Old Olive Tree in Bar: A 2,240-Year-Old Tree That Still Bears Fruit
Few places in the Mediterranean can boast a natural monument that has been alive for more than two millennia. Bar can. The Old Olive Tree in Mirovica has stood here longer than the memory of any nation that has passed through this region and it still produces fruit.
Beneath its branches, feuding families once made peace, lovers got married and, according to local stories, the sick came seeking healing. The entire area where it grows was named after this very act of reconciliation, Mirovica.
In the text that follows, we explore everything that makes the Old Olive Tree so unique, from its scientifically confirmed age and centuries old legends to practical information for anyone planning a visit. No matter where you are coming from, you will find everything you need before standing in front of one of the oldest trees in Europe.
What is the Old Olive Tree in Bar?
The Old Olive Tree is a European olive tree located in the Mirovica neighborhood of Bar, along the main road between Bar and Ulcinj. It has been under legal protection since 1957 and its age has been scientifically confirmed at 2,240 years. Below, we explain where this number comes from, which legends are connected to the tree and how it is preserved today.
How old is the Old Olive Tree?
Short answer, 2,240 years. This age was confirmed in 2015 by the Faculty of Forestry at Istanbul University through the analysis of tissue samples taken from 50 olive trees in the Bar and Ulcinj area. Among all the tested samples, the tree in Mirovica proved to be by far the oldest.
The same study also provided a broader picture. Two trees in the region are over 2,000 years old, six are between 1,000 and 2,000 years old, and as many as twenty are between 500 and 1,000 years old. In practice, the area around Bar contains an exceptionally high concentration of ancient olive trees, confirming how deeply this region is historically connected to olive growing. Sampling was conducted in November 2014 and the tree owners received official certificates.
Legends and stories connected to the Old Olive Tree
According to the most well known legend, feuding families would come under this tree to make peace, and it is precisely from this act of reconciliation that the entire area got its name, Mirovica. Older residents of Bar say that people came under its branches to be healed, to find happiness and to ensure lasting love. Even today, couples still get married in the same place, which speaks volumes about the strength of this tradition.
There is also a story that discourages anyone from trying to harm the tree. During the Italian occupation, botanists reportedly offered the owners a large sum of money to uproot the olive tree and transport it to Italy, but they refused without hesitation. The duty of protecting the tree was passed down from generation to generation as a promise that could not be broken.
Scientific research and protection of the Old Olive Tree in Bar
As already mentioned, the state declared the Old Olive Tree a natural monument in 1957, marking the beginning of its formal protection. Until then, the tree had grown without special care and, according to local stories, the hollow inside the trunk was used by locals as a sheltered spot for playing cards. Only after it was officially protected did the memorial complex begin to take shape as it exists today.
A more serious challenge appeared in 2023 when the municipality of Bar noticed that parts of the tree were starting to decay. An expert commission was formed and one of the first measures introduced was a new drainage system to regulate water around the roots. The tree has survived two fires and fully recovered both times, which is why many consider it almost indestructible.
Cultural and historical significance of the Old Olive Tree
The Old Olive Tree is no longer just a tree, it is the identity of an entire city. From olive oil on the table to festivals dedicated to children’s creativity, much of Bar’s cultural life can be traced back to this single tree in Mirovica. Here is why.
Why is the Old Olive Tree a symbol of the city of Bar?
Today, more than 100,000 olive trees grow in the Bar area, many of them several hundred years old. The dominant variety is the native Žutica, used to produce olive oil under the well known brand Barsko Zlato, the most awarded Montenegrin extra virgin olive oil. This same variety connects the Old Olive Tree to the entire economic history of the region, as it belongs to the same indigenous type cultivated since the time of ancient Greek colonization.
An interesting detail is a local story that during the reign of King Nikola, every man from Bar had to plant 20 olive trees before he could get married. Whether this is historically accurate is hard to confirm, but it clearly shows the importance of olive cultivation in the local identity. This tree is simply the most visible symbol of that connection, which is why it appears on almost every promotional material of the city of Bar.
Events and traditions connected to the Old Olive Tree
Since 1987, Bar has hosted the festival “Encounters under the Old Olive Tree” every November, dedicated to children’s creativity and art for children. The event was originally known as the “Yugoslav Meeting of Writers for Children” and today brings together writers, young poets, painters and performers from Montenegro and the wider region. In 2025, the 38th edition of the festival was held, with a record number of literary and artistic submissions.
In addition to the festival, the “Old Olive Tree” award has been presented since 1989 for lifetime achievement in children’s art and literature. Each year, the laureates plant a new olive tree in the Olive Park near the House of Revolution, symbolically rooting the tradition in the heart of the city. Alongside this, every December the town of Old Bar hosts Maslinijada, a showcase of olives, olive oil and citrus fruits, rounding off the cultural year in the spirit of the olive tree.
How to visit the Old Olive Tree
Everything written so far about its history and legends carries much more meaning once you actually stand in front of this tree. That is why it helps to know how to get there, how much the entrance costs and what else you can see while you are there. Here is the practical information.
Where is it located and how to get to the Old Olive Tree
The Old Olive Tree grows in a suburban area about 5 kilometers from the city center. The road is clearly marked with signposts, so it is hard to miss. If you are coming from Old Bar, the tree is practically on the way, as Mirovica is located close to the old town walls.
The easiest way to reach the site is by car or taxi from the center of Bar, with a drive of about fifteen minutes. Parking is available right next to the entrance, which makes access simple. For those who prefer walking, the route from Old Bar to this ancient tree is relatively short and quite pleasant.
