Piva Monastery

The Piva Monastery, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, stands as one of Montenegro's most significant Orthodox shrines. It was constructed between 1573 and 1586 under the leadership of Savatije Sokolović, who later became the Serbian Patriarch. The monastery is legendary for an extraordinary preservation effort: in the 1980s, the entire structure was meticulously moved stone by stone from its original mountain site to a higher elevation to save it from the rising waters of the newly formed Piva Reservoir. Its interior walls are almost completely covered in sweeping 16th and 17th-century frescoes, executed by the preeminent masters of the period. The gilded iconostasis is a particularly valuable masterpiece of intricate woodcarving. The monastery's treasury houses rare manuscripts, ecclesiastical garments, and invaluable goldsmithing works. Its exterior architecture is modest and fortress-like, a common design for Christian buildings under Ottoman rule to avoid attracting undue attention. Today, the monastery remains a center of profound spirituality and a monument to cultural heritage preservation.

Nearby cities

Durmitor National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 18 glacial lakes and the 2523-meter Bobotov Kuk peak.

Plužine

A town on the shores of Lake Piva, surrounded by canyons.

Lake Piva

A massive, turquoise artificial lake in the Piva Canyon, perfect for boating and scenic hiking.

Tara Canyon

The deepest canyon in Europe, reaching depths of up to 1300 meters, featuring the iconic Đurđevića Bridge.

Perućica Agricultural Area

Mountain region focusing on livestock farming and traditional cheese production.

Gacko

Gacko is located in southeastern Bosnia in a vast karst plain.

Sutjeska National Park

Bosnia's oldest national park, home to the country's highest peak, Maglić, and the Perućica primeval forest.

Šavnik

A small town at the confluence of three rivers.

Župa Region

An agricultural area north of Nikšić, known for fruits and vegetables.

History & landmarks

Perućica Primeval Forest

One of the last primeval forests in Europe, part of the Sutjeska National Park.

Đurđevića Tara Bridge

Impressive concrete arch bridge over the Tara Canyon.

Nature

Piva River

The Piva River is known for its emerald-green water.

Vlaska Peak

A peak in the Durmitor massif.

Maglić Mountain

The country's highest mountain provides habitat for rare alpine plants and large predators.

Black Lake Ecosystem

The ecosystem around Crno jezero is characterized by coniferous forests and rare flora.

Black Lake

A well-known glacial lake in the Durmitor National Park.

Čemerno

A mountain range and high mountain pass in eastern Bosnia, serving as a hydrological divide between the Adriatic and Black Sea watersheds.

Tara

The Tara river forms the border with Montenegro in its lower course and flows through the deepest canyon in Europe before joining the Piv…

Vlasulja

Vlasulja is the highest peak of the Volujak mountains on the border with Montenegro.

More places

Piva Canyon Natural Area

The Piva Canyon is one of the deepest gorges in the region.

Volujak

Volujak is a mountain range on the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

Durmitor Alpine Flora

The alpine flora of Durmitor National Park is unique in Southeast Europe.

Durmitor Saddle

A high mountain pass in the center of the Durmitor National Park.

Sušica Canyon

The Sušica Canyon is located within the Durmitor National Park.

Komarnica Canyon

The Komarnica Canyon cuts through the mountains between the Durmitor and Vojnik massifs.

Hrastov Do Necropolis

Hrastov Do is a significant site for medieval Stećci.

Planinica Plateau

A high-altitude plateau in the Durmitor area.