Overview
Virpazar – Skadar Lake – Pavlova’s Side – Rijeka Crnojevića
Virpazar is a small fishing village, located on the road between Podgorica and the Montenegrin coast, at the confluence of the river Crmnica and Orahovica in the lake. In the past, it was a strategically important trading city but today this place serves as the main gate in the Skadar Lake National Park. It is also recognizable by local wines, which you can taste in family vineyards and cellars in the center and the surrounding area.
Skadar Lake is the largest lake in Montenegro and on the Balkan Peninsula, with an area of 369.7 km² (of which Montenegro has 221.8 and Albania 147.9 km²). The Montenegrin part of the lake with the coast was declared National Park in 1983.The lake has many islands and peninsula with traces of history and valuable cultural heritage: Žabljak (15th century) – the capital of the Crnojević dynasty, Lesendro – fortress on the rock at the lake, the borderline of the Montenegrin army in the era of Njegoš, the fortress Grmožur – the Montenegrin Alcatraz, in the period when Nikola Petrović ruled. The lake has 18 important historical monuments that witness to Montenegrin history from the 11th century to the present. The lake is known for its diversity of flora and fauna. Skadar Lake is a bird’s paradise, it has 264 bird species, and about 90% of them are migratory and of international importance. This is the only pelican habitat in southern Europe. The lake is an ideal location for observing birds because it is the largest bird reserve in Europe.
On the shore of Skadar Lake, as a small place on the same river, there is – Rijeka Crnojevića, known as the Montenegrin Venice. In its vicinity, there are remains of the Obod printing office, where the first Cyrillic book was printed in this part of Europe – in 1494. A construction that attracts tourists in a special way is the bridge which was raised by Prince Danilo in 1853. A particularly appreciated product of this region was dried fish which Italians especially liked due to its uniqueness and perfect taste.
