Lovcen mountain height. The national park is lovchen. History of the creation of Lovcen Park

Lovcen (Cetinje, Montenegro) - exact location, interesting places, inhabitants, routes.

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The heart of Montenegro beats on one of the two peaks of Mount Lovcen - Jezerski Vrh, which is not far from Kotor. From here you can see this entire tiny beautiful country from the emerald waters of the Boka Kotorska to the harsh peaks of Durmitor and the surface of Lake Skadar. That is why its owner Petar II Njegos bequeathed to bury him here, so that he could always admire his beloved homeland. Shepherd, monk, metropolitan, prince, warrior, poet was an incredibly charismatic personality. Every Montenegrin considers it his duty to visit his mausoleum at least once in his life and bow to the memory of his great countryman.

A little history

At the beginning of the 18th century, Montenegro was the first of the Balkan states to separate from the Ottoman Empire and defended its independence for a long time. The political system was a theocracy; 18-year-old Petar II Njegos, who took the place of ruler according to the will of his uncle Petar I, took monastic orders. In just 20 years of rule, he managed to overcome the custom of blood feud that was corroding the people and direct all his energy to the fight against the Turks. His poems became folk songs. The Njegosh Chapel was first destroyed by the Austrians during the First World War, and the Italians completed their work in 1942. The mausoleum was erected in 1974 under a unified Yugoslavia.

We are a ray of light, enveloped in darkness. Happy is he who lives through the ages by deeds; it was not in vain that he was born in this world!..

Petar II Njegos. Mountain crown

Perth II Njegos Memorial

A serpentine with 25 turns winds along the slope of Mount Lovcen, but does not rise to the very top. A staircase of 461 steps leads from the parking lot to the mausoleum, half of them in a tunnel cut into the rock mass. According to the idea of ​​the author of the project, Ivan Mestrovic, this is a symbol of the long and difficult path to freedom traveled by Montenegro. The entrance to the mausoleum is guarded by two caryatids in national Serbian clothes. Behind them, in a hall with a high dome, stands a monument made of black Lovchen granite. Njegosh is deep in thought about something, and behind him a mountain eagle spreads its wings. The Italian government donated 220 thousand gold tiles for the ceiling. The tombstone in the crypt under the monument is decorated with a double-headed eagle and an Orthodox cross - symbols of secular and spiritual power, and the short word “Njegos”.

They say that Ivan Metrsovic, who fled from the Croatian Ustasha fascists to America during the war, asked Joseph Broz Tito to send him a circle of goat cheese and prosciutto from the village of Njegosi, the homeland of the great Montenegrin, as a fee.

From the mausoleum, a narrow paved path leads to the neighboring peak Shtirovnik, where there is an observation deck. In clear weather, the entire territory of Montenegro within the borders of the 19th century is truly visible from here. It is worth bringing warm clothes, it can be very hot on the shore, but at an altitude of 1700 m the wind chills to the bones. And hold the children’s hands, there are no fences along the path, there are deep abysses nearby.

The surrounding beauty has made this place very popular among newlyweds for their wedding ceremony. The local marriage certificate is valid in the Russian Federation.

Lovcen National Park

Lovcen National Park

The slopes of Mount Lovcen and the surrounding valley have been declared a protected area. The rare combination of sea and mountain climates makes the local clean air healing. On the territory of the park there is the village of Njegosi, every house in which “breathes” the Middle Ages. It is famous for Montenegrin delicacies - goat cheese and prosciutto, “the food that Njegos loved.” The largest valley in the park is Ivanova Korita, where cold springs flow from the ground. Water collects in natural pools and flows from one to another, forming numerous cascades. A balneological hospital for those suffering from pulmonary diseases has been opened here.

There is an Adventure Park in Ivanova Korita. Rope trails are hung along the trees, designed for children and adults. Here they teach you archery, ride ponies, and rent bicycles and ATVs for traveling along 7 trails in the forest. There is also a paintball court. There is a hotel and a campsite nearby where you can pitch a tent or camper. Camping is prohibited in the rest of the park.

