The morning starts in Kotor. The sun rises, and life on the lake slowly starts. After a short walk along the quay and all the boats, you can start your day. After breakfast and a possible fuel stop, you get on your motorcycle and start your ride along the Riviera of Montenegro.

This second ride (as part of a 5-day trip through Montenegro) heads north via the Bay of Kotor, ending at the foot of the famous Ostrog Monastery.

Obviously this is not the most efficient ride to Ostrog Monastery. The drive along the south side of the Bay of Kotor is a detour, but a beautiful one. The views of the clear blue waters of the sea are beautiful and there is plenty to see along the way.

The first point of interest along the route is the Tre Sorelle Palace, located in Prčanj, Montenegro, which dates back to the 15th century and is the oldest and only fully preserved Gothic palace in the Bay of Kotor outside Kotor itself. The remarkable building, once the summer residence of the noble Buća family from Kotor, is linked to the legend of the three sisters from this family. The saga of the three sisters tells of unrequited love that resulted in a tragic sacrifice. Legend has it that the three sisters were in love with the same sailor. Although the sailor expressed his love to one of the sisters, the three sisters jointly decided to sacrifice their lives to their unrequited love.

To honor this unusual pact, they built the palace by the sea, far away from the city. The villa, with its three parts, each with a sea view, served as their sanctuary where they spent the rest of their lives. The story takes a tragic turn when the sailor, after learning of the sacrifice, sets out on a voyage and never returns. The sisters continue to hope for his return all their lives, and at the death of each sister her window in the villa was sealed, except for the last sister, where the window remained open because there was no one left to close it.

Unfortunately, the building has been neglected over the centuries, leaving it in poor condition today. That is why it is only possible to view the building from the outside.

The route continues along the bay. No mysterious saga or legend for now, but the Church of Our Lady of the Angels (Crkva Gospe od Anđela). The chapel was built in the late 16th century by Franciscans in a Gothic-Renaissance style. The small building offers panoramic views of the Korčula and Pelješac Sea Canal. Traditionally, passing sailors greeted the monastery with three calls on their ship sirens, and the Franciscans responded with the resonant sound of their church bells, which could be heard across the entire sea channel. Today, this area is one of the most photographed spots on the lake.

For now it is time to cross the channel yourself, with the ferry to Kamenari. Since the ferry service is the only way to cross the narrow stretch of sea, it can be busy at peak times. On average the crossing takes 10 minutes.

After the crossing you continue the beautiful coastal road along the mountains towards the North. You can quickly stop again at a viewpoint: Viewpoint Verige 65. From here you have a beautiful view of 2 islands. The first is “Our Lady of the Rocks” (Gospa od Škrpjela). The artificial island island is one of two islands off the coast of Perast. It was created by the sinking of old and sometimes requisitioned ships loaded with rocks. Even now, rocks are thrown into the sea. There is also a church of the same name on the island of Gospa od Škrpjela. The first known church on this island was built in 1452. The second (natural) island is called Sveti Đorđe, where you can visit a 12th century Benedictine monastery and a cemetery for Perast nobles.

The town of Risan is located at the northernmost point of the Bay of Kotor. Here you can take a lovely break at a restaurant or bar. Also take time to enjoy the rippling water on the quay or visit the Mosaic Museum, where you can visit an Ancient Roman villa with beautifully preserved mosaic floors. While you sit on a terrace, you can also discuss how to continue the journey. After Risan the ride climbs up into the mountains. This is a steep, narrow and unguarded asphalt road. It requires the necessary piloting skills and experience to arrive at the top safely. But the reward is certainly worth it! The views of the bay, Risan and the mountains behind are a true spectacle. If you prefer to avoid this exciting stretch of road, it is best to drive back a bit on the route. After the village of Lipci, take the first exit at a roundabout. You drive onto the M8 towards the North. After a few kilometers you will see the original route, which crosses the m8. Turn left and you can continue the normal route again.

You will notice that there are many (remains of) forts to see along the route. If you want to visit one, Crkvice Pekara is a recommendation. This Austro-Hungarian military base dates back to the 19th century, and served (during its peak) as a fortress and village for approximately 10,000 inhabitants. The residents had access to a wide range of facilities such as a cinema, bakery, tennis courts, bowling alley, football fields, church, hospital, post office, stables and even a funicular. Today the site is abandoned and dilapidated. As an Urbex photographer, you will certainly enjoy walking around here for a while to take atmospheric photos.

You may not have noticed it yet, but as the kilometers pass under your wheels, time also passes. In the meantime, it's time for a delicious lunch. In the hamlet of Grahovo you can choose from 3 places! The first two are located directly along the route: the hip and modern bar Pjaca and the more traditional-looking wooden chalet Stara kuća. If you cannot go to these two, you can deviate from the route and have lunch at the more chic Grahovac 1858. Make sure you have lunch at one of these places, because after this break you will delve deep into nature and will not encounter anything for a while.

The route delves into the vast mountain area of Cetinje and Nikšić. The road winds wonderfully through the valleys and mountains and there seems to be no end to the bends. You zigzag through nature and after 80 wonderful kilometers you arrive at the Slansko reservoir. This artificial lake was built in 1950 to supply water to the Perućica power plant. The lake has a size of 9 km2 and is relatively shallow. As a result, the lake is full of small islands. Just like Lake Shkoder, you will find a great diversity of special birds here.

From this lake a canal runs a long way towards the South East. You follow this canal to Carev Most. This Keizersbrug is a special example of architecture. Built in 1894, it was the largest engineering project of the time. The bridge with 19 arches spanning the canal (called Slivlj) was named after the Russian Emperor Alexander III. If you want to take photos and don't mind dirt roads, you can take a sharp left turn and take the dirt road towards the river. There you might come across a few fishermen or sunbathing people.

The last part of the route takes you to your overnight stay (Hotel Koliba Bogetići) and the Ostrog Monastery. You can choose what you like most. Since you will encounter the hotel first, you can check in here and leave your luggage before visiting the monastery. Don't forget to reserve a table in the restaurant for dinner right away.

Without luggage you slowly drive into the crowds. You will probably encounter few tourists and other road users all day long... except here. The Ostrog Monastery is a tourist attraction. That is why it is recommended to visit this Monastery at the end of the day, or as early as possible in the morning, so that you avoid the large hordes of tourists.

Perched high in the rocks, the shrine is imbued with spiritual significance and historical value in Orthodox Christianity. It was founded in the 17th century by Saint Basil of Ostrog, an influential figure in the Orthodox Church. The monastery is notable for its unique architecture, partly built into the rocks of the Ostroška Greda mountain. It houses the relics of Saint Basil and has developed into an important Orthodox pilgrimage site. The monastery has undergone several phases of expansion and renovation, adding frescoes and religious works of art from different periods.

Once back at the hotel, you can enjoy a delicious dinner in the restaurant, enjoy a cool beer and review all the special places of today.