Bar is made up of the Old and New Bar. New Bar is situated along the shore, linder the Volujica mountain, on a stony hill, and inaccessible from three sides. It is about five kilometres away from the bay.

Bar is an ancient town. It was probably once situated on the coast, where the harbour is today, but, because of attacks by pirates, it had to move into the hills. Its name is interpreted in several ways. Its Latin name was Antibarum, and the Greek variation of it – Antivaris. Some people believe that it got its name from the Italian town Bari (which is on the opposite side of the Adriatic sea), while others think that it was named after the Avars who, according to Konstantin Porfphirogenit, once held it in their power.

From the 12th century, it has the Slavic name – Bar. During the middle of the 11th century, it belonged to Duklja, and later to Byzanthium (until 1183). Then, with the rest of Zeta, it became a part of the Nemanjic state, where it remained until its fall. This period marks its greatest flourish. It enjoyed privileges which it was given by Serbian rulers, it had a town autonomy, its own statute, coat of arms, and minted its own money.

It was conquered by the Turks in 1571, and liberated by Montenegrins in 1877. Then, in fierce battles for this fortress, the biggest after the one on Skadar, the town which was built between the old city forifications was completely destroyed. The inhabitants deserted it, and the new settlement arose below its walls.

During the Middle Ages, Old Bar was one of the most powerful towns in this part of our country. It is called "Glorious" in Serbian medieval scripts. This was the site of the famous Bar battle in which the talented military leader, Prince Vojislav (1017-1050) of Zeta, brought defeat to the large Byzantine army. After this battle, Zeta freed itself from the Byzantine army and became an independent state.

The bishop's seat was transferred to Bar from Duklja, and later, the archbishop's as well, while it was the seat of "Serbian leaders" starting from the 16th century. Prince Mihajlo (1050-1082), son of Prince Vojislav, was crowned and proclaimed king in this town in 1077.

Priest Dukljanin wrote his famous chronicle in Bar, and in it, he noted folk tales and historical legends from the time of the arrival of the Slays up to the middle of the 12th century, giving most attention to the history of Zeta.

From those times, parts of the town fortifications and citadels have been preserved. The town gate from the 11th century should also be mentioned, for it represents a unique example of this type of architecture on our coast.

There is an aqueduct from the 15th or 16th century which used to supply the town with water from the mountain. Within the town and in its near vicinity, there are ruins and foundations of several old churches, of which the "cathedral on the Londža" is the oldest. There are two more churches here, the Church of St. Marko and the small Church of St. Catherine. The small Church of St. Jovan Vladimir was renovated in 1927.

During their rule over the town, the Turks changed and adapted the style of medieval and Renaissance palaces and churches to their own, so that Bar became a town Mediterranean-oriental in style, and it has retained that appearance until this day.