On the website of the Mountaineering Association of Montenegro (PSCG), listed as a category, the register of mountain lodges, as public data, does not exist, nor is it possible for those interested to get information about this type of accommodation in the territory of Montenegro anywhere on the Internet in one place.
Interlocutors of "Vijesti" from mountaineering clubs and the Association agree that mountaineering lodges are the "heart" of the mountaineering community. The clubs, however, point out that in Montenegro no unique and clear conditions have been defined under which they are assigned for use and management.
"The big problem is management and maintenance, and that, from club to club, is solved in different ways. The clubs that are the owners define the way they will manage the home themselves, because there is no legal regulation that governs it," he says. Almas Čekić from PSK "Očnjak" from Gusinje.
Several interlocutors also state that some homes have been falling into disrepair for years and that their reconstruction is necessary, while some clubs suggest the construction of new homes, as well as other types of accommodation, such as mountain shelters.
Some people see a solution in the transfer of spaces that are owned by the state, that are not being used, and could, they believe, be used for accommodation and gathering of mountaineers and other nature lovers.
How many homes are there?
The Government, i.e. the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, the Mountaineering Association and clubs provide different data on the number of homes.
From the minister's department Slaven Radunović they list those objects that are registered in the cadastral records of the state, or local self-government. According to the data provided to "Vijesta", there are seven such facilities in six municipalities.
According to data from the Mountaineering Association, there are 11 lodges managed by clubs from Montenegro, and one mountain lodge, house and bivouac, managed by societies from the surrounding area. The Association also mentions homes that are owned by the state, as well as private ones.
The data provided to "Vijesta" from individual clubs do not completely agree with the statistics of both, so, for example, neither the Department of State Property, nor the Mountaineering Association, mention the home of "Maja Karanfil" in Gusinje.
Homes are important
"Vijesti" sent questions about the status and importance of mountain lodges to all clubs that are registered in the Register of the Mountaineering Association, which is published on the pscg.me website.
Not everyone answered the editorial question, but those who did, agree that mountain lodges are important for the development of mountaineering.
"Homes not only provide refuge for mountaineers, but also serve as centers for gathering, education and organization of various activities in nature," he says. Tatjana Ivanovic, president of PSCG.
The Cetinje club "Soko" said that mountain lodges "should represent the heart of the functioning of the mountain community".
"And as such, the most suitable places where the mountaineering community would develop. They would not only benefit mountaineers, but would also contribute to us turning more towards nature and healthy lifestyles as a community," he says. Dusan Kaluđerović, president of SPK "Soko".
On the territory of the Capital of Cetinje, where the club is from, there is no mountain lodge, at least not one that is in operation. One, on Ivan's troughs, which was built in 1948, has not been in operation since 1995 and, according to Kaluđerović, is in a dilapidated state.
That home had 11 rooms with multiple beds, most of which, according to Kaluđerović, had equipped sanitary facilities, a kitchen and a dining area:
"The old building was equipped with central heating and numerous amenities in its immediate vicinity. "Unfortunately, due to the negligence of the managers at the time, as well as the State itself, which owns the building, today we have a ruin in the heart of the NP 'Lovćen' that serves no one to be proud of."
Club "Soko" recently submitted an initiative to the Department of State Property to enable them to use that facility, in order to begin the process of its reconstruction. In case that request is approved, says Kaluđerović, the plan is to adapt the building according to the example of alpine homes, so that the home is self-sustaining and works throughout the year.
"We sincerely hope that together we will write beautiful stories about the reconstruction and work of the mountain lodge on Ivan's Koriti", Kaluđerović told "Vijesta".
Enthusiasm is (not) enough
Several interlocutors of the newsroom, when asked about the status of the homes and how they imagine the management should work, mentioned the "Za Vratlom" home, which is located in Orjen, in Herceg Novi. From PSK "Subra", which maintains that and the home "Orjensko sedlo" on the same mountain, however, they state that not everything is so great.
"If the home exists, it should be maintained, opened, made available, and this must be arranged out of enthusiasm and love," they say.
Both homes maintained by the new club are in operation, but, as they say, "in completely different states".