Practical information

Location: Mount Lovcen. GPS coordinates: 42.399865, 18.837529.

How to get there: by taxi, car or bus with an organized group from Cetinje following the signs to Lovcen National Park; distance 20 km, travel time 40 minutes.

The mausoleum is open from 9:00 to 19:00, seven days a week, ticket price is 3 EUR. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Of the two prongs of Mount Lovcen, the highest is the Stirnovik peak at 1749 m - telecommunications equipment is located there and access to it is prohibited. And the Jezerski peak, 1657 m high, is beautifully crowned by the Mausoleum of Peter II Petrovich-Njegos (069 050024 opening hours: 08:00-21:00, entrance 2 euros). The road from Cetinje to this tomb is 20 km of loops and bends, with a new picturesque view opening up at each turn. If you visit there during a thunderstorm, you will get an unforgettable experience. The landscape is harsh and mostly desert, but there are also islands of vegetation: pine, birch, hornbeam, beech, juniper, sycamore and even wild rose. Camping is prohibited here, but accommodation can be arranged in advance in Cetinje (069 027052) - you will be accommodated for the night in a mountain house in Ivanovo-Korita, halfway to the top. There are rumors that there are plans to expand this hotel and house the National Park office here. Montenegrins call the magnificent Jezerski Peak and the tomb so dear to them their Mount Olympus - this is a symbol of the Njegoš people and a sign that tells everyone who enters that the heart of the country is inaccessible. In World War II, the Italian army tried to shoot this burial place with guns, but Mount Lovćen and the mausoleum were not damaged, maintaining a long tradition of invincibility.

At the entrance to the tomb, which was opened to the public on July 28, 1974 by Veljko Milatović, Chairman of the Presidium of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro, stand two Montenegrin caryatids made of Jablanica marble (each of them weighs 7.5 tons). From the mausoleum there is a slippery (even in dry weather) a short path to a rotunda with an all-round view, which is built in the form of a threshing floor. They say that on a very clear day you can discern the Italian coast from here, but so far no one has succeeded.

This mausoleum was built by Prince Danila in 1855 in the church that Njegos himself built. All Montenegrins consider this man the embodiment of everything that is sacred to them.

How to get to Lovcen

There is no public transport to Lovcen National Park. The nearest bus station is in Cetinje. If you are not traveling to the mausoleum as part of a tour group or by car, you have two options - taxi or walking. The main road leading to the top comes from the north-west of Cetinje - this is Lovcenska Street. Krstac and Ivanova-Korita are connected by a short road, recently re-paved. A taxi from Cetinje to the mausoleum, which will climb up and wait for you, will cost you from 30 euros. Entrance to the national park costs 0.50 euros - you can pay in Belosi, on the road from Cetinje to Jezerski; In addition, it is planned to build another entrance for visitors coming from Krstac.

If you walk, you will get from Cetinje to the mausoleum in 4-5 hours, and if you take a shortcut, as logic dictates, then a little faster. From Bukovitsa, near the village of Njegushi, a marked path leads to the top. It will take you three hours to get to the very peak. There are 461 steps leading from the parking lot to the mausoleum. Here and there the steps are crumbling; There is no wheelchair access.

Mount Lovcen is the most important symbol of disobedience to enemies and constancy. If we consider that its wooded slopes served as the last line of retreat for the Montenegrins during the war, the symbolic value of the mountain becomes clear. In addition, Lovcen is, in all likelihood, the “Black Mountain” that gave Montenegro its name. The highest peak is Shtirovnik (1749 m), topped with a television transmitter. The second highest peak is Jezerski vrch (1657 m), which is of greater importance as the last resting place of the country's national hero Njegosi.

