| CULTURAL HERITAGE AND MANSIONS | |
King Nikola’s palace  The building of the court of King Nikola I Petrovic, known as Palac, began in the 1863, at the beginning of King Nikola's reign, and ended in 1867. Interior of this court is adjusted both to residential and family life. It is characterized by luxury dominated by secession style. As for interior, there is parquet floor, walls covered by silky wall-papers, ceiling decorated with the plastering, light mixtures, furniture pieces, etc. From 1926, the court houses The National Museum of Montenegro. Its interior remained more or less the same. |
|
Billiard house  Njegos’s residence known as Billiard House is located in the historical center of Cetinje, nearby the Cetinje Monastery. It was built in 1838 according to the plan of the Russian delegate Jakov Ozereckovski with the considerable financial support from Russia. In the beginning it was called The New House but soon it was named Billiard House after Njegos’ billiards. Billiard House has a look of a medieval castle. It is a two-story rectangular building made of stone, covered by lead and surrounded by a high stony wall with round towers on its angles and gates on each side. Three wells in the yard gave it the look of the fortified castle. The building itself was impressive for the time it was built in. It was over 70 meters long and 7 and a half meters wide with 25 rooms, 11 of which were on the ground floor. It would make a strong impact on a visitor. Njegos had a certain number of rooms for his personal needs while the greater part of them were designed for the Senate, Royal guards and also for receiving eminent quests. Billiard House was a residence of Njegos’ successors Prince Danilo and Prince Nikola till 1867. This remarkable building also housed some state institutions. The printing house has operated there for some time, then Theological Seminary, Gymnasium and Girls' Institute for a short period. At the beginning if this century it was a place where the ministries were located and between the two World Wars it was used by the military. In the yard, the relief of Montenegro was built in 1916/17, cutting the fencing wall. Now, in the Billiard House is situated Njegos’ Museum. |
|
Monastery of Cetinje  At the foot of the rocky Orlov Krs (Eagle’s Rock), on the place where the court of Ivan Crnojevic once stood, ruler Danilo built the Monastery of Cetinje in 1701. Some parts taken from the ruine Monastery of Crnojevici were built in this new one. In the center of the complex there is a small church dedicated to the birth of the Virgin. In this church there is an iconostasis, work of the Greek artists, dating back to the middle of the 19th century. In the southern choir there is a coffin with the relics of the St Peter of Cetinje., while near the entrance are the graves of Prince Danilo and great Duke Mirko, the father of King Nikola I Petrovic. There is kept one of the greatest relics – the hand of St John the Baptist. In the so-called Njegos’ shelter is the museum of the monastery, which is the most significant museum in Montenegro. Cetinje Monastery represents the symbol of the Montenegrin spirituality, love for freedom and enlightenment. |
|
Zetski dom  The famous theatre building in Cetinje, Zetski dom, at first was used, beside as a theatre, for the housing archives, museums and reading-room with library. Building began in 1884, and finished in 1892. Architect Josip Slade made the project. The premier theatre play, “The Empress of Balkan” was held in 1888. Interior was modern and luxurious, just like in the European theatres with frizes and painted ceilings. Recently, the stage is changed, interior restored and the scene has modern equipment for shows. |
|
Blue palace  The residence of the heir of the throne, Danilo, known as Blue Palace, was built in 1895. It is situated between two city parks. On the building, started in 1894, were engaged best Italian and local masters. In 1895 palace was fenced with tall, and in front with low walls of metal bars, made in military fabric in Obod. That same year, in the yard was arranged tennis field and pool. During 1910 is introduced electric light. The heir of the throne Danilo used this building till 1916. Nowadays, it is used as President of Montenegro residence. |
|
The Crnojevics' monastery The ruler of Zeta, Ivan Crnojevic, on a spot called Cipur at Cetinje, built the monastery with the Church to The Birth of The Virgin Mary in 1484. On the basis of the preserved remains of the monastery, old drawings and plans, it can be concluded that this was a complex and powerful block of monasteries, encircled by the walls that were at the same time the supporting walls for the shelters, towers and accessories. There was the Church to The Birth of The Virgin in the center of the block and a small church dedicated to St Petar in the northern part. Probably, the building above a large opening with the river Cetina running through it was used as the printing house of the Crnojevic family. It is supposed that the church looked like a three nave basilica and there was an open doorway around it, leaned to the raw of pillars. The capitals of the pillars were decorated with relieves in the spirit of the late gothic and renaissance style. Among other things, there's the coat of arms of Crnojevic dynasty represented on them. The Monastery of Crnojevic’s was completely destroyed by the Turks in 1692. Prince Nikola built the court chapel in 1886 where there are relics of King Nikola and Queen Milena, on the place of the former church. |
|
Hospital Danilo I Converting into money gifts received on baptism of the heir of the throne, Danilo, in 1871, it was built the first hospital in Montenegro, planned by French court-doctor Frilley. It was named after the first Montenegrin ruler. Because of the “military-technical” needs, it started functioning only in 1875. First patients were persons injured during insurrection in Herzegovina. The building has two floors, with rectangle basement. |