The "Za Vratlom" home was built at the end of the 50s, and was completely reconstructed in 2011, thanks to the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). Today it is decorated, modern and functional, but all this, say PSK "Subra", "thanks to the efforts of the membership".
"The second one, the home on Orjensko sedlo, was rebuilt several times from ashes (although more from mold). All the efforts of the club, all the finances, donations from local companies were not enough to fully equip the home. Today, it is suitable for mountaineers, but it is very difficult to maintain it in a state of good functionality".
The members of the club maintain both homes, which, they list, includes "interior and exterior work on the facade, roof, water tank, septic tank, keeping the chimney, and the interior of the home clean and tidy."
They estimate that the status of homes in Montenegro is "very bad".
“We have homes in great places that haven't opened in years. We have witnessed how difficult it is, but if the situation cannot be resolved for years, it is time to find a solution beyond the club's capacity, in order to make it available. In order to achieve this, the municipalities could set aside salaries for caretakers", they suggest and add that the caretaker should be a person from the club, "someone who knows the terrain, the mountain and who is familiar with the way and functioning of mountain lodges in general".
Another club that is mentioned in the context of good management is the club "Visokogorci Crne Gore". That club is the host of the home on Maganik, in which, as they told "Vijesti", about 120 thousand euros have been invested so far.
"This investment includes the ten-year work of club members on the construction of the home. Building a mountain lodge with this kind of 'lack of support' and 'lack of interest' from the system is just one huge torture and renunciation in every respect. We are proud of our contribution to the development of mountaineering infrastructure through our realized project, but I would not advise anyone else to do so," the president told "Vijesta" Aleksandar Đajić Đaja.
Your own home, your own rules
Đajić and other interlocutors agree that the need for mountain lodges in Montenegro is, without a doubt, of great importance. The president of "Visokogorac", as well as Čekić from "Očnjak", points out that there is no obligation for the owners of the homes to keep the homes in operation.
"In the Alpine region, they are issued through a tender for a certain period of time to an interested user. The law stipulates that they must be active in any way", said Đajić.
He adds that, in Montenegro, there is a greater need for mountain bivouacs to accommodate four to eight people:
"Open type, which does not need special management. Such mobile objects are easy to deploy on the ground by helicopter transport. Of course, this type of investment requires majority support from the state".
The need for mountain shelters is also indicated by the "Subra" club:
"In a country that has the word 'mountain' in its name, there is no mountain shelter".
Ilija Vukotic, the president of PSK "Rumija" from Bar, on whose territory there is no mountain lodge, recalls that on the initiative of fifteen years ago:
"USIRD wanted to build a mountain lodge on the slopes of Rumija, but the municipality did not listen, even though the property outside the DUP belongs to the state of Montenegro, which in that case would have given permission."
From PSK "Rumija" for several years in relation to local self-government, government departments have been waiting for an answer to the request that they be given the right of passage along a hiking trail in the territory of the municipality of Bar.
Speaking about the status and way of functioning of homes in other municipalities, Vukotić repeats the view of other interlocutors - that societies dispose of homes "according to their own rules":
"There should be standards by which homes would function, to be connected and open. I will give an example when our members were in Scotland this summer. They spent several days there on a hiking trip and stayed in beautifully decorated old traditional houses that are right next to the hiking trail. The houses are free, keyless and equipped with the most basic things".
Rumija is a part of the mountaineering transversal "Orjen-Lovćen-Rumija", which is about 140 kilometers long.
Vukotić says that homes are needed for such long distances and where the climbs are difficult.
According to him, shelters should be built every 20 kilometers for the track, which is transverse.
"The issue is very complex, because it concerns finances, jurisdiction and sustainability of projects," he says.
He is of the opinion that it would be important to establish a ranger service throughout the territory of Montenegro.
"She would keep order and record the movement of either mountaineers or tourists, because it often happens that inexperienced tourists go astray and the like. We in Bar also have another problem, because we cannot safely hike on weekends because there are active hunters", said Vukotić and added that we should not "invent hot water" and that, in terms of solving the issue of managing homes, it is enough to follow Slovenia.
A good example is Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland
Other interlocutors of "Vijesti" also mention Slovenia as a good example.