The area around the main peaks is Lovcen National Park. Its entire karst landscape is dotted with cracks and holes, giving it a distinct appearance. Due to the difference in altitude, there are several vegetation zones on the steeply ascending slopes. Another reason for the diversity of vegetation in Lovcen National Park in Montenegro is the influence of both Mediterranean and temperate continental climates. About 60% of the park is covered with forest, dominated by birch, and Bosnian pine grows on the northern side of the mountain. Unlike plant life, there are not many animals in Lovcen National Park, mainly due to the lack of mountain rivers and lakes. Among the mammals there are rabbits and foxes, and among the birds there are mainly partridges, quails and wild pigeons. In addition, the national park is home to many reptiles and snakes.

EXCURSIONS WITH A VISIT TO LOVČEN:

How to get to Lovcen National Park

The most common way to get to Lovcen National Park is by driving along the long, winding road from Cetinje. At the entrance to the park you will need to pay 3 euros. The center of tourist activity is Ivanova Korita (14 km from Cetinje), an undulating hill known for its exceptionally clean air. There is a small dormitory for schoolchildren, mountain huts, restaurants and a visitor center. The centerpiece for visitors is a group of busts representing all the rulers of Montenegro from the Petrovic-Njegos dynasty. There is also a modest chapel nearby, erected by King Nikola.

Mausoleum of Njegos in Montenegro

The most important monument of the national park is the Njegos Mausoleum at the top of the Jezerski Hill. The mausoleum is located 21 km from Cetinje and is open from May to mid-November from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Even during his lifetime, Njegos decided that he would be buried here, on the top of the magnificent mountain, which he constantly observed from Cetinje, and where he often reflected on his work and his life. He built a small round church here in 1844 and begged the Montenegrins to ignore tradition and bury his body here after his death. His wish only came true in 1855 due to the high snow during the winter at the time of his death and the war with the Turks the following spring. The church remained intact until the First World War, when it was damaged. The occupying Austro-Hungarian troops decided to destroy this symbol of Montenegro and build a giant statue here in memory of their victory. In 1925, King Aleksandar of Yugoslavia rebuilt the church with some minor additions. However, at the end of the 1950s, a new initiative appeared - to demolish the "Alexander Chapel" and build in its place a mausoleum worthy of Njegos's importance. The controversial plan met with fierce opposition and heated discussions began that lasted for years. Finally, the chapel was destroyed and the mausoleum was opened in 1974.
The furthest point that can be reached by car in Lovcen Park in Montenegro is a small parking lot below the peak, which can be crowded during the high season. Next to it there is a small souvenir shop and restaurant, and above that there is a staircase leading through a tunnel to the top of the mausoleum.
Sculptor Ivan Meštrović found his inspiration in the style of ancient shrines. The first part of the mausoleum is an atrium made of black marble with a symbolic well in the middle. In front of the entrance to the atrium there are two giant caryatids dressed in the national costume of Montenegro. Behind them is a hall with a grandiose monument to Njegos (weighing 28 tons). Directly below the monument there is a small crypt containing the grave of Njegos.

Viewing platforms in Lovcen Park

On the other side of the mausoleum there is a path that leads along the abyss to a round observation deck. On a clear day you can even see the coast of Italy from here. In any case, from this observation deck you can see the rocky landscape of Montenegro and the coast of the Bay of Kotor. There are several more observation platforms in the national park, which offer excellent views of the surrounding area. Many representative photographs of the Bay of Kotor were taken from these observation platforms.

The excursion starts not so early (the excursion starts at 9:00), by this time you can wake up even without an alarm clock. I wake up, have breakfast on the balcony with such a magnificent view of Buda and go outside.

The excursion voucher states that the excursion stops and starts at the Tre Canne building. From my apartment to the Tre Canne building it takes no more than 10 minutes to walk, when the weather is such beautiful outside, the walk itself is a pleasure.

