Mausoleum of Petar II Petrović Njegoš
One of the most impressive and most mystical destinations, the fascinating natural beauties of Montenegro is the Mausoleum of Petar II Petrović Njegoš on the mountain Lovćen. Mausoleum is located at Jezersko vrh, at 1660 meters above sea level, which makes it the highest mausoleum in the world. The conceptual creator of this marble colossus is the world famous sculptor from Croatia, Ivan Mestrovic.
HOW TO GET THERE?
From the direction of Budva or from the towns on the coast, the easiest way for Lovćen is by own or rent-a car, taxi or bus - organized in tourist tours, which, in the form of excursions, almost all tourist agencies from the Montenegrin coast offer. For any option you decide, ride, or walk, if you are an adventurer,you will have a chance to experience wonderful beech, oak and linden forests with extremely clean and fresh air. When you find yourself at the foot of a mountain massif, it will seem incomprehensible to reach its peak and mausoleum, because it takes crossing 461 steps, but this is precisely why it is a challenge for many. Stairs to Njegoš's mausoleumleads you through the tunnel through the mountain, and after a few minutes of walking, you arrive to Jezerski vrh ,,under the clouds", from where the beautiful landscape will take your breath. A narrow, marble paved road on top of Lovćen leads you to the gate of the mausoleum, an object dedicated to Montenegrin glorious ruler Njegoš. To visit the interior, you have to pay a ticket (for the adult a price is 3 euros, for children is 1.5 euros) and after you do that, the sightseeing can start.
WHAT TO SEE?
In the lobby of Njegoš's mausoleum there are two stone caryatids: mother and daughter (or Njegoš's mother and sister - according to some historians), heavy 7.5 tonnes. In the facade of the mausoleum there is a grandiose figure of Njegos, made of the most beautiful and best stone weighing 28 tons, and above it there is a golden eagle with wings spread. Below the crypt of the mausoleum is Njegoš's grave. The eternal resting place, the marble sarcophagus with the remains of the greatest poet and philosopher of Montenegro of the XIX century, was built of fine white marble.
On the tombstone is written "Njegos 1813 - 1851". From entering the mausoleum, turning left, it is nice to walk along a stone path that, for only a few meters, leads to the stone Montenegrin threshing floor, which is a place built in the form of a circle, with a stone sidewalk, where national assemblies and speeches held and important desisions made. At that place, it is worthwhile to stop and enjoy the view from Lovcen to the Bay of Kotor, the open sea, the Skadar Lake, to the distant Prokletije or to the capital of Cetinje, as well as to make a couple of photos to remember.