"The network and way of functioning of mountain lodges in Slovenia is a positive example of the development of a local community, in which mountain lodges use all the resources available to that community for the purposes of their functioning: from labor to local products that enrich the range offered by the lodges," says Dušan Kaluđerović. from the Cetinje club "Soko".
Such an attitude towards the development of mountaineering in every aspect, he sees in the fact that, as he says, "it is the dream of every Slovenian to climb to the top of the harsh Triglav at least once in his life".
On the other hand, he believes that "tame Lovćen" is still unknown to many citizens in Montenegro. In order for this not to be the case, and for people to return to nature, he believes that it is necessary to reconstruct the existing ones and build new mountain lodges.
The interlocutors also point out that mountain lodges and this type of tourist offer can generate significant income. Kaluđerović cites the Italian Dolomites as an example, where due to demand, accommodation must be booked months in advance.
"These lodges generate significant income in tourism on the territory of Italy, which is a sufficient indicator of the importance of the existence and functioning of mountain lodges," he said.
The Mountaineering Association cites the example of Switzerland:
"Swiss mountain lodges often have a reservation system, which enables easier organization of the stay, as well as transparent information about availability and services. This system, along with the possibility of online reservations, can significantly improve the experience of visitors, reducing crowds and enabling better planning," says Tatjana Ivanović.
In addition, she adds, Switzerland prides itself on a sustainable approach, where local resources and products are used in food, which helps preserve the regional culture and economy.
"In the Montenegrin context, the application of a similar approach could include cooperation with local food and beverage producers... The implementation of such practices in Montenegro could contribute to raising the quality of service, increasing the number of visitors and strengthening the local economy," she said.
In addition to a single base of mountain lodges, as well as an organized management system for these areas, there is no register of trails in Montenegro.
There is a link on the Association's website, but it leads to a photo of the map, which the user can enlarge and look at, but not to get a view of the specific map in a digital and readable format, which he could follow in the field.
Where are they and whose are they?
According to the data provided to "Vijesta" by the Department of State Property, seven homes are owned by the state or local self-governments.
There are two in Andrijevica, in the cadastral municipalities of Jošanica and Zabrđe, the first is owned by the Government of Montenegro, the second by the Municipality of Andrijevica, none of them have been put to use. One is a home in KO Majstorovina, in Bijelo Polje, and it is at the disposal of the Government. The government also disposes of one facility each in the municipalities of Cetinje (KO Njeguši, given to management/use by JU Lovćen-Bečići), Kolašin (KO Smrčje, no data on management/use). The government also disposes of homes in the municipality of Plužine, where the "Škrka" home, managed by the National Parks of Montenegro, is located in the Pišče municipality, and the state-owned "Sušica" home is located in the Žabljak municipality (Montenegro municipality), managed by the Durmitor National Park.
According to PSCG data, there are 11 homes in Montenegro, private and state. They state that on Orjen, in the municipality of Herceg Novi, there are the homes "Za Vratlo" and "Orjen sedlo", which are managed by the Mountaineering Club "Subra", and on the same mountain is the mountain house "Vrbanj", which is managed by the Croatian Mountaineering Association "Dubrovnik". .
On Bjelasica, PSCG adds, there is a mountain lodge "Vranjak", which is run by PSK "Bjelasica" from Kolašin. On the same mountain, in the municipality of Mojkovac, is the home "Džambas", which, according to PSCG data, is managed by PSK "Dušan Bulatović Džambas" from Mojkovac.
The Association adds that on the territory of the municipality of Mojkovac is also the home of "Prošćenska Planina", which is managed by the mountain club of the same name.
On the Maganik mountain is a mountain lodge managed by PK "Visokogorci Crne Gore". For that home, as the club told "Vijesti", a request for legalization was submitted to the Municipality of Kolašin and a request for the purchase of land to the Ministry of Finance.
"From whom we received a positive opinion", said the PK "Visokogorci Crne Gore".
In the municipality of Rožaje, on Mount Hajli, there are three homes: "Grope", "Banžov" and "Ahmica". The "Grope" home is managed by the PSK "Hajla 2405" from Rožaj, the "Banžov" home, which is located in the katun of the same name, is managed by the PSK "Jelenčica" from Rožaj, and the "Ahmica" home, which is located under the peak of Ahmica, is managed by the PSK of the same name. also from Rožaj.
