Manastir Banja, Orthodox monastery near Perast, Montenegro
Manastir Banja is an Orthodox monastery located on a hillside overlooking the Bay of Kotor near Risan. The compound contains a church, residential buildings, and agricultural spaces distributed across terraced levels that follow the natural slope of the land.
Local tradition associates the monastery's founding with Stefan Nemanja, an important 12th-century Serbian medieval ruler. Most of the visible architecture reflects substantial rebuilding that occurred during the 18th century.
The name Banja refers to the mineral springs and thermal waters found in this region. Visitors can observe how the site functions as a place of spiritual retreat, with spaces that blend religious practice and daily monastic life.
The monastery sits on a wooded hillside outside Risan and requires no entrance fee. The paths are uneven and demand sturdy footwear, with early morning or late afternoon visits being most comfortable during warm months.
The grounds contain traditional cistern systems designed to collect and store rainwater, reflecting clever engineering from earlier times. These water tanks demonstrate how monks maintained self-sufficiency and lived independently from outside resources.
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