At the top of Lovcen: Njegos Mausoleum

About a 35-minute drive from Cetinje or about 1 hour from Kotor, at the second highest peak of Lovcen (Jezerski vrh, 1657 n/m), a Njegos Mausoleum is standing still for decades.

Njegos Mausoleum is the final resting place of  Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, a famous Montenegrin ruler, philosopher, and poet. He played a crucial role in shaping Montenegro’s history and culture.

The tunnel towards Njegoš’s mausoleum, Photo: Adria.fun

The history behind Njegos Mausoleum

Behind the mausoleum we know today, is a long history.  It was first a chapel, built for his predecessor, and was also supposed to be his burial place. However, when he passed away, it took full 5 years for him to be transferred from Cetinje Monastery to the top of Lovcen. His remains remind there until WWI. when it was once again moved to Cetinje.

In 1925, he was again moved back to the chapel and remained there until the chapel was demolished by Yugoslavia’s communist rule in the late ’60s. The chapel was then replaced by the mausoleum in 1974. and the remains were finally moved back to the top of Lovcen for the last time.

How to reach Njegos Mausoleum?

To reach the mausoleum, you need to pass through the beautiful National Park Lovcen, which is an experience in itself. The ticket to enter the park is 3 euros per person, however, it is worth every penny! The wild beauty of this park is breathtaking and rich in flora and fauna and the road to Njegos Mausoleum is indeed joyful.

Once you reach the parking lot, you will have to leave the car and continue to the top on foot. Prepare yourself mentally that you are about to embark on a climbing adventure. There is exactly 461 stair that leads to the top of which one part is going through a tunnel. Now, depending on the season you are heading there, you might need a jacket or at least a light cover in summer as the top is kind of windy and much cooler than at the bottom.

The ticket to Njegos Mausoleum is 8 euros for adults, 4 euros for students, and children, we believe it was 2.5 euros.

The experience

Once you finally climb those stairs, please take a moment to admire the view from the top before you enter the mausoleum itself. The 360 degrees view of the beautiful mountain ranges is worth every minute of your time.

The mausoleum itself has many hidden spots so make sure not to skip any. There is a statue of two men protecting the entrance here, and inside is Njogos’s statue (check the picture above).

Njegos Mausoleum, Photo: Adria.fun

Once you go around the mausoleum, you will find a hidden door leading you down to the basement where you will find his grave (picture is also above). However, that is not it. Behind the mausoleum is also an excellent viewpoint so make sure you don’t miss on that.

You also have the opportunity to dress up in Montenegrin traditional clothing in case you want to have this visit to the mausoleum captured professionally.

The Njegos Mausoleum plays a huge role in Montenegros’ cultural heritage and it is considered a national symbol. It attracts a lot of locals and tourists from all over the world, so make sure you explore it and enjoy the natural beauty of Mount Lovcen.