10th May 2019
We arrived in Cetinje after a very scenic drive through the mountains and the Lovcen National Park in time for a beer and sandwich at a café in the town centre. All very cheap, and cheerful service.
Left: Vlach Church. Founded in 1450, but rebuilt in 19th century. Apparently the fence was made from the barrels of guns taken from the Ottomans during the wars at the end of the 19th century.
We arrived at the Market, difficult to find, (right) at about 3.00pm. They had packed up by then.
Left: Another smart building; I think it may have been the city hall or somesuch. Maybe my researcher will remind me. I forgot to make a note.
Right: The ex-British Embassy built in 1912, but now a music school, and by golly you could hear them practicing inside like wailing cats. The musicians around this part of the world are numerous and very good.
The Royal Coat of Arms is still fixed above the front door
I went up to the front door and was (not) greeted by this gentleman (left) wearing some form of elaborate Ruritanian uniform. He looks as if he was an original retainer of the Crown Prince Danilo!. He was entirely uncommunicative, but didn't seem to mind having his photo taken.
Then a visit to the King Nicola Museum; originally a Palace and home to the last sovereign of Montenegro. A sign said it was open, but we had to knock on several occasions before being let in. Two of us and a small group of locals were visiting. There were lots of rooms on two floors with portraits of Royalty and original furniture; the King, Queen and Princesses each had their own bedrooms, sitting-rooms etc. Right: A billiards table which had medals displayed on it. We were told that the billiards table was man-handled up from the coast (before motor transport). Can you imagine! They are heavy.
Right: The King's bedroom with some road-kill on the floor.
Right: My host and chauffeuse who drove us valiantly up the mountains.
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| The busy main pedestrian boulevard in Cetinje. |
As mentioned before, Cetinje was the Capital city until 1946 and housed all the foreign embassies and Government buildings. Most of these have now been turned into museums or are left abandoned.
Left: The deserted French embassy at the top of the main drag, Njegoseva. All locked up but was very Grand in its time.
Right: Another grand ex-residence; now abandoned. It had some significance but I can't remember what! On some of the abandoned and dilapidated terraced houses and shops they have painted screens to hang over the frontage to make them fit in and look like the original.
Left: Vlach Church. Founded in 1450, but rebuilt in 19th century. Apparently the fence was made from the barrels of guns taken from the Ottomans during the wars at the end of the 19th century.
We arrived at the Market, difficult to find, (right) at about 3.00pm. They had packed up by then.
Left: Another smart building; I think it may have been the city hall or somesuch. Maybe my researcher will remind me. I forgot to make a note.
Right: The ex-British Embassy built in 1912, but now a music school, and by golly you could hear them practicing inside like wailing cats. The musicians around this part of the world are numerous and very good.
The Royal Coat of Arms is still fixed above the front door
Right: Nearby, The Blue Palace, which was originally built in 1895 for Crown Prince Danilo but has been commandeered by the Montenegrin President for his visits to the countryside. It has manicured gardens and guards but we were not allowed to look around them.
I went up to the front door and was (not) greeted by this gentleman (left) wearing some form of elaborate Ruritanian uniform. He looks as if he was an original retainer of the Crown Prince Danilo!. He was entirely uncommunicative, but didn't seem to mind having his photo taken.
Then a visit to the King Nicola Museum; originally a Palace and home to the last sovereign of Montenegro. A sign said it was open, but we had to knock on several occasions before being let in. Two of us and a small group of locals were visiting. There were lots of rooms on two floors with portraits of Royalty and original furniture; the King, Queen and Princesses each had their own bedrooms, sitting-rooms etc. Right: A billiards table which had medals displayed on it. We were told that the billiards table was man-handled up from the coast (before motor transport). Can you imagine! They are heavy.
Left: The dining room. We were told "no photographs" but as the lady 'guide' spoke limited English and was looking after the other small party, there was nothing to stop us. I think they just say that as a formality.
Right: The King's bedroom with some road-kill on the floor.
I won't bore you with photos of more rooms, but this board game was on display in the corner of a sitting-room. We were puzzled! I wonder if anyone has an idea of what game it is/was? I expect my 'researcher' will come up with the answer, which I will publish.
Right: My host and chauffeuse who drove us valiantly up the mountains.
Left: The main Square, Dvorski Trg. OK, the place was not exactly humming with tourists (or residents) but it wasn't as deserted as this photo might imply. There were several pleasant bars and cafés with plenty of customers, and the locals were very charming. After all, it is not yet the tourist season. Thankfully. I expect there are many hikers and nature enthusiasts around these parts in the summer.
Only a brief visit to Cetinje but, as it was originally the Capital, I think it deserved a look-see. There is a famous monastery nearby and several other museums that we didn't have time to investigate. It made a pleasant change from the tourist packed 'old walled cities'.
Onwards downhill to the coast and to Budva, the Torremolinos of Montenegro.
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