LOVĆEN, MONTENEGRO’S LAST STRONGHOLDA
A symbol of freedom for Montenegrins, a “sacred altar” and the realm of thunder and lightning — Lovćen is all this and much more.
Lovćen National Park is located in the rocky region of the Dinaric Alps, in south-western Montenegro. It overlooks the Bay of Kotor on one side and the ancient capital of Cetinje on the other. Lovćen, the “Black Mountain” from which Montenegro takes its name, rises to 1,749 metres. With its rocky slopes and deep depressions, it offers spectacular scenery. The park is deeply loved by Montenegrins, both for its historical and cultural significance and as an oasis where people can escape the heat of summer.
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LOVĆEN, MONTENEGRO’S LAST STRONGHOLDA
Lovćen National Park covers an area of 6,220 hectares. Nestled between Mediterranean and continental climates, it has developed a rich variety of flora and fauna. The park is home to more than 1,300 plant species, representing almost a third of Montenegro’s flora. This lush natural environment also provides a habitat for many animal species, including bears, wolves, wild boar, foxes, deer and rabbits. It is also home to more than 200 species of birds, 11 species of reptiles, 85 species of butterflies, as well as numerous beetles, ants and amphibians.
What to see in Lovćen National Park?
If you choose to visit Lovćen National Park during your trip through Montenegro, you’ll have an unforgettable experience from the very beginning. You can reach it either from the Bay of Kotor, on the coastal side, or from Cetinje, if you are coming from inland. Whichever way you choose, you’ll find yourself travelling along the famous old serpentine road that winds its way up both sides of the mountain, offering breathtaking views along the way.
Lovćen, Montenegro’s last stronghold, is famous for its viewpoints on every side — towards the sea, Lake Skadar and the high mountains of the north. Wherever you look, you’ll experience a unique and incomparable view. There are numerous spots on Lovćen from which you can admire the beauty of Montenegro: Jezerski Vrh, Štirovnik, the old road from Krstac to Ivanova Korita, and one of the old Austrian roads that once led to the mountain peaks.
Njegoš Mausoleum
La visita al mausoleo Njegos
The most impressive and significant monument in Lovćen National Park, and in Montenegro, is the mausoleum of Petar Petrović Njegoš, the famous poet and philosopher. The magnificent mausoleum stands on the summit of the mountain’s second-highest peak, Jezerski Vrh (1,657 m). Njegoš himself chose this place as his final resting place. It is said to be highest mausoleum in the world.
From the car park below, you have to climb 461 steps to reach the entrance, but the effort is well worth it. The majestic mausoleum is a combination of art and architecture. The immense sculpture of the poet inside was created by the famous sculptor Ivan Meštrović. At the entrance stand two caryatids, representing two Montenegrin women who symbolically guard the crypt and the granite statue of Njegoš.
After passing through the mausoleum, a narrow path leads to a viewpoint offering a breathtaking panorama and the feeling of being at one with the sky and the clouds above.
Even on a sunny day, mist can suddenly descend and envelop everything around you, creating a truly magical atmosphere. Below the mausoleum, there is a restaurant with terraces where you can wait for the spectacular views of the surrounding peaks to reappear.
Ivanova Korita
Ivanova Korita is a valley within Lovćen National Park, located at the thirteenth kilometre of the road connecting Cetinje to Lovćen. It is a well-known destination, visited by many tourists as well as archaeologists and botanists. It is a small corner of paradise where you can take a break and enjoy nature. It has always been a place where Montenegrins escape the summer heat, enjoying picnics in the surrounding pine forests. It also has a health centre for the treatment of respiratory diseases, which has been operating since 1929.
Most of the sacred buildings and ethnographic heritage of Lovćen are concentrated in the area around Ivanova Korita and in the nearby village of Njeguši. There are many sporting activities to enjoy, from cycling along the trails to trekking on marked routes ranging from 4.5 to 12.5 km in length.
At Ivanova Korita, you will find a tourist office where you can get all the information you need, including maps of the different trails and activities available.
Adventure Parc
For those who enjoy more adventurous activities, near the bungalows in the heart of Ivanova Korita there is an Adventure Park with ten courses where you can try more challenging activities. The trails run through the trees at heights ranging from 1.5 to 15 metres. Each course has around 15 different “games”, positioned at different heights and suitable for all ages, from 5 to 70 years old. Every visitor is provided with the necessary equipment — harness, helmet and gloves — and a team of professionally qualified instructors is available to explain each activity.
Njegusi
On the slopes of Mount Lovćen, within the National Park, lies the ancient village of Njeguši. It is known as the birthplace of the Petrović dynasty, which ruled Montenegro from 1696 to 1918. The name Njeguši comes from one of the oldest Montenegrin tribes that inhabited this area, and small traditional communities can still be found here today.
Its dominant position above the Bay of Kotor, along the famous serpentine road connecting Kotor and Cetinje, has made this small village an essential stop for anyone who wants to discover Montenegro and enjoy one of the most beautiful views over the Bay of Kotor.
The village has preserved the original architecture of many of its buildings and houses that are still inhabited. Here you can see sacred buildings, the ethnographic museum, as well as the traditional “katun” houses — summer settlements used by livestock farmers — and old stone houses with roofs made of cut straw or limestone slabs. You can also find the famous “guvni”, places where community gatherings were once held and where people came together to celebrate and enjoy life.
Njeguši is also famous for its traditional prosciutto and cheese, with their distinctive and delicious flavours, and for the production of medovina, a traditional mead that has been made in this area since ancient times.
Info Parchi Nazionali Montenegro
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