Tourist Attractions & Monuments Montenegro

Located 2 km from the city centre, this garden is home to some 400 species of flowers, mostly medicinal plants. The best time to visit is from mid-May to the end of June (visits by appointment, by asking at the tourist office or hotel receptionists). Take the small street that goes up in front of the town church and crosses a wooded hill. It is advisable to go there in the daytime when there is light, in altitude in the forest it is dark!

This church, dated 1630, is located opposite Perast on an artificial islet built of stones piled up around a reef. Originally a simple chapel, it was enlarged in 1725 with the construction of an imposing sanctuary recognizable by its octagonal dome. All around the capitals inside the church, you can admire nearly 2,500 small silver squares, each decorated in an original way: it is the sailors who, on their return from a sea trip, used to engrave an ex-voto with their name on it to thank Our Lady of Rocks for having spared them the misfortunes of the sea. This escapade in the middle of the Boka is worth it, both for the beauty of a unique site and for the evocation of the many stories of sailors by the guides gravitating around the church.

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.

Ancient fortified city, built at the foot of Mount Rumija in a spectacular natural site. It is the largest archaeological site of medieval origin in Montenegro. Today in ruins and uninhabited, it deserves the interest of the visitor. Along its narrow streets lined with fig and cypress trees, you can discover the remains of several hundred public and religious buildings.

Stamped with the seal of the various civilizations that succeeded each other, they form an invaluable testimony to the eventful history of Montenegro. Recent excavations have shown that the site was occupied as early as 800 BC. Buses drive there every hour (from 5am to 11:30pm).

Guided tour. The visit of the old city requires at least 2 hours. The best way to discover it is to stroll through its streets in search of architectural details adorning the ruins of its buildings. The panorama is splendid and allows to fully appreciate its strategic position with on one side the sea and on the other a succession of mountains. Here are the main points to remember:

In the northwest of the site, we can see an aqueduct built in the ^seventeenth century during the Ottoman occupation. It was partly destroyed, like the whole city, during the earthquake of 1979.

From the Ottoman period , the city has preserved two other important testimonies: Turkish baths of the ^18th centuryinstalled in a Venetian palace and a clock tower. This tower occupies the site of an older tower dating from the ^15th century.

At the eastern end of the ramparts remain the foundations of a church dedicated to Saint George, the patron saint of Bar. Transformed into a mosque in the ^17th century, it was destroyed by an explosion in 1882. Under its walls, archaeologists have found traces of the foundations of a church of the ^sixth century.

On the main alley, in the center of the citadel, an Orthodox church Sveti Luka (Saint Luke) with a very Latin look. It is known for its frescoes and Byzantine icons that decorate its interior.

Not far from there, stands the church of St. Veneranda, built in the ^fourteenth century, it is in a perfect state of preservation and has been converted into a concert hall.

The church of St. Nicholas, now in ruins, and was transformed into a mosque under the Turkish occupation. It retains traces of frescoes Serbo-Byzantine.

The upper part of the fortress built in the ^11th century was used as a prison during the Second World War.

The beauty of Kotor lies in the 4.5 km long and 20 m high ramparts that encircle the old town. Of Byzantine origin, these fortifications helped protect the city from Turkish attacks in the 16th and 17th centuries. The fortress of St John, which dominates the town at an altitude of nearly 260 m, was abandoned in 1918. Now in ruins, it is accessible by more than 1,000 steps. The view offered from the top of its walls is splendid, between the Bay of Kotor and Mount Lovćen.

It was in the 17th century that Perast, with its strong navy, built the most beautiful palaces of its enterprising captains. The village has a dozen of them, scattered along the waterfront and hillsides. Bujović Palace houses the museum: Built in 1694 by brothers Ivan and Marko Bujović, it is distinguished by a balustrade decorated with two lions. A plaque indicates the house where Admiral Matija Zmajević (Russian fleet commander) was born. His uncle, Archbishop Andrija Zmajević, had his palace built on St. Elijah's Hill, now in ruins.

This pyramid-shaped peak is the highest in the massif and officially in Montenegro.

There are four different paths to reach it. The one going through the north-east is a bit longer and more difficult than the others but offers incredible and more spectacular landscapes. The best solution is to go up to the top by one path and come down by another in order to fully appreciate the beauty of the site.

Northeast route from Žabljak. Crno Jezero - Indjini Dolovi - Lokvice or Ledena Pećina - Biljegov Do - Valoviti Do - Bobotov Kuk (count 5.5 hours walking time, one way).

The other three trails run south: the first starts from Sedlo, the second from Dobri Do (1,742 m) and the third from Škrčka. All three meet at the Zeleni Vir lake (an ideal stopover) and from there they become one.

If you opt to start from Sedlo, along the trail there are several springs where you can fill up your drinking water supplies, although hikers are always advised to bring their water supplies before the hike. On the trail, the small mountain lake Zeleni vir lends itself to a good break before moving on to the last and most difficult part of the summit climb.

