Lake Skadar National Park

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Montenegro, National Park Skadarsko Jezero (Skadar Lake), Rijeka Crnojevica, the meandering river Crnojevica

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Overview

Dolphin-shaped Lake Skadar (Скадарско Језеро), the Balkans’ largest, has its tail and two-thirds of its body in Montenegro and its nose in Albania. On the Montenegrin side, an area of 400 sq km has been protected by a national park since 1983; today, Skadar is renowned as one of Europe’s top bird habitats. It’s a blissfully pretty area encompassing steep mountains, island monasteries, clear waters, and floating meadows of water lilies. The main – albeit tiny – towns here are Virpazar and Vranjina, though if you’ve got wheels, you can easily explore the timeless villages sprinkled along the shore.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Žabljak Crnojevića

Lake Skadar National Park

For a brief time in the 15th century, between the fall of Skadar (now Shkodra in Albania) and the founding of Cetinje, this was the capital of Zetan ruler…

Virpazar

Lake Skadar National Park

This tiny town, gathered around a square and a river blanketed with water lilies, serves as the main gateway to Lake Skadar National Park. If you're…

Rijeka Crnojevića

Lake Skadar National Park

The northwestern end of Lake Skadar thins into the serpentine loops of the Rijeka Crnojevića (Ријека Црнојевића; Crnojević River) and terminates near the…

Godinje

Virpazar

This charismatic little village four kilometres to Virpazar's southeast is a serene spot to stop and sample some local wines. Have a wander around the…

Beška

Lake Skadar National Park

In the early years of the new millennium, an exceedingly welcoming community of nuns revived Beška Monastery after 300 years of abandonment. Fourteenth…

Starčevo

Lake Skadar National Park

Starčevo Monastery was named somewhat unflatteringly after the hermit who founded the monastery in 1377; it translates as Old Man’s Monastery. Revived in…

Dodoši

Lake Skadar National Park

Although some of the old stone houses date from the 16th century, the main reason to visit this tucked away village is for a dip in the river alongside…

Besac Fortress

Virpazar

Looking out over Virpazar, this recently reconstructed fortress was built by the Turks in 1478, and was the scene of many a bloody battle; it was also…

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