Luštica

Luštica (pronounced [lûːʃtit͡sa]) is a peninsula on the south Adriatic Sea, located at the entrance of the Bay of Kotor also known as the Boka Kotorska or the Boka. It effectively separates Tivat Bay from the Adriatic.

The peninsula has an area of 47 km² and is 13 km long. The highest point of the peninsula is Obosnik peak, at 582 m. It has 35 km of coast, which accounts for 12% of Montenegrin coastline. Lustica is divided between the Herceg Novi and Tivat Montenegrin municipalities.

Cultural Heritage

This area has an extremely rich cultural heritage embodied by twenty churches, out of which eighteen Orthodox and two Catholic ones. Once an isolated community, there are farms and smallholders producing their own cheese, prosciutto, wine and rakija from local ingredients.

Natural history

Luštica is largely undeveloped with populations of wild boar, mongoose, jackal and edible dormice. Nightingales and Scops-owls can also be heard in abundance. Olive groves are also plentiful although many are uncultivated and overgrown.

Military Heritage

The peninsula also has a significant military history with its position guarding the entrance to the Boka Kotorska and military ports at Tivat during the cold war (Yugoslav Navy) and Kotor during the Austro-Hungarian occupation (Austrian Navy). There are disused Austrian fortifications at Rose, Mamula, Arza and Montnegrin military installations at Rose (disused), Krašići and Obosnik. Two disused submarine hides are cut into the rock of the steep coast on Herceg Novi bay, and the Kumbor Strait. Since th closure of Tivat Naval Base a Kotor Class Frigate, previously of the Yugoslav Navy, has been moored at a facility directly below the village of Zabrđe in the Kumbor strait.

Tourism

On the northeast side there are fine views over Tivat and Herceg Novi bays of the Boka Kotorska and on the southwest side; fine views over the entrance of the Boka to the Adriatic Sea and of the Prevlaka Peninsula.

The Luštica peninsula is main excursion destination for tourists in Herceg Novi. It has the finest beaches and resorts in Herceg Novi municipality, including Žanjice, Mirište, Arza and Dobreč.

A small population is resident all year round with a large no. of people resident for the summer months only. Historically these summer visitors have come from parts of the former Yugoslavia, particularly Serbia. More recently, with the breakup of Yugoslavia and with Montenegro gaining independence, western Europeans and Russians have moved in, some permanently.

Close to Tivat Airport, the area is ripe for development and several large projects including golf courses have been mooted. However, to date there is still very little tourism development with the main building activity limited to that close to Zanjice beach. However the scale is still very small.

The biggest tourist centre is Krašići with many houses and apartments for rent.

The stunning views and scenery, clean seas, warm summers and relative isolation make Luštica an attractive tourist destination.

Infrastructure

There are few roads and these are often narrow and can be busy in August. Mains water only makes it as far as Krašići and this supply is often turned off in the summer. The majority of houses rely on underground tanks supplied by rainwater and water tankers. The 3 phase electricity supply can be unreliable with frequent blackouts and missing phases.

Villages

Babunci

Begovići

Eraci

Klinci

Krtoli

Krašići

Miževići

Mrkovi

Radovići

Rose

Tići

Zabrđe including the settlements of Trojanovići and Stojkovići

Zambelići