I arrived almost on time (a couple of minutes before departure), the bus is waiting for the last tourists, the guide counts all the tourists by chapter and the tour begins.

I would also like to say about the buses; I was lucky with transport on this excursion. The excursion is conducted in a brand new Mercedes minivan. Not all travel companies have good cars, but this time the bus is just brand new, there are even USB chargers for mobile phones in the cabin.

The path from Budva to Kotor was standard, we did not stop at Kotor, and before reaching the tunnel we turned onto a serpentine road. This is the old Austro-Hungarian route from Kotor to the city of Cetinje, which at that time was the capital of Montenegro.

If you are driving a car, be careful not to miss this turn (the turn is located before the entrance to the free tunnel). Outside the window there are such mountain views, a road leading to the sky. Right around this turn there will be one of the observation platforms on the Bay of Kotor.

Observation deck on the Kotor serpentine road

The first photo break is no more than 15 minutes, and you won’t need more time here. The minivan stopped on the serpentine road and tourists poured out onto the observation deck.

The view from here is mesmerizing, this is what the city of Kotor looks like from a bird's eye view. Huge tourist liners look like tiny insects. It is impossible to appreciate the beauty of the bay; you just want to silently admire it.

In this photo we see the Vrmac mountain range (in the very center), a little to the left you can see the runway of Tivat International Airport, to the right of the airport is the city of Tivat and the Porto Montenegro marina. On the right side of the photo you can see the port of Kotor and part of the Bay of Kotor.

There are several stalls right on the observation deck, some of which sell all sorts of goodies (prosciutto, cheese, honey, etc.), and some of which sell ordinary tourist souvenirs. As you can see, all the inscriptions are in Russian, I can’t say anything about the quality of the products, since I didn’t buy anything here.

A stall with souvenirs is no different from similar stalls in any other tourist city in Montenegro; there are plenty of such souvenirs in Budva, Kotar and Tivat. Theoretically, you don’t have to go any further, buy everything you need at this observation deck and return back to the coast. This is of course a joke. :)

The photo break ended very quickly, the tourists climbed into the minivan and the excursion continued. The next stop on our excursion route will be the village of Njegushi. The village of Njegusi is known as the ancestral village of the most respected ruler of Montenegro - Peter II Petrovich Njegos. But this place is better known to tourists as the birthplace of the best prosciutto in Montenegro. It is for this delicacy that we are heading there.

Njegushi village, Njegushi prosciutto and cheese

The bus climbed higher and higher into the mountains, and very soon the landscapes outside the window changed, instead of Boko Kotor Bay and steep cliffs, the area began to resemble a plain, but a plain at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level.

Outside the window, village houses began to appear, which did not at all resemble ancient structures, but more like a new building made of siding and metal tiles.

The bus moved towards the village of Njegushi, the guide was actively collecting money for entry into the national park, simultaneously telling the upcoming program and algorithm of actions.

Soon our excursion group arrived at the famous village of Njegushi. The village itself looked like this, one single square, around which cafes, shopping shops and other attractions were built.

There is a monument on the same square. The monument is quite interesting and monumental, but I was never able to understand the intention of its author. The village of Njegusi is famous for its natives; it was here that Peter II Petrovic Njegos was born, who did much more for Montenegro than any of his compatriots.

There are several memorial signs in the village, this is what the local village school looks like, probably in the time of Petar Petrovich Njegos it looked more respectable.

The post office building was more fortunate, it turned into a mini supermarket, it’s even difficult to understand what is here now, a post office or a tourist stall. It would seem that a tourist village should look like an architectural monument, clean and tidy everywhere, but no, the village looks quite gloomy.

In order to go to the market square and buy prosciutto and cheese, tourists had to cross a miraculous puddle that has been there since the time of the Austro-Hungarians. The market is located on the same square where the tourist buses are parked.

