Pomorje and the West”. The town of Herceg Novi was fortified in the then parish of Dracevica, in the Topalj Bay (part of today’s area of Topla near H. Novi), and its then name was Sveti Stefan. Apart from today’s name (Herceg Novi), the city was also called NOVI, CASTRUM NOVUM, CASTEL NUOVO (
Today’s name of the city was given during the reign of Herceg Stjepan Vukcic Kosaca, better known as Herceg Stjepan, and the wider area he manages is called Herzegovina. In that period (15th century) Herceg Novi experienced its greatest development and prosperity.
The city was conquered by the Turks in 1482 and ruled for almost 200 years. More precisely, the Turkish rule in Herceg Novi ended in 1687. From 1687 to 1797 Herceg Novi was ruled by Venice.
Historical data also testify to how the Turkish rule was briefly interrupted by the Spanish administration. According to these data, the Spaniards ruled Herceg Novi from 1538 to 1539.
Apart from the Turks and Spaniards, Herceg Novi is ruled by other great conquerors, and historical circumstances have caused many nations and civilizations to change on the soil of that city, leaving deep traces on the history, culture and economic development of the city and its surroundings.
LEGEND
Once upon a time on Lustica (today the peninsula located at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor on the right) lived a boy and a girl who loved each other very much. One day they decide to go shopping in Herceg Novi. Tired of the long walk, they finally arrived in Nova and took a short break. As it was time to go back in a few days, they quickly began to look at what was being sold on the market. At that time, the city was ruled by the Turks and there were every step of the way. The girl was very beautiful, so she was soon spotted at the market by a Turkish aga who liked her a lot. Aga decides to kidnap the girl and arranges it with his oppressors. The soldiers snuck up on the girl and kidnapped her. When the guy noticed that, he fought with the Turks. However, the Turks easily overpowered the boy, and soon executed him, taking the girl with them. Since that day, none of her relatives knew exactly what happened to her, or where she was. Yet one day the girl appears in her hometown, on Lustica, but is pregnant. Lusticani then declared that the girl was carrying Aga’s child, and that she had betrayed her unsuspecting husband, whom the Turks had killed in the market. When the unfortunate girl died soon after giving birth, everyone began to worry a little about the boy she gave birth to. Everyone and no one, the child grew up at the mercy of the village, but over time he became a very rebellious and brave young man. In his youth he mastered the handling of weapons very well, he hated the Turks and passionately longed to wash the stain off his mother’s name. When he grew up, he founded a hajduk company. He often invaded Novi (today Herceg Novi) with his company, and caused confusion among the Turkish conquerors. He kidnapped their wives and fled to Lustica with great gold and silver. He ran across places: Sutorina, Njivice, all the way to the place Rose, where mares would be waiting for him, specially prepared for loads, taught not to be afraid of the sea and swimming. He would then tie treasures to the mares and kidnap Turkish women. Thus prepared, he would reach Lustica. However, one day the Turks jumped on the hajduk and killed him. However, even after his death, mares continued to wait for him faithfully in the same place for days, years and even centuries. According to legend, this place was named Cape Kobila.
Herceg Novi - Nature
Thanks to the many natural beauties, Herceg Novi has acquired the name of a city of sun, flowers and greenery. The flora is especially interesting, because several hundred different plant species from all meridians of the world grow in the city and its surroundings.
Herceg Novi is located in the southern part of the Adriatic. The city is located in an extremely important and attractive area between the mountain Orjen (1,895 m) and one of the most beautiful bays in the world – the Bay of Kotor. Mount Orjen is known for endemic plant species, trails for recreation and hiking, and skiing in late spring and early summer months. Near the town are the hills Dobrostica (1,570 m) and Radostak (1,441 m), the Lustica peninsula with the highest peak Obosnik (585 m), and the capes Ostro and Miriste 2,900 meters wide. Herceg Novi also has a very rich and picturesque rural hinterland that covers a total of 235 km2.
As in other cities on the coast, Herceg Novi has a mild Mediterranean climate; with dry and warm summers and mild winters. However, Herceg Novi has some peculiarities in terms of climate, the specific micro-climate conditioned by the southern exposure, limestone base and mountainous hinterland, which prevents the penetration of cold air mass. These facts indicate that the average annual temperature in the city is extremely favorable and amounts to 16.2 degrees Celsius, with over 200 sunny days a year. In the summer months (July, August) the city has about 10.7 hours of sunshine a day. The sea temperature near Herceg Novi during the summer is 22 to 26 degrees and with approximately the same daily air temperature allows a bathing season that lasts up to 5 months. Characteristic winds blow in Hereci Novi and its surroundings, such as: westerly, summer wind – mistral; winter, northern – barrel; winter, south-south wind, and sporadically other winds like the Levant, Tramontana…
HERCEG NOVI - Tourism
We will list some of Herceg Novi’s beaches:
Plaza Njivice is a public beach, located in the village of the same name. It is 4 kilometers away from Herceg Novi. It is a combination of rocky, sandy and concrete base. The people of Novlje also call it the Queen’s Beach. In the town of Sutorina, which is a few kilometers away from Herceg Novi, to the west, there is the largest public beach on the Herceg Novi Riviera, with an area of 9000 m2 – Blatna plaza. It is rich in very healing sand and mud.
The beach of the Igalo Rehabilitation Center is also a public but concrete beach. Then follows another concrete beach of the hotel “Igalo”. However, the most attractive public sandy beach is “Raffaelo” below the eponymous tourist complex. According to numerous surveys of tourists, the beach “Raffaelo” is in first place when it comes to the beaches of Herceg Novi and the surrounding area.
Like other public beaches, “Milasinovica plaza” is open to all tourists and citizens of Herceg Novi throughout the season. It is located in Topla. There are other very attractive beaches such as “Montenegrina” or beaches near the tunnel. In the city port is located the beach “White Villa”, today a public beach, and once the main Herceg Novi city beach. Near it is the beach “Zalo”, with medium fine sand and gravel, and the sandy public “Corovica plaza”.
Ideal for tourists with a more refined taste is the beach of the hotel “Perla”, located near the city center, built with a combination of concrete and sand. Very attractive and the same in terms of soil structure is the beach “Azzuro” hotel, and also a public beach in Bijela, 13 kilometers away from Herceg Novi.
In recent years, the beaches “Zanjice” and “Mirista” within the excursionists of the same name are also interesting for tourists. Zanjice is the most popular resort on the Herceg Novi Riviera. The beach located here is public, created by a combination of gravel, concrete and sand. The beach in Miriste Bay is also very interesting. It was created by a combination of concrete and sand.
If you want to get to know Herceg Novi in the right way, we suggest you read our blog WHAT TO SEE AND VISIT IN HERCEG NOVI.