Things to see and do Cetinje (Цетиње) Area

This is one of the most important monuments in the Balkans. You'll need to take a good-quality road from Cetinje. From Kotor, you'll first pass through serpentines with dazzling views, then arrive at a good-quality road. The monument stands at an altitude of 1,657 m. We're standing on one of the great peaks of the Dinaric Alps, on the roof of the Balkans.

Montenegrins come here to honor the memory of national hero Petar II. Petar II was the successor to Petar ^I (1748-1830), the Metropolitan of Cetinje. He was attached to the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro. Of the Petrović dynasty, Petar ^I was the leader with the most spirituality. Petar ^I appointed his first nephew as his successor. The latter was studying in Russia and did not wish to become a bishop. The torch was then passed to his second nephew, Rade Tomislav (1813-1851). He became the new metropolitan(vladika) of Cetinje in 1830. He is now known as Petar II Petrović-Njegoš (Петар II Петровић-Његош).

Many academics and other specialists consider Petar II to be Montenegro's most impressive leader. Petar II laid the foundations of the new Montenegrin state and was also a poet. However, this metropolitan was also much feared. Members of the Senate who disagreed with him were assassinated. The number of his professional killers reached 70 by the end of his reign.

The view is breathtaking. You can see the road and the passing cars with astonishing clarity. Viewed from a bearing of 190 degrees, you see the last mountains before the sea. It's a long way to Bar, but as the crow flies, it only takes about ten minutes. Concentrate on heading 90 degrees, and the town of Cetinje comes into view. It's so close, you could leap to your feet and land in its center. Further on, Lake Skadar, the first place where wine was produced in the Balkans. The Albanian town of Shkodër is visible on a clear day. A little to the left, at heading 70 degrees, you can see the Albanian mountains that form the Valbona valley. The great Albanian author Ismaïl Kadaré claims that this mountain is legendary. Others claimthat Homer'sIliad originated here.

Choose a parking space next to the garbage cans. The road after the last bend is chaotic.

Monte Frog is a local, family-run business founded in 2015. It organizes cruises on Lake Skadar with traditional wooden boats, allowing you to reach the lily paths, reed forest and small canals of the lake. There are different types of tour. Public tours allow you to share the boat with other visitors and meet new people. If you want the boat all to yourself, the private boat option is available. Monte Frog will tailor its services to your wishes.

This monastery is characteristic of Montenegrin religious architecture. It was built at the very beginning of the ^18th century by order of Prince-Bishop Danilo ^I, on the site of the former palace of Ivan Crnojević, the founder of the city. The original monastery (built by Ivan Crnojević in the ^15th century) was located nearby, but completely destroyed by the Turks in 1692. Several fragments of this older monastery were used in the construction of the new church building. We refer to the six capitals in the gallery on the first floor of the lodge and a parapet plate on the apse of the monastic church.

In the center of the monastic complex,the small chapel dedicated to the birth of the Virgin contains two major relics: the right hand of St. John the Baptist and a fragment of the cross of Christ. The building, decorated with an iconostasis painted by Greek artists, also houses the tombs of Prince Danilo and the great voivode Mirko Petrović. In the church courtyard lie Darinka and Olga, respectively the wife and daughter of Prince Danilo ^I. In the residence of the metropolitan, two treasures of Orthodox religious art: the seal of Ivan Crnojević, founder of the city, crosses, mitres adorned with jewels, numerous icons, very old chasubles, as well as a remarkable collection of old books.

These riches of Orthodox art explain the popularity of pilgrims from all over the region, and even from Russia.

For a change from other tours on the Skadar lake. The small tourist complex with a typical look has a beautiful private beach and a tavern. Almost inaccessible except by boat, experienced hikers can nevertheless reach it by small paths from Virpazar. The meeting point is in Virpazar in a private tavern. Possibility of one-day boat trips around Godinje: a 2-hour cruise on the lake with a continuous buffet and swimming in the lake.

The Soko Mountaineering Club organizes an eclectic selection of hikes throughout the Lovčen National Park, as well as trekking, bivouacs and canyoning on the Tara River for a wide audience. For the more experienced sportsmen, mountaineering competitions in winter and waterfall descents in summer are also on the program. Accompanied by these very enthusiastic locals, you will discover more easily the fauna and flora of the park of Lovčen.