Pay attention to this pointer, it will be useful to us later. If, after a walk through the local market, it seems to you that the goods here are quite expensive, then this means that your eyes are not deceiving you. The cost of the products presented here is off the charts. I believe that most tourists who visit regular stores in Budva and other tourist cities can compare the prices in the stores with the prices in this market. Let's see what the market looks like and what is rich in it.

A standard process during group excursions, the guide leads his group to his feeding store or stall. It was exactly the same during this excursion. Here our guide shows and talks about all the delights of local honey; when we tried it, the honey was really good.

Here our guide offers to taste mead, the local mead is a killer thing. If you are driving, then be careful and remember that in Montenegro it is quite strict with drinking and driving and other liberties.

And this is what the neighboring shopping places look like; there are no people here at all. The products are the same everywhere, the prices are the same, so there is no difference where to buy.

This is what a standard trading place looks like at the market in the village of Njegushi. Basically, here you can buy prosciutto, cheese, clothes and some hand-made little things.

They give you prosciutto and cheese to try in every tent, you can taste as much as you want, but if you only eat and don’t buy anything, they look at you sourly. In this photo you can see how small the tasting portions are.

At the market you can buy liqueurs and other alcoholic drinks, including everyone’s favorite and popular mead. Pay attention to how this product is packaged, it seems that everything is happening at a village market, production should also be nearby, and the packaging is factory-made, somewhere a mistake has crept in here. :)

I want to talk separately about sellers. Most of them have no zeal or desire to sell you their product. If you bought it, that’s good, if you didn’t buy it, that’s also good. This is not Türkiye, not Egypt, and especially not India. Most merchants are absolutely indifferent to the buyer.

Perhaps mass tourism is to blame, or perhaps it is the peculiarities of the local mentality (highlanders, after all), but the smiles of sellers for this market are not a frequent occurrence.

If after a walk through the market you have some free time left, you can spend it in different ways. You can sit in a street cafe, or take a walk around the village. Do you remember about the pointer map, it can lead you to one of the farm shops that are located in ordinary houses of local residents. Prices there may be more attractive, and the quality of the products is better.

If you walk a little away from the market square, you can find several home shops. I usually buy cheese and prosciutto directly from a local farmer’s house; I indicated the exact location on Google map. Here is the Montenegrin phone number of the owner of this shop: 069 44 53 54.

Don't forget to return to the bus on time, otherwise the guide will be very unhappy, as will your fellow travelers. The time allotted for visiting the village market is over, we climb onto the bus and move on.

Mausoleum of Njegos on Mount Jezerski vrh in Lovcen

The next stop on the route of our excursion was the Njegos Mausoleum, the road to the mausoleum lasted no more than 20 minutes, the entire path ran through the territory of the national park. We should dwell in a little more detail on the person of Peter II Petrovich Njegosh; unfortunately, not all guides devote the necessary time to this authoritative personality.

Peter II Petrovic Njegos

Peter II Petrovich Njegos lived only 38 years; during his short and eventful life, he managed to do a lot for Montenegro.

Here is a short list of his services to the country:

• established the Senate - the prototype of modern legislative and executive power;
• established the Guard;
• introduced the judiciary;
• introduced and systematized taxes;
• established schools and education system;
• prohibited the custom of blood feud among Montenegrins.

The entire foreign policy of Montenegro during the reign of Peter II Petrovic Njegos was focused on Russia, which provided military and economic support to the Montenegrin people. Peter II Petrovich Njegosh was a supporter of the creation of a unified state of the South Slavs under the protectorate of Russia.

In addition to his political life, Peter II Petrovic Njegos was a keen writer. During his lifetime, several collections of his poems were published.

Peter II Petrovich Njegosh died at the age of 38 from tuberculosis. The burial place was not chosen by chance; during his lifetime, Njegos asked to be buried on Mount Jezerski vrh in Lovcen.