Entrance fee and opening hours
The entrance fee is 1 euro for adults, while children and groups pay 0.50 euros. The fee was introduced in 2008, when the area around the tree was arranged into the memorial complex as it exists today. At the entrance, you can buy souvenirs, postcards, magnets and small bottles of olive oil made from the fruit of the tree itself.
According to available information, the site is open from Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 to 20:00, but it is recommended to check current opening hours before visiting, as they may vary depending on the season.
One practical tip is to visit in the morning or later in the day, since it can get quite hot around midday during the summer months and shade is limited.
What to see near the Old Olive Tree
In addition to the main tree, there are seven more olive trees in the same area, each between 500 and 700 years old, turning the entire site into something like an open air museum of ancient olive growing. Each of these trees would be an attraction on its own elsewhere, but here they stand in the shadow of their much older neighbor.
Just a few minutes away is Old Bar, one of the most important archaeological sites in Montenegro, with remains dating back nearly three thousand years. Inside the walls, you will find the remains of Venetian palaces, a Turkish bath, a clock tower, a seventeenth century aqueduct and the ruins of both Orthodox and Catholic churches. On your way to the old town, be sure to stop at the square in front of the walls, where local vendors sell homemade olive oil, citrus fruits, cheese and various handicrafts.
If you have a full day available, it is worth continuing south to Ulcinj and the island of Ada Bojana, about 30 kilometers from Bar. Ada is known for its long sandy beach, river houses along the Bojana River and one of the few nudist resorts on the Adriatic. The drive from the Old Olive Tree to Ada takes less than an hour and passes through olive groves that stretch across the entire area between the two towns.
The Old Olive Tree and the oldest olive trees in the world
When it comes to ancient olive trees, the Mediterranean has more of them than you might expect. From Lebanon to Spain, dozens of trees measure their age in millennia. Still, this olive tree holds a special place on that list, and not only because of its age.
How does the Old Olive Tree compare to other ancient olive trees in the Mediterranean?
The oldest olive trees in the world grow in the eastern Mediterranean, closer to the regions where the species originally developed. In the Lebanese village of Bechealeh, there are 16 trees known as the “Sisters of Noah”, which locals claim are up to 6,000 years old, although carbon dating from 2024 places the oldest at around 1,160 years. In Palestine, the Al Badawi tree near Bethlehem has been dated to between 3,000 and 5,000 years, while the olive tree in the village of Vouves on Crete has a confirmed age of at least 2,000 years, with some estimates going up to 4,000.
At 2,240 years old, the Old Olive Tree in Bar does not surpass all of these trees in terms of age alone. However, in very old olive trees, the core of the trunk often decays, making traditional methods such as dendrochronology unreliable, and scientists still do not agree on the exact ages of many of these trees.
What makes the Old Olive Tree stand out?
What makes this tree unique is the combination of scientific verification and its continued function as a living, productive tree. The tissue analysis carried out in 2015 by the Faculty of Forestry at Istanbul University provided one of the most precisely documented ages among ancient olive trees in the Mediterranean. This is not an estimate, but the result of concrete laboratory testing.
In addition, the tree still actively produces fruit, which is used to make olive oil sold to visitors at the Mirovica site. Most ancient olive trees on this list also bear fruit, but very few have an organized system of harvesting, production and sale like this one. When you combine scientific verification, continuous productivity and the fact that the tree has been legally protected since 1957, it stands out not as the oldest, but as one of the most thoroughly documented and actively living ancient olive trees in Europe.
Why the Old Olive Tree in Bar is worth your time
After everything we have covered, from scientific analysis and debates about dating to legends of reconciliation and practical tips for visiting, one thing is clear. This is not just a story about an old tree. It is the story of a tree that has been actively present in the lives of people around it for 2,240 years. It produces fruit, gives oil, welcomes visitors and continues to grow while generations, states and entire eras change around it.
If you ever find yourself on the Montenegrin coast, take an hour to visit Bar. Not out of tourist obligation, but because there are very few places in the Mediterranean where you can stand in front of a living organism that existed before the Roman Empire and that, if properly preserved, will remain long after us. That is the Old Olive Tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit the Old Olive Tree?
The entrance fee is 1 euro for adults, while children and groups pay 0.50 euros. The fee was introduced in 2008 when the site was arranged into a memorial complex.
Does the Old Olive Tree still produce fruit?
Yes. Despite being 2,240 years old and having survived two fires, the tree still produces fruit regularly. The olives are harvested and used to make olive oil.
Can you buy olive oil from the Old Olive Tree?
Yes. At the entrance, small bottles of olive oil made from the tree’s fruit are sold, along with postcards, magnets and other souvenirs.
How old is the Old Olive Tree in Bar?
Its scientifically confirmed age is 2,240 years. This figure comes from a 2015 study conducted by the Faculty of Forestry at Istanbul University, which analyzed tissue samples from this tree and 49 others in the Bar and Ulcinj area.
How did the Old Olive Tree survive fires?
The tree has burned twice and recovered both times. One side of the trunk is still visibly scorched. According to local stories, one of the fires was caused by a lit match thrown during a card game, although it is more likely that the cause was a lightning strike. Olive trees are highly resistant to fire because they retain a large amount of moisture in their tissue.
What does the name Mirovica mean?
The name comes from the word for peace. According to local legend, feuding families came to the Old Olive Tree to reconcile and end blood feuds. The entire area was named after this act of making peace, Mirovica.
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