Although most of the historical and cultural heritage of present-day Montenegro consists of architectural monuments from the Venetian period, the time of the rapid development of cities, the construction of temples, palaces, and gardens, there are many preserved sights of the Ottoman period. In every city that was under the rule of the Ottoman Turks for some time, there is a stone clock tower, the so-called "Kula". Many of them are preserved and are one of the most visited tourist sites, just like the famous Sahat Kula Tower (Clock Tower) in the Montenegrin town of Herceg Novi.

Sahat, Saat, or simply Sat Kula was built within the historic center of the town in 1667. Constructed by the order of the Turkish Sultan Mehmed IV, the magnificent architectural monument was intended to daily remind Muslims of the upcoming hour of holy prayer – salah.

This medieval Clock Tower harmoniously combines the classical bell tower of Christian churches and the elements of Ottoman architecture. On all four sides, the tall octagonal structure is decorated with the dials of ancient mechanical clocks. At the end of the 20th century, they were replaced by electronic ones. In addition to its main purpose, the tower served as a town gate, especially during the Venetian period. At the same time, the Turkish Sahat Kula was completed by an unusual superstructure in the pseudo-Romanesque style and a new European name "Tora" (Torah). Neither Kula nor Tora caught on to the tower for long: locals still call it just the Clock Tower.

However, it is not only the uncommon look of the tower that has attracted everyone's attention over the years. On its walls, there is an original bas-relief depicting the Holy Mother of God by the talented Sarajevo sculptor Afran Khozich. Made of old charred wood, the world-famous "Black Madonna" is dedicated to the founder of the town of Herceg Novi and the first Bosnian king, Stephen Tvrtko I Kotromanice.