When his comrades asked Njegos why he chose not the highest mountain in Lovcen, Njegos answered them. On the highest mountain you will bury the ruler whom you will love more than me, and who will do more for Montenegro than me. Today the highest mountain of Lovcen is empty...

Mausoleum of Njegos

Initially, the Montenegrins buried Njegos in the Cetinje Monastery, and only four years later (in 1855) did they fulfill his will. In 1855, Peter II Petrovic Njegos was buried in a small chapel on the top of the Jezerski vrh mountain, as the deceased requested.

But the turbulent times did not spare the burial, and during 1916 Njegosh’s body was again transferred to the Cetinje Monastery. The reason was the capture of Lovcen by the Austrians and the destruction of the chapel.

In 1925, the king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (the future state of Yugoslavia) - Alexander I Karađorđevich restored the destroyed chapel and returned the remains of Njegoš to their proper place. But the chapel did not stand for long and was damaged by the Italians during World War II.

In 1951, the authorities of communist Yugoslavia decided to once again destroy the chapel and rebury Peter Njegos in the mausoleum. Nobody particularly argued with the communists, because they were afraid of repression and other communist hell.

In 1974 there was a grand opening of the epic mausoleum, which still stands today. Why the communists were so fond of mausoleums and all kinds of mummifications is a complex question. All these communist rituals with mausoleums, mummification, etc. more like the tribal rituals of South American tribes that quietly died out.

Unfortunately, this communist decision contradicts the wishes of Njegos, who wished to be buried in the church. Today there is talk about returning the chapel to its original location, but no one knows what to do with the soulless tourist mausoleum.

Visit to the Njegos Mausoleum in Lovcen

Soon our tour bus arrived at the parking lot before the ascent to the Njegos Mausoleum. The Njegos Mausoleum is located on a mountain whose height is more than 1500 meters. The weather here is unpredictable, it can be sunny, and 5 minutes later there will be clouds and rain. In the photographs you can see how changeable the weather is on the top of Lovcen, you can clearly see sunny areas of land and areas where it rains and is cloudy.

It can be cool in the mountains, but when compared with the temperature on the coast, the differences are noticeable. There is nothing to do here without warm clothes. Those tourists who found themselves without warm clothing clearly experienced discomfort.

From the parking lot to the mausoleum there is a long, tiring climb; tourists counted more than 500 steps. Inspecting the mausoleum is a paid service (3 Euros for entry), but going up to the observation deck in front of the mausoleum is completely free.

It is believed that from the top of Lovcen you can see more than 80% of the entire territory of Montenegro, such an endless country. Many guides mislead tourists by saying that from the top you can see the coast of Italy. I didn’t see any Italy from the top of Lovcen, but I saw Italy only when I went there. This photo shows the city of Cetinje - the old capital of Montenegro. If you go back a few hundred years, then all of Montenegro was located near the top of Lovcen; the country at that time was much smaller than modern Montenegro.

In good weather you can see part of the Bay of Kotor, but only part of it, and in very good weather. The weather on this trip was cloudy, so the photos weren't very colorful.

After climbing the endless steps that go through the mountain (in a tunnel), you arrive at an observation deck in front of the mausoleum. This is perhaps the most photographed place in Lovcen. If you are lucky with the weather, you can see many of the sights of Montenegro. What I don’t understand is why there are no paid binoculars for tourists here; they would be in great demand here.

There are two peaks on Lovcen, Mount Štirovnik (1748 meters) and Mount Jezerski vrh (1657 meters). In this photo you can see how some antennas are located on the highest point of Lovcen, on Mount Štirovnik.

I had no desire to take photographs with the mausoleum in the background, so I took a photo with Mount Shtirovnik in the background. Although you can take a selfie anywhere, there is an excellent, panoramic view of the mountains from any side.

You can take a lot of photos at the top of the mountain, especially from this dangerous path. Be careful, not all dangerous areas are fenced off.

