Hidden Montenegro: Where the sun rises and sets twice a day, and where is salvation from "cataclysm"

Vitoja, a tree in Dinoša that throws out water, Kuti, Lopate, Dolovi, Stupovi, Crvena stijena, Zuta Platija, Ljubišnja mountain and Draga river, caves in the village of Trnovo, mills in Poseljani, Hridsko, Visitorsko, Zabojsko, Zminje lake, chestnut forests in Ostros... are just some of the places in Montenegro that "Vijesti" readers recognized as important and locations worth visiting for both tourists and those who live in Montenegro.

The National Library "Stevan Samardžić" in Pljevlja and the House of Culture "Vladimir Popović Španac" in Bar were also on that list.

"Vijesti" published a questionnaire at the beginning of November with an invitation to the readers to discover together as many locations as possible in Montenegro, about which little or nothing is known, or have been forgotten over time and are not talked about, which have been neglected for some reason.

The received proposals do not include all municipalities, but locations from the south and north, as well as the central part of Montenegro, are included.

Readers thus suggest that even twenty minutes from Podgorica there are a large number of abandoned and neglected villages, which abound in natural beauty.

"Lijeva Rijeka, the surrounding villages and mountains of Gomilica, Lopate, Glavica, Dolovi, Mrčojska Gora, Krčevine, Raičkova glava, Stupovi", the reader states and adds in the explanation that Lijeva Rijeka was once populated, that the school in Lijeva Rijeka once numbered up to 1.000 students, there was also a health center, a local community...

"And now it is abandoned, neglected and forgotten. That side roads and lighting be made from the highway leading to the surrounding beautiful mountains such as: Gomilice, Glavica, Dolovi, Mrčojska gora, Krčevine, Raičkova glava, Stupovi and that some content be created for tourists. It's beautiful, yet so close”.

And not far from Podgorica are the Rikavačko and Bukumir lakes, the Bukumira cemetery, "an unusual natural structure, in the form of a large number of stone kiljans that, according to legend, remained after the disappearance of the Bukumiri tribe".

Readers also suggest a tour of Red Rock, the old Turkish fortress on Velje Brdo.

In the neighboring municipality of Cetinje, about a twenty-minute walk from Rijeka Crnojevića, there are mills under Glavica.

"Unreal landscape, like from a fairy tale. A lot of people who walk to the Obod cave don't even stop to visit them," says the reader.

And heaven, they say, is also the area where the remains of the Prečista Krajina monastery in Ostros are located.

"In addition to the beautiful chestnut forest, which is a real paradise even for those who do not have a strong link with nature, in this area there are also the remains of the famous Prečista Krajina monastery, a monastery where, according to tradition, Kosara, the daughter of Emperor Samuil, was buried next to the feet of her husband Jovan Vladimira... Nearby is Lake Šaš, the old town of Šaš, and the Oblun fortress. This is a part of Montenegro that in a small way provides so much space for recreationists, the curious, but also for scientists...", says the reader.

Haj Nehaj fortress also found its place in the suggestions of important, but neglected locations.

"A beautiful viewpoint of Sutomora. Especially interesting because it is the only church with two altars in Montenegro", says the reader, with the suggestion that the fortress be remodeled and be part of the tourist offer.

In many texts about the wealth of the municipality of Šavnik, the fact is mentioned that in Šavnik, at the time of the equinox, the sun rises and sets twice in one day. Šavnik is also a municipality through which five rivers flow. Among them, readers repeatedly suggested Bijela, its spring and waterfall.

In the Pljeval region, readers say, the meanders of Ćehotina and Otilović Lake are unavoidable, and due to its natural beauty, the Ljubišnja mountain, with the highest peak of Dernečišta (2.238 m above sea level), was among the suggestions.

"Wealth of forests, pastures, both plant and animal life, endemic and autochthonous species", the reader writes in the explanation of the proposal and adds that the Draga river is also worthy of attention, "still hidden from the public eye and almost completely unknown".

The Draga River rises from under the slopes of the Ljubišnja mountain and its canyon is about 600 meters deep. Draga flows into the river Tara.

"It represents a real natural and tourist pearl in the north of Montenegro that should be valorized. It is characterized by a deep canyon, and the narrowest is only ten meters in a place called Tijesno. It would be wonderful if you could introduce the general public to these beauties, which should be protected with the highest level of protection of natural assets, for the sake of generations to come."

In the Rožaj region, readers suggest Derman do, at the foot of the Hajla mountain peak.

"The name comes from the Turkish word derman, which means salvation, and the word do, referring to the valley. It is believed that if the world ever experiences a cataclysm, everyone who is there will survive. Otherwise, it is a favorite place for hiking, and there is also a center of culture where mountain lovers from Montenegro and the region gather", the explanation of the proposal states.

For the municipality of Andrijevica, among the proposals were the villages of Kuti and Štavna.

"Katun Štavna is located at the very foot of Komovo. Located at 1.800 meters above sea level. With a view of Komov, with beautiful pastures full of blueberries, Štavna is, in a word, heaven on earth", writes the reader, with instructions for mountaineers - from Štavna you can climb all three peaks of Komov - Kučki, Ljevorecki and Vasojevićki, all over 2.000 meters above sea level .

Readers' suggestions also included the "lake of happiness", as they often call Hridsko, a lake located in the territory of the Plav municipality, and the monastery and church in Brezojevice, a settlement in the vicinity of Plav.

"From that place you can see the Visitor, the famous Prokletije and the Čakor mountain pass. Nearby is the lake (Plavsko, prim. aut.), the source of the river Lim. As well as the Gusinj springs, popularly known as Savine vode or Alipaša springs", the reader writes...

This text presents only some of the proposals that came through more than 100 questionnaires and comments on the portal. The editors will definitely process the content sent by the readers in more detail, and in order to make it easier to see, we are also creating a map, which will facilitate the display, search and more detailed overview of the location descriptions.

Questionnaire "What are the forgotten locations in Montenegro that are worth visiting?” is still active on the "News" portal, so we invite you to get involved and send your suggestions.