Installed in the former embassy of Serbia, just in front of the palace of King Nicolas. A small museum of two floors which is worth a visit for its objects of the daily life of Montenegrins in the ^19th century. The best is in the collection of traditional costumes, Montenegrin or Bosnian. The latter, superbly decorated and well highlighted by the lighting, are alone worth a visit to this museum. Legends are rather brief and only in English.

Located to the right of Konoba Badanj. English spoken. Sale of postcards and brochures. Information on accommodation, lake cruises, wine route (minimum 5 people). Purchase of local wines on site. In this relatively isolated village, schedules are not always respected, and it is better to come in the morning or after the siesta, around 4-5pm, to get information. Once the contact is established, you will have to deal with a helpful team that will bend over backwards to help you discover the good deals.

Built in 1900, the former Russian legation is a living relic of the Tsarist imperial era and offers a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding mountains. Following the Berlin Treaty of 1878, Russia re-established a representation in the region, this time in Cetinje. The embassy was built in the purest Petersburg tradition, both visually and spiritually. Visually, because the building is like a displaced element of the beautiful Baltic city. From the walls, the ornaments to the details of the interior, we have a real embassy of the tsarist culture in Cetinje. Spiritually, because the architect Corradini designed the architecture. Like many buildings in St. Petersburg, Italian architects were welcome to cooperate. Enjoy the building as a witness of the Russian imperial city.

Today, the Russian Legation has become a museum that houses a collection of art objects, antique furniture and objects of everyday life of Russian diplomats. Visitors can walk through the richly decorated rooms and admire the paintings, sculptures and tapestries that adorn the walls. The antique furniture, including carved wooden cabinets, chairs and tables, give an authentic impression of the atmosphere that prevailed in the house in the ^19th century. The place is also famous for its library, which houses over 2,000 books in Russian and French, among others.

The former French Embassy is located in the center of Cetinje. It was founded in 1883 and closed in 1918. This former French diplomatic residence, located in the historical capital of Montenegro, is a historical and architectural jewel worth exploring. The mission of the French Legation in Cetinje was to represent the French Empire in the region and to maintain diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. It was headed by a career diplomat, a military attaché and a secretary. In addition, the French legation strengthened the ties between the two countries, especially by helping to modernize Montenegrin institutions. France also provided financial assistance and technical advice to Montenegro to help it establish diplomatic relations with other countries.

This building was built in 1908 as a result of a move. It was necessary to be more downtown. The building was entirely designed by French people. The architect was André Saffrey and the company Perret Frères. Today, the building is unfortunately inaccessible. It is a local library and you will be refused entry. After consultation, the French diplomacy has other priorities than the conservation of the memory of this building which represents, with the embassy in Belgrade, the friendship France-Balkans.

You will find this sign in Serbian at the entrance: Француско посланство 1879-1916. Fransusko poslanstvo. A consul is said to be "an envoy" in Serbian: poslat: to send.

If you are a lover of art and history, you can not miss the building of the "lega di Cettigne" built in 1905. This magnificent diplomatic residence is in neoclassical style, one of the centers of Italian diplomatic life in the Balkans.

Today, the Italian Legation has been restored and transformed into a museum to allow visitors to discover its rich cultural heritage. The building houses a collection of art objects and furniture that testify to the history of Italy and its relations with Montenegro. When visiting the Italian Legation, you will immediately be struck by the beauty and refinement of the architecture. Visitors will admire the large marble columns and balconies decorated with wrought iron motifs.

The rooms are furnished with antique furniture, tapestries, paintings and sculptures that reflect the art and taste of the time. Visitors will also be able to see objects of daily life, such as Sèvres porcelain, silver tea sets and Murano crystal chandeliers. Like all diplomatic representations, the embassy is surrounded by a grandiose garden where tennis and even golf were played. This embassy was of great importance to the Italian colonial ambitions. The Italians' goal was to trace a line from Milan to Mogadishu. Backed by the Adriatic Sea, the Balkans were to form the shores of an "Italian lake". Let us understand, a "trampoline lake" towards Tripolitania.

