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Bosnia Road Trip Mountains

Over the border into Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor

January 22, 2016 By Jan Robinson 25 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.


Sitting at the cafe on Crkvina Hill in Trebinje in Bosnia (BiH), savouring the last of our coffee and the view, we cajoled ourselves into moving.  It was time to leave Bosnia and East Herzegovina and head to the Montenegro Border and that day’s destination in the Bay of Kotor. But there was one last thing we wanted to before leaving Trebinje.

What You Will Find in This Post

Arslanagić Bridge, Trebinje

Arslanagic Bridge Trebinje from Trebinje

 

For a small town, Trebinje has more than it’s fair share of bridges. This beauty looked a tad out of place – as if it had been whisked away from an important old trading route junction and plonked in the suburbs of Trebinje – and that is exactly what did happen.

Arslanagic Bridge Trebinje

 

Originally it was a further 5km upstream at Gorica, which in 1574 stood at the junction of an important trade route between Herceg Novi in Montenegro and Dubrovnik in Croatia.  It wasn’t till the 17th century that a noblemen called Arslan-aga escaped Novi as it fell to the Venetians, set up a toll house and bestowed his name upon the bridge.

Crkvina Hill as seen from Arslanagić Bridge.

From Arslanagić Bridge we could look up to Crkvina Hill where we'd been sipping coffee only minutes before.

Hydro power came along and in 1965 a reservoir was built which submerged the bridge. In 1966 the water level of the reservoir was reduced to enable it’s dismantling brick by brick. The reconstruction 700m upstream of the Tribinje’s stone bridge was complete in 1972.

 

Heading for the Hills and the Montenegro Border

At one more stop beside at Trebinjsko Jezero, where the lake forms on the river, we said a final goodbye to Trebinje and headed for the hills.

Trebisnjica River East Herzegovina in BiH

 

Lastva was an idyllic spot on the river.

Bucolic scenes beside the Trebisnjica River East Herzegovina on our way to the mountain border pass with Montenegro.

 

Banks of the Trebisnjica River

Bucolic scene at Lastva near Trebinje BiH Panorama

The road started to climb.

Gaining Height on the M6 between Trebinje and the border with Montenegro

Leaving the Trebišnijica behind the M6 climbed steeply passing the last town of note in Bosnia (BiH), Zupa and toward Ilino Brdo, the Montenegro Border crossing. There was little to no traffic and the feeling of standing roadside absorbing the stillness of the mountains, was surreal.

BiH Mountains near Zupa and the Illijino Brdo border crossing

At the border stop point there were only two in front of us – one cow and a car.

Welcome to Montenegro sign at Ilijino Brdo between Zupa in Croatia and Vilusi in Montenegro

Looking up to the Montenegro Border

By the time we pulled up at the checkpoint the cow had wandered in front of us. I wasn’t brave enough to photograph the cow lined up at the border 🙂

I know it doesn’t look it but the cow was real.

We saw this Border Cow at Ilino Brdo border post BiH/Montenegro on a road trip between Trebinje (BiH) and Kotor (Montenegro)

 

Once over the border it was easy driving on straight roads through the high plains (800m) of Grohovo. This highway is relatively new and brings hope that it will bring investors to provide tourist infrastructure.

Over the border in Montenegro heading for the Bay of Kotor.

After absorbing a totally different mountain view from high above the Bay of Kotor, our day ended in the frenzied traffic scene of downtown Kotor. The town shown in the photo below is Risan, the oldest town in the Bay.

Bay of Kotor Montenegro viewed from the road on the mountain

The Bay of Kotor known as simply Boka.

The Bay of Kotor Montenegro is a beautiful natural harbour that looks like a fjord.

 

Our Bosnia Road Trip

From Croatia we began our Bosnia road trip following the Neretva River to the bombed out buildings and 16th Century Ottoman Stari Most (bridge) of Mostar. It took us to the jaw dropping mediaeval tombstones of Radimlja Necropolis that slumber in an unlikely roadside location. Only 3km away from the necropolis we saw the Caršija Mosque at Stolac newly rebuilt with original stone after being totally destroyed during the war. We enjoyed driving on Bosnia roads and followed a Yellow Bus all the way to Trebinje.

Our Destination of Kotor

The walls of Kotor Montenegro Skurda River

Our Bosnia Road Trip Concludes.

Our Bosnia road trip was a kaleidoscope of images and sensations crammed into a day and a half.

We like to travel slow, but sometimes a whirlwind materialises and we are reminded of how much fun a fast ride can be.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WHIRLWIND TRAVEL DAYS IN THE COMMENTS OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

Leave a link to your travel photo post below.

