Cetinje

May 09, 2016

Cetinje is a city and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro, and it extends along the Cetinje field that includes Banjica field, Umcko field, Bogdans place and the Lower field, known as "Gruda". Cetinje is situated in the karst field (Cetinje field), of about 7 km², is located only 37 kilometers from the capital Podgorica and 29 kilometers from the metropolis of Montenegrin tourism – Budva. It's 12 km of airline far from Adriatic Sea and 15 km from Skadar Lake. It has a population of about 14 000 inhabitants, of which the dominant majority of the population lives in the urban part of the municipality.

Founded in the 15th century Cetinje became the center of Montenegrin life and both a cradle of Montenegrin culture and an Orthodox religious center.

Cetinje was founded in 1482, when Ivan Crnojevic moved his capital from Obod above the Crnojevic River to deeper into the hills to a more easily defended location in a field at the foot of Mount Lovcen. He had his court built at the new location that year and also founded a monastery (dedicated to the Mother of Christ) as a personal endowment. During the reign of his successor, Djurdja Crnojevic it was founded the first state printing house among the South Slavs.

Its greatest growth Cetinje experienced during the reign of the royal dynasty Petrovic – Njegos when they built an important public buildings like the royal residences Biljarda, the first hotel "Lokanda", the girls institute, hospital "Danilo I", many embassies, the Government House and the Royal Theatre "Zeta house". In the period between the two world wars, the today seat of Cetinje was constructed.

The territory of Cetinje includes two parts - Katunska and Rijceka district within which includes two national parks: Lovcen mountain and Skadar Lake.

Lipa Cave is one of the largest cave monuments in Montenegro. The cave, with its beautiful and wild system of 2.5 km of passages and halls is a place you must visit on your Montenegro tour. Its beauty was recognized by King Nikola I and Petar II Petrovic-Njegos, who played a very important role in the Montenegrin history. Lipa cave was known to exist prior to Njegos time, and even than cave expeditions were possible. Various recognized explorers from 19th century left written documents on cave formations and its existence, explorations continued in 20th and 21st century. National Tourism Organisation awarded Lipska cave for the best attraction in 2015.

Lovcen is a mountain and national park in southwestern Montenegro. Mount Lovcen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin, closing the long and twisting bays of Boka Kotorska and making the hinterland to the coastal town of Kotor. The mountain has two imposing peaks, Stirovnik and Jezerski vrh. The biggest and most important monument of Lovcen national park is Petar Petrovic Njegos's Mausoleum. The location for his burial place and the mausoleum at the summit of Jezerski vrh was chosen by Njegos himself as his last wish. The national park encompasses the central and the highest part of the mountain massif and covers an area of 62.20 km². It was proclaimed a national park in 1952.

On the territory of the National Park Lovcen adventure park Ivanova Gorge is located. The name of adventure park Ivanova Gorge is tied to the founder of Cetinje Ivan Crnojevic, in history better known as Ivan - beg. More specifically, the term refers to the path of a creek, and water collected in a reservoir rock, which rises from Trestenik. Accordingly belief, this water is then poured out into the trough made of beech logs, which was built by Ivan - beg Crnojevic.

Cetinje is connected to Podgorica and Budva through three-lane motorways. Both towns are about 30 km (19 mi) away from Cetinje. Another road to Podgorica is built on the coast of Skadar lake. There is also a historic old road from Cetinje to Kotor, which is not of premium quality, but offers stunning views of the Bay of Kotor. Tivat Airport is 50 km (31 mi) away, and there are regular flights to Belgrade and Zürich, and dozens of charter planes land daily at Tivat airport during the summer season. Podgorica Airport is 55 km (34 mi) away, and it has regular flights to major European destinations throughout the year.