|
The Government House  The monumental building called Government House, also known as the building of the Montenegrin Parliament and after World War II as a home of freedom, was erected in 1910 and designed by Italian architect Corradini for the National Council and government accommodation. At that time, the result was the largest building in Montenegro. It consists of high ground and first floor. The top of the facade is dominated by a luxurious attic with statues, relief decorations and the clock. The interior is especially pointed out by ceremonial hall richly decorated with various decorative elements in the stucco and dynastic emblems. At the Government House now is allocated Art Museum of Montenegro and the Historical Museum of Montenegro. |
|
 The Vallachia churc The church of the Virgin Mary’s Birth, known as the Vallachia Church, was built in the 15th century. Its present form dates from 1864. Church is fenced in gun barrels confiscated in struggles for liberation in 1858 and 1876-78. On both sides of the entrance are graves from the middle ages. |
|
 Church of the CipurAt the foundation of the monastery church from 1484, The Prince Nikola was built castle chapel dedicated to the Virgin Birth, and intended to the court the religious ceremony. This is a one-nave church with six sides and a dome of stone sculpture on the portal. Trustee’s record is carved around the windows. The church is a tomb of Ivan Crnojevic, master of the medieval state of Zeta, and the founder of Cetinje. At the entrance, along the southern and the northern wall of the nave, were built in marble tombs where in 1989 were transferred from the Russian church in San Remo remains of King Nikola and Queen Milena. |
|
 The Catholic Church of St. Anthony Catholic Church dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua was built in 1912 close to complex of the Austro-Hungarian embassy. The plan of the church and the pastor’s home was made by an Italian architect Corradini. However, during construction, due to lack of material resources required for the elaborately designed buildings, Corradini’s plan is significantly reduced, especially in the solution of the main facade. |
|
Martial House In preparation for the formation of standing armies 1895th it was laid on the Obilica field cornerstone of the first Montenegrin barracks – Martial House. Today the building is used for the P.S. Sports Centre Cetinje needs, which rent available sports facilities to local sport clubs, companies and other institutions. |
|
 Embassies Since 1878th when the Berlin Congress recognized Montenegro’s independence, a number of major European countries began to establish diplomatic relations with the new state. In Cetinje for embassies and housing staff rented a better built home, or according to special projects and approval of building new facilities. Today in Cetinje, we can distinguish several buildings by its successful architectural solutions: former Austro-Hungarian, Russian, French, Italian, Turkish and English mission. All these buildings were built with pretensions to demonstrate power and wealth in these countries, which opens their mission. Among the first was built the Austro-Hungarian embassy. Construction finished 1899th was designed by renowned architect Dr. Joseph Slade. The spacious building consists of ground floor and attic. Along the north side of the slender, Roman Catholic chapel was added to the building. Today it is the State Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. In the early years of the twentieth century, namely in 1903, it was built an interesting structure of the Russian embassy according to the project of the Italian architect Corradini. Elaborately designed building consists of ground floor and an attic with an attractive rich baroque decoration, executed in stucco, and featuring fantastic creatures, garlands and palmette, making it one of the most beautiful buildings of Cetinje. It is now housed the Faculty of Fine Arts. The buildings of French and Italian embassies were raised the 1910th in the year of the proclamation of Montenegro for the Kingdom. Particularly attractive building, the French embassy with its boldly shaped façade is distinguished from other buildings representative of Cetinje. With facades decorated with ceramic tiles polichrome building of the former French embassy wear characteristics of pure Art Nouveau. Nowadays the building is used by the Central National Library “Djurdje Crnojevic.” Also former Italian embassy building was designed and erected according to the project of Italian architect Corradini. When built, it was on the outskirts of the town. It is surrounded by a large park. The building appears easily, without pronounced parties and decorative elements. The opulent interior is designed with ceremonial halls and numerous rooms decorated with stucco work. Now the building is serving as Central National Library “Djurdje Crnojevic.” In the spirit of English simplicity, the English embassy was built in 1912. It is supposed that it was designed by an English architect of Hearty. It is surrounded by the garden with tennis court. Simplicity of the exterior, which resembles the English pavilion, was transferred in interior spaces too, where space is subjected to functionality. Now it is the Academy of Music. For the accommodation of numerous parliamentary staff, with the approval of Montenegrin rulers, the Turkish government in 1885 in the vicinity of the Maiden Institute bought a private house of the Duke Maso Vrbica. It was “the first case in Montenegro that a foreign country acquires immovable property for their embassy.” Today