I am co-hosting Nancie’s Travel Photo Thursday with Ruth from Tanama Tales  Rachel from Rachel’s Ruminations

 

An InLinkz Link-up


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Filed Under: Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Road Trips, Ten Weeks in Europe 2015

About Jan Robinson

Jan Robinson writes about travel on her Budget Travel Talk blog. A solo traveller in her teens, for the last 40 years Jan has travelled through Australia, Asia, Europe, Turkey and New Zealand with her husband. They specialise in road trips, caravanning and Independent travel without spending a fortune. Her favourite destination is Turkey and she is currently dreaming of Myanmar and Mexico.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sophie

    January 22, 2016 at 9:52 am

    So gorgeous these parts. I need to go back, rent a car and take my time.

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 22, 2016 at 1:53 pm

      Yes Sophie, there are some big mountains and snow near Trebinje too that I would love to explore.

      Reply
  2. Toni | 2 Aussie Travellers

    January 22, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    It must be because it’s so hot and humid here today that I’m attracted to articles with gorgeous beaches and waterways. This looks like an amazing road trip, I’d have been constantly in and out of the car with the camera too

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 22, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      I didn’t get much time out of the car only 5 times on the whole trip, but it wasn’t very long so that was OK I guess.

      Reply
  3. Krista

    January 22, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    Stunningly beautiful!! I could get lost in these photos, Jan. 🙂 Truly, they’re so gorgeous, and remind me of a beautiful couple of weeks one Spring spent traveling this area. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 22, 2016 at 1:51 pm

      I remember your photo of a boat and a lake in Bosnia Krista and your story of roadworks or a diversion and not knowing where you were. Fun!

      Reply
  4. Pinay Flying High

    January 22, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Absolutely stunning! I am truly speechless! The town of Risan looks like a nice place to live in. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 22, 2016 at 6:16 pm

      I’m happy that you liked the photos. It was a pretty drive and the view over the Bay of Kotor is mind-boggling.

      Reply
  5. Cindy

    January 23, 2016 at 9:41 am

    Love that bridge – is was certainly worth saving. The high road above Kotor Bay is so gorgeous, it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been.

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 23, 2016 at 12:45 pm

      Where did you go on the high road Cindy?

      Reply
  6. Ruth - Tanama Tales

    January 23, 2016 at 11:08 am

    Oh my! My jaw dropped several times when I was reading and scrolling down. These places are so stunning. You have convinced me that having your own wheels is the best way to enjoy the region.

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 23, 2016 at 12:45 pm

      Having a vehicle makes exploring the area so easy Ruth.

      Reply
  7. Corinne

    January 23, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    Jan, First of all, I loved day-tripping to Montenegro and BiH from Croatia. The road is gorgeous and all along it’s so pretty. I love, love, love your cow!

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 23, 2016 at 8:08 pm

      She was even funnier when she lined up at the border lol.

      Reply
  8. Marcia

    January 23, 2016 at 11:08 pm

    What a beautiful drive, Jan! Looks like it took a few hours but with so many scenic spots, I can see why it took a day and a half.
    I love the emptiness of it, how pristine and unspoilt it looks. Yes, it’d be good to have better infrastructure, but that would mean more people. Unfortunately difficult to have one without the other.
    Love that bridge!

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 24, 2016 at 9:22 am

      The drive in that particular post only did take a couple of hours. The 1.5 days included all the other posts as well. We really packed it in!

      Reply
  9. Rachel Heller

    January 24, 2016 at 4:39 am

    Your photos of Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor are wonderful!

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 24, 2016 at 9:21 am

      Thank you Rachel.

      Reply
  10. Jackie Smith

    January 24, 2016 at 7:01 am

    Oh we had just a taste of Montenegro on a cruise stop and this post makes me want to go back for several more helpings! Loved the photo of the bridge and its reflections.

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 24, 2016 at 9:20 am

      The Trebišnjica River was very shallow with loads of grasses growing on the bottom. The reflections were great all along it Jackie and I loved that bridge too, especially it’s history.

      Reply
  11. Nancie

    January 24, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    Hi Jan! I love that cow. It really doesn’t look real 🙂 That is one gorgeous bridge. I would not have wanted to be the person responsible for dismantling it and putting it back together. Can you imagine if a brick somehow got misplaced? 🙂 #TPThursday

    Reply
    • Jan

      January 24, 2016 at 9:33 pm

      A nightmare job I agree Nancie. It took six years to put back together! That cow certainly was a classic. It doesn’t even look real to me and I know that it was.

      Reply
  12. Kathy Marris

    February 8, 2016 at 6:19 pm

    Beautiful mirror effect of the bridge on the water Jan. What a picture postcard place in the world. I’m hoping to see Montenegro next year.

    Reply
    • Jan

      February 8, 2016 at 6:49 pm

      The Trebinje River was full of mirror reflections Kathy – a fantastic river to photograph.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The Bay of Kotor known simply as Boca says:
    May 13, 2016 at 1:33 am

    […] heart leapt into my mouth, as we descended the spectacular high road from Bosnia and we’d already passed through Lipci, before I managed to yell pull […]

    Reply

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