The mausoleum itself looks quite modest; behind these bars there is an entrance to the mausoleum. Admission is paid, the cost of visiting is 3 euros. Walk through the open door, pay money to the controller and at your disposal is the interior and another observation deck on the Bay of Kotor and the mountains.

The museum courtyard is decorated with two female figures who represent mother and sister. In the middle of the yard there is a symbolic well for donations; you can throw money into it. Inside the mausoleum there is a monument to Njegos and the entrance to the crypt.

Having passed right through the mausoleum, you fall onto a narrow stone path that leads to the observation deck. I would not say that the view from this observation deck is special, but if you paid for the entrance, then you should definitely visit it.

It's time to head back to the tour bus. Here is another wonderful view of Montenegro, which opens when exiting the tunnel.

This is what the observation deck looks like next to the car park. If you look at the horizon line, Lake Skadar is located somewhere there. With such cloudiness, it’s hard to believe that the largest lake in the Balkans is located there, but it is there. :)

There is a local restaurant just before the steps (next to the car park). And this is how tourists are greeted in this restaurant. If you come by car, or have some free time, I recommend visiting this establishment. But you should remember about the huge Montenegrin portions; you can order one portion for two and that will be quite enough.

You remember I told you earlier that you can get to the top of Lovcen by bicycle, see for yourself in this photo. The peaks of the Lovcen mountains are located at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters above sea level, the mountain serpentines are quite steep, but desperate cyclists manage to get even here. I don't recommend repeating this.

The visit to the Njegos Mausoleum is over, the tourists board the excursion bus and we move on. Next we will visit the city of Cetinje and the Cetinje Monastery.

Cetinje Monastery

After a half-hour drive along mountain roads, we arrived in the city of Cetinje. The parking lot for tourist buses is located 100 meters from the world famous Cetinje Monastery, a visit to which was the next point of our excursion.

Here's what you should know about the Cetinje Monastery. The monastery in Cetinje is very old; the first mention of the monastery dates back to the 15th century (1484). Throughout its existence, the monastery was regularly destroyed to the ground, and just as regularly restored. The main enemies of the Cetinje Monastery are the Turks; Turkish raids on the territory of Montenegro were a common occurrence in those days.

On the territory of the Cetinje Monastery there are several Christian relics, most of which are legendary.

Here is a short list of the monastery's relics:

• piece of the Holy Cross;
• right hand of John the Baptist;
• relics of St. Peter of Cetinje (Peter I Petrovic Njegos);
• Epitrachelion of St. Sava;
• Crown of King Stefan Dečanski.

A visit to the monastery is subject to some restrictions for tourists. If you are dressed as if you are going to the beach (short shorts, bikini, etc.), then you will be prohibited from visiting the shrine. If you come to the Cetinje Monastery on your own, then in order to see the holy relics you will need to join any tourist group. The monastery staff very rarely opens the reliquary for single, independent tourists.

It is prohibited to take photographs or use mobile communications on the territory of the monastery; this is indicated by prohibitory signs at the entrance to the territory and by the monastery staff. It is precisely because photography is prohibited that I have very few photographs of this shrine.

Now let’s talk about how the tour of the monastery itself goes. The tourist group settles down in the courtyard of the monastery, while the guide negotiates the tour and opening of the reliquary. Tourists can relax or visit the monastery souvenir shop.

I recommend not wasting your precious time, but exploring the small church where the famous relics are located. You can also buy candles and submit notes; all this can be done in the monastery souvenir shop.

It is very difficult to say the exact time that you will have to wait for the abbot of the monastery; everything is individual. After the abbot of the monastery opens the reliquary, a queue immediately forms. Inside the sarcophagus are the relics of St. Peter of Cetinje, the right hand of John the Baptist (the incorrupt right hand of the holy prophet John the Baptist), and part of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord.

These relics are revered throughout the Christian world; none of the believers dares to ask questions about their originality or unoriginality; this question is beyond the bounds of faith. Photographing religious artifacts is strictly prohibited; this is strictly monitored by specially trained people.

