Kotor

Kotor
Котор
Kotor
Location within Montenegro
Coordinates: 42°25′48″N 18°46′12″E / 42.43000°N 18.77000°E / 42.43000; 18.77000
CountryMontenegro
RegionCoastal
MunicipalityKotor
Founded5th century BC
Government
 • TypeMayor-Assembly
 • MayorVladimir Jokić (DCG)
Area
 • Municipality335 km2 (129 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)
 • Urban
13,347
 • Rural
8,569
 • Municipality
21,916
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
85330
Area code+382 32
Vehicle registrationKO
Patron saintSaint Tryphon
Websitewww.opstinakotor.com
Part ofNatural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor
CriteriaCultural: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
Reference125ter
Inscription1979 (3rd Session)
Extensions2012, 2015

Kotor (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Котор, pronounced [kɔ̌tɔr]), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian, pronounced [ˈkattaro]), is a town in Coastal region of Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,347 and is the administrative center of Kotor Municipality.

The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. It is located on the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea, which constitutes a ria, meaning a submerged river canyon. Together with the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen, Kotor and its surrounding area form the unique landscape.

Since the early 2000s Kotor has seen an increase in tourists, many of them coming by cruise ship. Visitors are attracted to the natural environment of the Bay of Kotor and the old town of Kotor. Kotor is part of the World Heritage Site dubbed the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor.

The fortified city of Kotor was also included in UNESCO's World Heritage Site list as part of Venetian Works of Defence between 16th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar in 2017.