Bar neighbourhoods: Makedonsko Naselje and Stari Bar's bazaar

Macedonian builders constructed the original housing complex after a devastating earthquake left many families in Bar without homes. The decision was to build permanent flats rather than temporary prefabricated housing.

The building designs were adapted from the Aerodrom neighbourhood in Skopje. The blocks of flats had a ground floor, two or four upper floors, and an attic.

Makedonska Street was named to thank the builders for their work. The neighbourhood also gained Jugoslavija Primary School, built with solidarity funds from the Yugoslav republics of the time.

Today, the name Makedonsko is also used for a wider area than the original housing complex. This wider area includes Borska Street, whose pavements and side paths lead to residential entrances, with parking and trees between the buildings. During the street's reconstruction, benches were installed, and some planned new paths were left unbuilt to preserve existing trees.

Our article on everyday life in Bar covers shopping, coffee and other local routines.

Stari Bar's bazaar is a row of houses and shops outside the old town walls, in the settlement below them. The main street climbs and curves between houses that face onto it.

The bazaar developed under Ottoman rule as the settlement's trading and craft quarter. In multi-storey houses, the ground floor was intended for a shop or workshop, with living space upstairs. Because of the steep terrain, the street once had stepped cobblestone paving, later replaced by stone slabs.

Today, shops, restaurants and cafes line the street, with awnings and tables along the building fronts. Stone facades, broad eaves and wooden window shutters are visible along the street.

Our guide to Bar's attractions covers the walls and buildings inside the old town in more detail.