Picture this: it’s a summer day in 1875, and a 40-year-old British-Irish traveler and army captain named James Creagh arrives in Herceg Novi, then called Castel Nouvo. Today, we might call James a travel blogger, though he had no internet or camera. Instead, he captured his journeys through words, filling four books with his experiences.

James had seen many remarkable places, yet the landscapes of Herceg Novi left a lasting impression. In his own words:

“Castel Nuovo, situated among a heap of rugged rocks overhanging the sea, is so intermingled with the seminosities of its steep places that it is difficult to distinguish between the works of nature and those of man. Old pillars, high towers, and castellated battlements are surrounded, and sometimes even covered, with flowers, vines, or creepers; and modern houses, crooked and narrow little streets, ancient ruins, massive flights of steps, watercourses, fountains, and lofty archways make it an excellent specimen of one of those interesting Dalmatian towns in which almost every nation has left a mark. The lion of Venice, in such places, still surmounts an edifice that was erected by the Romans, and people go to church in temples that were built and used for the worship of Jupiter.”

And as he gazed from the nearby Savina Monastery, he noted the expansive view, which he found equal to "the most gorgeous sights on the far-famed Bosphorus of Thrace," even impressing the Austrian Emperor during his visit.

While many things have changed since then, the streets of the Old Town, the breathtaking views from the monastery, and the lush vegetation still amaze visitors to Herceg Novi. But in 1875, Lazure was not yet a hotel, and James stayed in a small room on the seafront. He described it as:

“a small and very clean room that looked over the sea along an expanse of flower gardens, whose pleasant fragrance wafted through the open window, assisted by the gentle murmurs of trickling water, lulling me into a sound sleep.”

Though 150 years have passed, the peaceful beauty of this coast remains unchanged. We hope your stay at Lazure brings you the same sense of wonder and tranquility that James Creagh experienced in Herceg Novi.