Durmitor

Whether you choose the winter or the summer season for visiting Durmitor, you will experience a unique mountain view. The National Park “Durmitor” spreads across 39000 ha, and its area of 20000 ha has been included in the UNESCO since 1980. Zabljak, the city with the greatest height above the sea level in the Balkans, 1456 m, is situated here. It is surrounded by 23 mountain peaks over 2300m high.

There are 17 glacier lakes called  “mountain eyes” in the area of Durmitor. The most famous is Black Lake, covered with ice and crystals of frozen snowflakes in the winter. You can swim in it in the middle of the summer. Between the steep hillsides or hidden in the green, thick foliage, are the magic beauties: Zmijinje, Barno, Riblje, Vrazje, Modro and the other lakes. "Bobotov kuk", the highest peak 2523 m, dominates over all of Montenegro.

The Austrian scientist Oskar Bauman was the first man who climbed at "Bobotov Kuk", called "Cirova pecina" ("Ciro`s Cave") in his text. In his work “The first step on Cirova pecina” he said that there was a stony valley covered with snow, spreading on our east, while on the other side there was green scenery of Jezero  (the Lake) greeting us. Here I left Djuro, who suffered from dizziness, and I went climbing the main peak with one shepherd. He took his shoes off and walked barefoot. After one hour of climbing, we left the peak behind us and stopped at the crest between the Soa and Kablinova. We were looking at the valley we had visited yesterday, and at the "Skrcko" and "Malo Jezero" (the Little Lake) sparkling. They looked like dark blue eyes.”

The Tara canyon, the deepest canyon in Europe, and the canyons of Susica and Komarnica, contributes to the beauty of Durmitor. The rich flora, containing over 1500 species derived from the far geologic past, has been saved. The fauna is also rich; there are over 130 kinds of birds, and eagles are distinguished among them. Bears and wolves are also typical for the Durmitor woods.

In the summer, those who enjoy being in nature can climb the mountain peaks or walk through the woods and fields. They can also pick up wild fruits, go hunting or fishing, or floating on Tara River.

The Ice Cave, located under the peak Obla Glava, 2100 m above sea level, represents a fascinating natural phenomena. It can be easily reached by a marked mountain path. One can enjoy its “museum” of stalactites and stalagmites, even in the summer.

There are snowy areas in the highest parts of Durmitor even in the middle of summer, and you can ski in the area of Velika Kalica.

Your visit will be enriched with the numerous manifestations, restaurants with the various dishes of our national cuisine, café – bars, available.

River Tara canyon

"The jewel of Europe", violent, clear and wild Tara is a huge water mass made from snow and rain. It belongs to the National park ‘Durmitor". It rises from the mountain range in the northern part of the country and it flows 140km. It meets the Piva river and together they make the Drina river, one of the longest and water-richest rivers in the Balkans.

For centuries, with its strength the Tara river has been hollowing out a soft limestone surface giving it a sculptural form full of gorges, large rocks or chasms. Century-old earth erosion has created 82km long canyon, the second largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyo of the Colorado. At some places, it is up to 1300m deep. Its banks are steep, covered with a forest rising from the canyon’s cold and depth.

Only at some places does the furious Tara give the impression of being a calm river. The rare places that might be crossed are called fords. Near Bistrica, the Tara riverbed is so narrow that local people used to jump across it when necessary. This unusual place is called Djavolje lazi (Devil’s lanes).

Around the river, the vegetation is very dense: black pine, eastern hornbeam, black ash, elm, linden, and in higher areas, above the rocks, one can see cork oaks, hornbeams, maples, beeches. In the areas over than 1000m, fir and spruce forests can be found. The black pine forests are of a special value. "Crna poda (Black poda)" is the most valuable black pine forest with unusually high trees. Some trees are almost 50m high and 400 years old.

Nowadays, the Tara canyon gathers all those who like adventure and exciting contact with nature. Water attractions from the world’s famous amusement parks are just a bad simulation of the real excitement that is unavoidable while rafting along the Tara river.

Besides nature’s beauty, rafting almost along the whole course will add to the excitement. The raft is made of logs and it is rowed by brave and skilled people who used to transport timber in the lower course of the river in this way.

One who gets up the courage will always remember the sun rising in the canyon or the night when the only light was a narrow line of the star-studded sky and swarm of fireflies.

Skadar Lake

The last habitat of the pelicans in Europe, the biggest bird reservation in Europe, one of the last freshwater marshes in the Mediterranean, the largest lake in the Balkans, one of the biggest natural and historical attractions in Montenegro! All these superlatives are ascribed to Skadar lake. The lake is located in the Zetsko - Skadarska valley 7km far from the sea. Two thirds of it belongs to Montenegro and 1/3 is located on Albanian territory. Depending on the water level, the lake surface varies from 370 to 530km2. A Montenegrin part of the Skadar lake, with 40 000m2 surface together with the coast, was proclaimed national park. The lake has crypto-depression which means that some parts of its bottom are below sea level. There are around 30 such places and they are called “oke”. The deepest “oko” is Radus, at least 60m deep. The average depth of “oko” is 6m.

While cruising along the lake, one can notice its jagged coastline with many bays, islands and peninsulas projecting into it. The coast is swampy, covered with high reeds, while the lake surface is covered with a carpet made of swampy plants with yellow and white chestnuts, and a special plant called kesoranja.  The southern part of the lake is rocky and it contains the forests of the horse chestnuts.

