Cultural Heritage of Montenegro

Montenegro, a country of contrasts - of mild Mediterranean and a severe mountainous climate, fruitful plains and river valleys, and high and arid mountains - on its rather small surface area of 13.812 km², inherits cultural heritage originating from the time of creation of the first human communities until present. Privileged to be situated on the boundary of two large civilisations - eastern and western and three great religions - Orthodox, Catholic and Islamic, numerous known and unknown builders, painters and carvers, masters of sophisticated crafts, writers, transcribes and typographers, were leaving here the masterpieces of their hands and their spirit, sublimated nowadays into a wealthy cultural heritage.

We have the opportunity to demonstrate only a small portion of that wealth, distributed all over Montenegro - on its shores, fruitful and pleasant plains and river valleys, arid surface areas and harsh mountains.

Our desire is to present you a part of rare beauty radiating either from the walls of the temples, or from hidden monastery treasuries, museum vitrines, pages of the books and documents. Each of these presented particles of monument heritage of Montenegro is at the same time a part of its history created through centuries lasting struggle of man for freedom and improvement of his spirit. By the care of state, church and above all the professional institutions as specific preservers of this heritage, the segment demonstrated here has been preserved in almost the original form with all the characteristics and values which may both inform and render the esthetic experience.