Once you reach the Velika Privija pass (2,351 m), this path joins the one passing through the north-east of the summit. It takes 2 hours and a half to walk from Dobri Do and 3 hours to walk from Sedlo (one way).

This monastery is, together with Ostrog and Piva, one of the major religious buildings in Montenegro. It is a perfect example of Serbian medieval orthodox architecture and is part of the Serbian neo-renaissance art. Founded in 1252 by order of Stefan Nemanjić, the first crowned Serbian king (1217), it is set in a bucolic location, on the edge of the Morača River canyon near a waterfall. Composed of a konak (monks' living quarters) and two churches, it houses wall frescoes and icons of exceptional value, starting with the one depicting the prophet Elijah being fed by a crow and the one of the birth of St John the Baptist. They date from the 13th century and are the only ones from that period. The central part of the building contains magnificent examples of late Byzantine frescoes, mainly centred on the life of Christ. Imposing portraits of the great saints of the Orthodox tradition complete the iconographic programme. Devastated by the Turks in the first half of the 16th century, the monastery was restored a few years later before becoming the seat of a veritable artistic renaissance in the first half of the 17th century. Three major painters of this period exercised their talents here: the priest Strahinja from Budimlje (originally from the Berane region), the monk George Mitrofanović (frescoes painted in 1616 on the western facade of the building) and the master Kozma.

Located in the middle of a square, this small church dates back to 1195. Originally Catholic, it was transferred to the Orthodox Church in 1657. It was used by the faithful of both confessions, each with their own altar. Today it is attended only by the Orthodox. The iconostasis inside is the work of Dimitrije Daskal, founder of the Dimitrijević-Rafailović school of icons. Renovated in 2013 by Russia, this church houses the icon of St. Nicholas and St. Basil.

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.

A summit not to be missed. A panorama of breathtaking beauty! Prutaš (2 393 m) is one of the most beautiful, popular and biggest peaks in Durmitor. The best alpine panorama in Durmitor resembles the Alps and Switzerland. Slightly sloping, green and decorated with prutovi (oblique sticks), Prutaš comes from the word prut andmeans twig. So it is a mountain made of twigs!

Route: Dobri Do - Šarban (1 700 m) - Škrčko Ždrijelo (2 114 m) - Prutaš (2 393 m). Duration: count between 3 and 4 hours of walking (one way).

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.

A day trip by jeep or a more eco-friendly mountain bike with photo breaks from Žabljak is a must. The total length of the tour is 84 km: Štuoc, Sušica and Piva canyons, and the landscapes of Prutaš, Sedlena greda, Boljske grede, Valovito, Modro jezero, Dobri do valley, Todorev, Sedlo and Virak. A visit to Durmitorski prsten, a unique mountaineering experience well signposted (brown signs to follow), can be organised by a local agency.

Situated in the Bjelopavlici valley, this Orthodox monastery is the most revered of the country. Every year, thousands of worshippers and Serbs come to pray and burn candles there. The appearance of the white monastery hung in the middle of a rocky cliff, on the vertical wall, is spectacular.

Built in the 1656 th century (1671) by Gospić Jovanović - metropolitan of Western Herzegovina, future Sveti Gospić Ostroški (Saint Basile d'Ostrog), who lived there until his death in 1920, the monastery was ravaged by a fire and restored in the s.

It consists of two cave chapels, that of Sv. Krst (St. Croix) and Celle. The relics of the bones of the saint can be seen in one of these chapels supervised by a monk in black robes. A blessing of its share is made automatically upon entry into the room. Linked by a network of stairs and narrow passages, these chapels are decorated with murals that were realized at the end of the th century by Radul, a famous Serbian painter of that era. The residence of the monks, a large building next to the monastery, was added in the 1980 s. Miracles and powers of healer are assigned to Saint Basile, as well as to the cracks in coins or pieces of paper used to help.

Located about 40 km from the capital, 35 km before Kolašin, these gorges offer a great opportunity for hiking. In some very narrow places, they are known for their path dug in the rock. A beautiful 12 km hike (one way) on a well-marked path allows to discover them. Although quite long, this hike is relatively easy, but caution is required in the part cut into the rock (steep walls).

The Cattaro ladder is the name given to the mountain road that connects Kotor to Cetinje. Built in the 19th century, it was the main access road to the capital. Very winding, narrow, but spectacular, it offers the most beautiful views that one can imagine on the mouths of Kotor.

After 20 km, we arrive in Krstač, a small mountain village. From a Mediterranean climate, we switch to a continental one. Roads lead to ancient fortresses.

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.

This small Benedictine monastery was built on a natural reef 100 metres from the artificial islet of Gospa od Škrpjela. First mentioned in a document from 1166, it is believed to have been inhabited by Benedictines in the 9th century. The original building could not be preserved because it was constantly under attack. In addition, it suffered an earthquake in 1667 in which the ceiling and apse of the church were destroyed. A new church was rebuilt in the 17th century.