Cetinje

Cetinje is located in the southern part of Montenegro, at the feet of the Lovcen Mountain, about 35 km southwest from Podgorica, the new capital of Montenegro. It is less than an hour-long-route from Budva, Podgorica or Kotor.

Cetinje was founded in the 15th century by Ivan Crnojevic the last ruler of strong mediaeval state of Zeta. Cetinje was the historical capital of Montenegro for five centuries.

Cetinje Monastery, Montenegro

Cetinje and its cultural and historic attractions represent a very interesting offer for the tourists. The most important historic and cultural monuments are Monastery of Cetinje built at the beginning of the 12th century;  Biljarda (the billiard room) – the resident of the ruler Petar Petrovic Njegos; the Palace of King Nikola I Petrovic, the buildings of the French, British, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Italian embassies from the 19th century; the Government Palace – a monumental structure that represented the power of the state, from the 20th century.

There are several museum representing Centinje’s cultural and historic wealth: Monastery museum, State Museum, Njegos Museum, Ethnographic Museum, Historic Museum, Arts Museum, and the Museum of Electricity Supply System of Montenegro. Most of the museums are integrated into National Museum of Montenegro.

Cetinje was also the cultural and educational center of Montenegro; it is the home of: the Central National Library, the National Museum of Montenegro, the Archive of Montenegro, the Republican Agency for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, and the Royal Montenegrin National Theatre "Zetski dom".

The oldest library of Cetinje is the Library of the Cetinje Monastery, which was established in the 15th century, during the times of operation of the Crnojevici Printing shop.

More photos: Cetinje Photo Gallery

Excursions around Cetinje

Lovcen Mountain National Park

Lovcen Mountain National Park covers an area of 6.400 ha and it has a high-ranking natural and historic values. The highest peak of the National Park is the peak Štirovnik (1.749 m), which is also the highest peak of Lovcen Mountain.  Lovcen Mountain National Park

Budva

Budva is Montenegro’s main tourist centre; the busiest – and in summer the most crowded – settlement along the coast. The secret of the city’s popularity rests mainly on its beautiful, mainly sandy coastline, which caters for the would-be bathers. Budva

Kotor

Surrounded by mountains ranging from 1000m to 1700m high, situated at the eastern tip of Kotor Bay, lies the picturesque city of Kotor. Its city-core is the best preserved, of the cities along the Montenegrin coast, rich in medieval monuments. Kotor

Center of Cetinje