In the city of Cetinje, historical capital of Montenegro

 “When the pearls of nature were sown, on this soil an overflowing handful was gathered, the most beautiful contact between the earth and sea took place at the Montenegrin littoral” -- Lord Byron

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(in southern Montenegro) In the west-central Balkans at the southern end of the Dinaric Alps, Montenegro is bounded by the Adriatic Sea and Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. The country’s name means “Black Mountain,” in reference to Mount Lovćen, its historical center and its stronghold in the centuries of struggle with the Turks. Montenegro’s 150 miles (240 km) of seacoast have long been a major tourist destination. Attractive landscapes, old stone houses, and beaches draw both domestic and foreign tourists.

+ Featured here is the city of Cetinje, city, Montenegro, historical capital of Montenegro. It is found on the Cetinje plateau, surrounded by limestone mountains, including Mount Lovćen, the legendary mountain in Montenegrin historiography. The city’s name derives from the Cetina (or Cetinja) river. The monastery at Cetinje became the seat of the prince-bishops, or vladike, theocratic rulers of Montenegro, from 1516 to 1851. Cetinje is the former royal capital of Montenegro and is the location of several national institutions, including the official residence of the president of Montenegro (called the Blue Palace). Cetinje is also the seat of the Montenegrin Ministry of Culture, National Museum of Montenegro, National library, State archives, and (since 2017) the country's Ministry for Foreign Affairs. (The city was founded in the 15th century and became a cradle of the culture of Montenegro. Its status as the honorary capital of Montenegro is due to its heritage as a long-serving former capital of Montenegro.)

+ Somnolent Cetinje lies just over the mountainous crest from Budva and Koto; it is well-placed for a visit if you’re in the area between the coast and Montenegro's interior. Cetinje became the country's capital upon independence in 1878, and of the clutch of embassies that were established here, many remain visible today as fascinating relics of the city’s proud past. Though the status of capital has since been passed to Podgorica, many government offices remain in Cetinje. The city's center is small enough to walk around and nearly all "sight-worthy" places are found on or near Njegoševa, a mostly pedestrianized central thoroughfare. The Palace of King Nikola sits at the southern end of Trg Dvorski. Prior to becoming king in 1910, Nikola was a military leader and poet (as well as a prince, of course), and his old palace is full of regal artifacts. Opposite this is the Ethnographic Museum. Down the road in Trg Revolucie you’ll find the Biliarda, once the residence of King Petar II, and named after a billiard table (still visible today) that he had hauled here from Kotor. Nearby you’ll find the National Museum -- and nestled in the hillside across the square is the Cetinje Monastery.