A small museum about the lake fauna. Located 3 km from Virpazar, it offers a discovery of the different national parks of the country. The glass floor presents the lake and the region. But brief explanations. Restaurant with terrace overlooking the lake. Small port of embarkation for cruise ships for excursions accompanied by an expert in ornithology. Ideal to spend a day tracking pygmy cormorants, great egrets and Dalmatian pelicans.

This small chapel, located next to the monastery, was built in 1886 at the request of King Nikolaus to accommodate the religious ceremonies of the court. It is a simple building, built on the foundations of the central church of the original Cetinje Monastery, erected by the Crnojević family in the 15th century. It was here that the body of King Nicholas and that of his wife, Queen Milena, were laid to rest in 1989 (their remains were previously in the Russian church in San Remo).

Montenegro became independent following the Berlin Treaty of 1878. The city of Cetinje has hosted eleven diplomatic representations. Today, one can admire the Art Nouveau architecture and its bright colors. The game is to get lost between the embassies and to guess the country to which they refer. You will appreciate the work of the architect Corradini who designed the Italian embassy, but also the Russian, Austro-Hungarian and English embassies.

This palace is modest. It is known as the Blue Palace because of the color of its facades. It was built in 1896 when Cetinje was the capital of Montenegro. It was then the residence of Crown Prince Danilo, the eldest son of King Nikola. The building is since 2010 the residence of the President of the Republic. Of modest proportion and with its facade balanced by a succession of Corinthian columns, it is very nice to see.

Opened in 2012, this large, modern-looking gallery covers 1,600 square meters and four levels. The gallery is part of the National Museum of Montenegro. It was designed to develop graphic and plastic arts, but also more modern branches such as digital art, conceptual art or sound art. The aim here is to promote young Montenegrin artists. There are many concerts, literary evenings and seminars on modern art.

Located in the former premises of the French legation in Cetinje, the French Corner Frederic Rossif pays tribute to the famous French filmmaker born in the city in 1922. Since 2013, this French-speaking club offers a variety of activities to promote the French language and culture. The French library and media library offer literary evenings, exhibitions and conferences. Don't miss the French film screenings every Thursday night.

The birth house of the national hero, prince-poet Petar II Petrović Njegoš, still stands and today houses a memorial museum. Located in the center of the village, on the road to Kotor, it was built around 1780 by vladika Petar ^I, Njegoš's uncle, for him and his three brothers. It is a simple house with a rectangular shape, consisting of three identical parts and built of stone. This is also where the Montenegrin king Nicholas ^I was born.

Money is very symbolic and spiritual. It was in 2012 that the Central Bank of Montenegro opened this museum in a modern art building. Here you will see the various currencies since the very first Montenegrin currency called Perper, used between 1906 and 1916.

Present is also the Dinar used at certain times in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, during and after the Second World War. You will also learn that the Deutsche Mark was used in 1999.

The Museum of Arts contains the studio of Dado Djurić (1933-2010). The studio is located in an old house on Dvorski Trg square. Dado is a painter and sculptor born in Cetinje and settled in France. The studio of this distinguished artist is now dedicated to the promotion of other artists from the country and more broadly of the arts as a whole. There are many exhibitions of works by regional artists. The themes revolve around contemporary art.

It is the most visited attraction of the city of Cetinje. Dominating the city, this steep rock houses the mausoleum of Prince-Bishop Danilo ^I (1826-1860). The first of the dynasty of Petrović Njegoš, but also a stone sarcophagus decorated with engravings where he rests under a dome. It was erected in 1896 to celebrate the bicentennial of the dynasty. This was based on sketches made by Princess Jelena (one of the daughters of King Nikola ^I, his nephew and successor) and on plans by the French architect Frouchet. The prince-bishop is a very important historical figure for all Montenegrins: thanks to him the country gained its independence in 1858, after having won a resounding victory against the Ottoman Empire. Declared cultural heritage in 1957, this monument is part of the collection of the National Museum since 2012, as well as fragments of ancient pottery found at the top in the 1980s. The walk through the nature, following a path that the locals consider equal to a pilgrimage route and allowing access to the site, is very pleasant. Once you reach the top, the rock offers a very nice view of Cetinje and its surroundings: on one side unfolds the sea of rocks of the Lovćen massif and on the other side stretches a breathtaking panorama of the city. You will not escape this beautiful walk through the Montenegrin hills from which you will bring back strong and unforgettable memories.