By Ramsar convention in 1996, Skadar lake was included in the swamps world list as an important habitat of water birds. The trademark of this lake is the curly pelican.

Around 40 fish species live in the lake and the most interesting among them are autochthonous species such as carps and bleaks. It is interesting that even some saltwater fish might be found here – eel, salmon and  many other species.

In the basin around Skadar lake, there were around 20 monastery complexes. That is why this area was called “Zeta’s Holy Hill” (Zetska Sveta Gora). Lesendro and other fortifications bear witness to battles fought here between Montenegrins and Turks. Monasteries, churches, fortifications and sacral monuments recall memories of the old rulers, the Balsic family and the Crnojevic family.

Islands

These numerous island are not only interesting as bird paradises but also as cultural and historical monuments that bear witness to the earlier importance of this area.

Vranjina island is a picturesque fishing colony. St. Nikola’s monastery, recently restored by father Nikola, who was a treasurer in Hilandar for ten years, is situated here. King Nikola’s daughters used to spend summer vacations on the island, in a palace which was destroyed.

Grmozur islet is called “Montenegrin Alcatraz”. It is the islet with the remains of an old Turkish fortress used as a prison for King Nikola’s political opponents who were non-swimmers.  Grmozur is also a “bird island”.

On Starcevo islet, there is a renovated church from XIV century, renovated tavern and the tomb of Bozidar Vukovic – Podgoricanin, the printer of the first Cyrillic books.

Krajinski archipelago is comprised of a series of around 50 islands and crags along the southwestern coast.

Golubovo lake (Dove’s lake) is the biggest nesting area of the silver seagull in Montenegro. It is interesting that the saltwater birds build their nests on this freshwater island. It is possible to photograph the nests and birds, but one should not touch the eggs because seagulls are a protected species.

On Beska island, there is a memorial church of Jelena Balsic. If you are lucky, you might see flocks of rock doves or little owls.

Fifteen minutes southeast from the seagull island, there is a heron island known as Omerova gorica. Among the laurel trees, there is a colony of 40 nests of gray herons described during the 70’s as the only known colony of herons built on laurels. In recent years white herons might be seen among the gray herons. As an endangered species, herons are protected by the law.

The best place to finish your visit to the island is Muricka beach, the only sandy beach on the island which can be compared with the most beautiful Adriatic beaches. On the island, there is a restaurant where one can enjoy carp from Skadar lake served under the open sky. If you want to visit bird island, the boats can be rented from local fishermen. If you do not like long cruises, you may reach the beach from land.

On the lake coast, there is a place known as a metropolis of Montenegrin medieval state, Rijeka Crnojevica. This small fishing place used to be a very important trade center. The Montenegrin rulers enjoyed the climate here. Here the first book in Cyrillic script was printed. The fishing places on “oke” were of great importance for this area. There are many of them in this area and they abound with fish. Prior to Balkan wars, Rijeka Crnojevica had many workhouse, and the first pharmacy  in Montenegro was open right here as well as the first arms workhouse. In the “Marica” factory, pearls from fish scales were made.

Mountain Lovcen

Lovcen mountain is not only something one should admire. Lovcen is also a Montenegrin historical beacon. What Olympus used to be for old Greeks, that is Lovcen for Montenegrins. Historical and cultural reasons were crucial to proclaim Lovcen a national park.

Slopes of Mt Lovcen rise in the southwest of Montenegro, as a hinterland of the ancient coastal town Kotor and as a strong shield over Boka bays. The national park "Lovcen" covers the central and the biggest part of the Lovcen range with an area of 6.220 hectares. Numerous and heterogeneous relief forms are specially characteristic for the middle part of the mountain with its highest peaks Stirovnik and Jezerski vrh. Its slopes are rocky with many crevices, pits and deep depressions. Placed on the border between two completely different natural landscapes, the sea and mainland, Lovcen influenced by both climates. Lovcen’s serpentines present a unique architectural relic. The old road toward Kotor winds uphill to Njegusi, a picturesque mountainous village, where the houses of Petar II Petrovic Njegus and King Nikola are placed.

Some say that in clear mornings one can see Italy from Mt Lovcen.

At its top, there is the mausoleum of the biggest Montenegrin ruler and poet, Petar II Petrovic Njegos.

Njegos’ last wish was to be buried in a little church on the peak called Jezerski vrh (Lake Crest) on the Lovcen mountain. His will was not immediately executed because of the real danger that someone might desecrate the grave. In 1885, prince Danilo executed Njegos' wish and together with the most eminent Montenegrins, he moved the remains to the top.

Since this church was very significant for Montenegrins in their struggle for freedom, it was always attacked by Turks and Austrians. In 1916, it was completely destroyed by Austrians. At that time Njegos’s body was exhumed, and his remains were given to metropolitan in Cetinje. In 1925, a new church was built where Petar II Petrovic Njegos was buried for the second time. Then, the idea to build a monumental mausoleum occurred. According to the wish of the King Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, the sculptor Ivan Mestrovic prepared the project. In 1951, at the 100th anniversary of the Njegos’s death, its realization started. Huge granite figures and blocks were lifted to an altitude of 1654m and the Mausoleum was opened in 1974.

Mentioning Mt Lovcen awakes patriotic enthusiasm in every Montenegrin, that is why verses of the popular poem say: "Lovcen is our holy altar".