The Association also said that the Mountaineering Club "Montenegro Team" has a project to build a mountain lodge on Kapetanovo Jezera.
In the valley of Grebaja, in Prokletije, in the municipality of Gusinje, they add, there is a mountain lodge "Branko Kotlajić", which is managed by PSK "Radnički" from Belgrade, and mountaineers from Serbia also built an alpinist's "Rastkov bivouac" in Velika Karlica, on Durmitor.
"Škrka" and "Sušica" have been under lock and key for years
Several public calls were published and failed for the lease of the home "Sušica", which is located next to the lake and river of the same name. The last invitation was published last year, when the home was leased for at least 2.400 euros per year.
SPK "Piva" said that there is a home with a capacity of twenty beds, that there is a place for a camp, but that they do not know why it has been closed for the last 15 years.
PSK "Piva" hosts the maintenance of mountain trails and mountaineering infrastructure on the territory of the Municipality of Plužine and Municipality of Šavnik. The territory of these municipalities covers part of the area of Durmitor and the area of the mountain massif Volujak, Maglić, Bioč. In addition to the home "Sušica", there is also the home "Škrka", which is located between the Small and Great Škrka lakes.
"The capacity is about 20 beds. It is managed by the Durmitor National Park and is primarily used to house guards in the Durmitor National Park, while it has been closed to hikers for about 20 years," says Dobrislav Bajović from PSK "Piva".
He adds, there are no conditions for the accommodation of mountaineers even in the cabin located in the Lokvica area.
You can use the Velika Karlica alpinist bivouac, located at 2.020 m. meters, between Međed and Savina kuk. It is of metal construction, has a capacity of 12 beds, was installed in the 80s of the last century and is open all year round.
In the massif Volujak, Bioč, Maglić, adds Bajović, there is no mountain accommodation facility, except for two cabins near Trnovački jezera that are privately owned and whose use is not defined.
In addition to the bad condition, as he said, an additional problem is that hiking facilities are presented on the Internet as functional:
"What disorients the mountaineers and this condition of the mountaineers' lodges harms the mountaineer tourism a lot."
They are looking for watchtowers, closed schools...
The "Očnjak" cube from Gusinje recently sent a request to the Ministry of Defense to give them the facility of the former barracks of the Army of Montenegro located in Grebaje for a longer period of time.
The Department of Defense and "Vijesta" told that all watchtowers that were once owned by the Army and located on the territory of Montenegro were handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2003.
Regarding the facilities that are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense and the Army of Montenegro, they said that they represent property for a special purpose, that they can be used exclusively by the Ministry and the Croatian Ministry of Defense and that they do not have facilities that could be given to clubs for use as mountain lodges. .
From "Očnjak" they are still waiting for a response from the Department of Internal Affairs.
A similar request, to another department, was sent from SPK "Piva" from Plužine. Dobrislav Bajović from that club told "Vijesti" that they have turned to the Ministry of Education three times to give them the abandoned school building in the village of Babići, on Pivska planina, for a certain period of time. The facility, he says, has been abandoned since 1985.
"We have not received any response from the Ministry," Bajović told "Vijesta".
That department did not respond to the newsroom's inquiry regarding the request of the club from Plužine.
Discounted overnight stays for clubs
The home "Cmiljača" in the Bjelasica part of Bjelasica is a state-owned home, which was leased for three years based on a local self-government competition. Its hosts are Saša Jovović, Dimitrije Dulović, Mladen Pavićević, Lazar and Filip Bulatović.
"In the hope of an extension for a longer period of time", they told "Vijesta". A public call for leasing that facility was published in September 2023, with a minimum initial rental price of 3.000 euros per year.
The guest house provides accommodation, food and drink services, to organize transportation because the home is 21 kilometers from the city center, of which 15 are bad gravel.
"The home has been in operation for a year... It has a capacity of 25 people. It has seven bedrooms, two bathrooms, two toilets, an equipped kitchen and a large terrace," said the owners of the home, adding that all mountain clubs have a 20 percent discount on overnight stays.
They also said that the working conditions are difficult, but that they try to keep the home in operation throughout the year.
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