it is used for the purposes of the Academy of Dramatic Arts. At the beginning of 1910th, the Bulgarian government was to adapt the accommodation needs of mission house located near the royal residence, at the Court Street. The project of adaptation by the architect Fernando Balako, who, at the same time, was involved in the reconstruction of the palace of Prince Nicholas I. It is now restaurant City Café. For Greece diplomatic mission some private houses were rented - the first near Martial House, then in the main Katunska street, and finally next to the hospital, by the road to Podgorica (Ivanbegova Street). At the beginning of 1914th the Serbian embassy staff moved into a house across the King’s Palace, registered as a property of Serbian King Petar Karadjordjevic. The house built in 1883 was a wedding gift of King Nicholas to his daughter, princess Zorka, wife of King Petar Karadjordjevic. The building is now used for the purposes of the Ethnographic Museum of Montenegro. The seat of the German embassy was situated in a private home of Jovan Piper Milunovic. The house is now a residential building. The seat of the U.S. embassy was located in the Grand Hotel. It was where Secretary of the embassy lived, while the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary minister stayed in Athens and was the diplomatic representative for both countries. For the accommodation of vice consulate, the first and the only representative of Belgium, a merchant and hotelier from Cetinje, Vuko Vuletic, used his house on the castle square. |
       |
Relief map of Montenegro Relief map of Montenegro is located in a separate, modern-designed pavilion in the central part of the southern yard of Billiard House. It was built during the Austrian occupation of Montenegro 1916/17. Military occupation authorities developed a special relief map of Montenegro in the scale 1:10000. In its elaboration, in addition to military engineers, a sculptor Marko Brezanin worked, which contributed to the whole enterprise to gain not only military-strategic but also a certain aesthetic quality. On the relief are all important objects designated both of infrastructure and superstructure character of Montenegro in that time. |
|
Amphitheater An open or so called Summer Amphitheater is located in a romantic ambient under the Eagle’s Rocks, which, by its structure, stage and auditorium, reminiscent of an ancient amphitheater. It was built in 1951, and serves for performances, concerts, etc. I can accommodate about 1,500 spectators. |
|
Oread of Lovcen monument On the square in front of Wallachia church is the Oread of Lovcen monument. Built in 1939 in memory of the Montenegrins and Herzegovinians who rushed as volunteers from America to help Montenegro in World War I, whose ship was shooting and sank within the Albanian port San Giovanni di Medova. The statue stands for a girl, symbolically facing Lovcen mountain, with a laurel wreath in her left hand and a sword in right hand. The monument is the work of the famous Yugoslav sculptor Risto Stijovic. |
|
Zabljak Crnojevica  The first written data on the medieval town of Zabljak dates back to the middle of 15th century. It is possible that it was built in the 10th century at the time of Vojislavljevic dynasty. It is certain that the Crnojevic dynasty hold the court here. That's why it is known as “Crnojevici’s Zabljak.” It was made a capital firstly by Stefan Crnojevic and later by Ivan Crnojevic from 1466 to 1478, when the Turks seized it. The town remained under Turkish domination until 1878 when, by the decision of the Berlin Congress it became a part of Montenegro. In the town there were the court of Ivan Crnojevic, The church of St George, water tank, and also buildings of housing, military and economic character. Tall walls with towers and a gate surround it. Certain parts of it date back to the time before firearms were even in use. Greater part of the preserved fortification was built during the reign of Ivan Crnojevic and is characterized by Venetian building style, while the rest reflects the time of Turkish domination. Today, Zabljak is deserted but its suburb is still alive. |
|
Ivan Crnojevic monument Celebrating 500 anniversary of Cetinje in 1983, on the plateau between the castle of King Nikola I, and the building of the State Archives of Montenegro, a monument was erected to the founder of the city, the ruler of ancient Zeta, Ivan Crnojevic. The monument represents a male figure, with strong arm and a sword over his shoulder, as a symbol of justice and shield as a symbol of defense. This is the work of an academic sculptor, Anto Grzetic. |
|
Shot patriots Memorial Memorial of shot patriots during 1941-44 in the territory of the city, was built in 1954 in the vicinity of Cetinje monastery. Above the stone mounds rises bronze patriot figure corded at the pillar and shot by burst. |
|
Architecture of Cetinje between two world wars  At the beginning of the third decade of the twentieth century there have been several monumental buildings, intended for the accommodation of numerous bureaucratic apparatus of Zeta ban-hood. In the old historic core of buildings were erected the Ban administration (today the city government and Council building), the gendarmerie station (now the Archive of Montenegro), the Ecclesiastical Court, Primary School, Community Centre, and the extraordinarily beautiful palace of Mortgage Bank branch (after WWII for years it was head office of Obod Electro industry, then recently residency of President of Montenegro, and finally seat of Ministry of Culture), while in the new town section, near the building of the former Italian embassy, were built Banski apartments and Gymnasium. By its modern architectural solutions, urban core of the city has been more beautified with a few private houses. |
|
