Our Lady of the Rocks is one of two beautiful islets off the coast of Perast, Montenegro. Along with the Island of Saint George, the duo makes for a spectacular sight in the lovely Bay of Kotor.
While the beauty of the tiny islands will entice you to visit, the unique stories behind them create an everlasting impression.
Our Lady of the Rocks
Our Lady of the Rocks is hard to miss while you’re out on the Bay of Kotor. Its sky-blue domes and orange rooftop draw you in. But it’s the beautiful interior, interesting tale, and intriguing museum that will keep you there.
Legend has it that the man-made island was constructed over the centuries by local seafarers. After finding a picture of the Virgin Mary on a rock in the sea (the current spot of the artificial island), two brothers made a promise. It was to lay a rock at that spot after every successful voyage.
Since they were fishermen, soon enough an island started to emerge from the sea. Later, a church was built and renovated through the years, creating the current location of Our Lady of the Rocks.
Keeping up with the local tradition
There are three distinct customs that the island holds for locals in the area.
The first is the aforementioned rock throwing, which is still a tradition the town of Perast keeps. Every year on a holiday called Fasinada, the local seamen throw rocks into the bay.
The second is brides bringing bouquets to the church after their wedding, asking for a good marriage.
Finally, the third is the long-established bringing of treasures after a successful sailing journey. Throughout the church and the museum, you’ll notice paintings, silver ornaments, and more. These riches were all brought as a form of thank you for a safe trip.
You can tell it’s a special place when you step onto the islet.
I feel like I have to mention the last building on the island. It was once a room of reconciliation, where locals from Perast who argued would go to quietly resolve their feud. All their sh*t-talking could be done in a behaved manner.
Funny enough, it’s now where the toilets are located. A fitting redesign, if you ask me.
Entry Price | There is an entry price to enter the church now. It used to be around 2 or 3 euros, but in recent years they’ve started charging up to 5 euros regularly. I’ve even heard of people getting charged up to 10 euros, but at that point I’d just walk away.
WHERE TO STAY IN PERAST
If you want permanent views of Our Lady of the Rocks and the Island of Saint George, then Perast is the ideal place to stay. It also makes for a quieter alternative to Kotor, which during the peak season isn’t such a bad thing.
Here are some nice accommodations in Perast:
Cozy Guesthouse | Guesthouse Žmukić
Traditional Hotel | Conte Hotel & Restaurant
Luxury Hotel | Heritage Grand Perast
THE ISLAND OF SAINT GEORGE
I’ll start by saying that I’ve never actually stepped foot on the Island of Saint George. I’m not sure if tourists are allowed to, and I never once saw a boat stop there. However, I felt like I had to include the minuscule island for its famed story. This is a basic summary of what I was told by my tour guide.
The tale goes something like this…
Years ago, when Napoleon was warring across the region, there were two sweethearts. A young man from the French Navy, and a young woman who lived in the seaside town of Perast. Despite being on opposite sides of the ongoing battle, they fell fast in love.
One day, the man (being a loyal soldier) was tasked with bombing the villages along the coast. From the middle of the Bay of Kotor, cannonballs were fired at the small town. Upon inspection of the damaged buildings within Perast, the man noticed a lifeless body amongst the rubble. If you haven’t guessed it by now, that body belonged to the young woman whom the man loved dearly.
Heartbroken and full of grief, he decided to bring the woman’s body back out to sea. On the Island of Saint George, there was a graveyard, and this is where he decided to bury the remains.
As I failed to mention before, the small island was also home to a church to go along with the burial grounds. After the war, and the pain he brought himself, the man hung up his coat to live the rest of his days on the islet. He dedicated himself to the church and tended the graveyard to be with his lover for eternity.
Supposedly, there are names to back this claim up; at least that’s what I was told.
Is the story completely true? I’m not sure. Is it a beautiful one? In a sad and haunting way, yes.
TOURS TO THE ISLANDS
Most Bay of Kotor cruises will stop by Our Lady of the Rocks and get close to the Island of Saint George. While you can certainly book these yourself, most of the popular companies book out during the summer season.
If you have a few days to spare, then that shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you want to get everything planned in advance, then here are some recommended tours:
Tour 1 | Boat to Blue Cave, War Tunnels, Our Lady of the Rocks
Tour 2 | Blue Cave, Submarine Base, and Lady of the Rocks Tour
Tour 3 | #1 Rated Blue Cave, Secret Tunnels & Lady of the Rocks
How to get there?
Our Lady of the Rocks is an island, so the only way is by boat. Don’t attempt to swim here. Not only is there high boat traffic, but you shouldn’t enter the church in swim attire.
Almost all tours throughout the Bay of Kotor will stop at the island. They are well worth the price, and both informative and fun. I went through this company here, and had a blast!
If you are on a strict budget or are looking to just visit Our Lady of the Rocks, you can hire a speedboat. They leave from the Port of Kotor and range in price depending on the length of the trip. The lowest-priced trips I saw started at 10 euros (in 2021).
The legend behind the two islands is something I found absolutely fascinating. While it’s easy to spend your days relaxing in Kotor, it’s worth heading out on the bay for some unique history!