You won’t be able to be alone with these holy relics, time is very limited, and another excursion group is already behind you.

Self-guided city tour of Cetinje

After visiting the Cetinje Monastery, tourists were treated to a self-guided tour of the city. Cetinje is the old capital of Montenegro; it is in this city that the largest concentration of administrative and embassy buildings is located. There is probably no other city on the planet that has so many embassies per square kilometer.

The main sadness of a group tourist is that only 2 hours are allocated to explore Cetinje, in some cases even less. Two hours is very, very short for this city. Decide for yourself how to manage your free time. You can visit one of the many museums, sit in a street restaurant, or just take a walk around this provincial town.

Tourist map of the city of Cetinje

To help you understand the size of the city, here is a tourist map of Cetinje with all the attractions. Let me make a reservation right away: it’s very difficult to see all the sights of the city in 2 hours, and you shouldn’t do it.

Let's take a look around and understand what is nearby the monastery. If you stand with your back to the monastery, then on your right hand there will be a path leading to the Eagle Mountain hill. If you climb this hill, you will find the tomb of Metropolitan Danil, the founder of the royal Petrovic-Njegosi dynasty. And a beautiful view of the city will be a bonus for you.

All the attractions of this small town are within walking distance from the Cetinje Monastery. Right on the ruins of the old monastery, this neat church with a funny name was built - Cipur Church. The church is active, so follow the dress code.

Next to the monastery you can find an amazing building - a museum. The building is called a billiard table, there is probably some similarity, but you can only understand it if they tell you about it. Inside this quaint building you can look at a model of Montenegro; the whole country fits into a small room.

To prevent tourists from getting lost, there are convenient signs in the city. They look very informative, and the city is quite small, so it’s difficult to get lost.

Now let's take a walk along the most tourist street of Cetinje. I wandered almost to the very outskirts of the city (well, almost to the very outskirts), turned around and now move towards the central square. As you can see in this photo, there is little tourism here, but these are practically the suburbs of Cetinje.

Pay attention to this photo, you see ruins with a temporary sign. Once upon a time, this building housed the local cell of the Communist Party, but today you can see for yourself what is here. Just a few years ago the building looked like a building, although it looked in disrepair. Whether local authorities will restore this historical building or build a modern house in its place, time will tell.

Having passed the wretched glass building, I see how the old street again acquires its historical appearance.

Pay attention to these cute houses. Do you agree that they are great? But here's a problem that occurs in every historical city of Montenegro - air conditioning. If you look closely, you will see several air conditioners on the facade of one of the buildings. This is such disrespect for your own city and its guests.

This photo shows street cafes in one of the main squares in the tourist part of Cetinje. If you have some free time left, I recommend sitting in one of them and drinking a cup of coffee.

Here is a price list from a street cafe for your reference. As you can see, prices are slightly lower than in tourist Budva.

Return to Budva

Free time in Cetinje passed quickly and the tourist group returned to Budva. The pure travel time from Cetinje to Budva is no more than an hour, the road is excellent, so the time will fly by quickly. I leave the cozy street cafe and walk towards the tourist bus parking lot.

From the tourist street to the bus parking lot it takes no more than 10 minutes to walk. There are several tourist shops in the parking lot, with all sorts of useless nonsense. There is no general direction, they sell just about anything, a bunch of rubbish mixed with Chinese souvenirs and magnets with elephants (why elephants?). All this is somewhat reminiscent of a flea market.

This exhibit surprised me at this flea market. This is old Yugoslav money, how do you like the denomination of the 500 billion dinar bill (500,000,000,000 dinars). What could you buy with this piece of paper?

The way back to Budva is along a new, repaired road. The road goes through the mountains and gradually descends in a serpentine path to the sea. The view from the bus window is mesmerizing, as are the other window views during this excursion.