When leaving Podgorica and heading toward the old royal capital of Cetinje after some 12km you would come across one of the most monumental monuments in Montenegro. This monument commemorates soldiers and civilians from the Lješanska Nahija region who perished during: The First Balkan War that was fought in 1912 (War of independence from the Ottoman empire), the First World War (from 1914 to 1918) and Second World War (from 1939 to 1945). When you take a walk around the monument you make some sort of time travel as you pass by smaller parts of the large monument that are dedicated to battles and wars fought around this region.
And while taking a relaxing hike around the Black lake you will be taken in by the beauty of the nature around you. Pine trees, the Durmitor mountains and a lot of picture perfect places to let the peace and quiet of nature in and relax. But hidden on the path around the lake is a stairway that will lead you to an interesting curiosity. Only a small sign will point the way to Tito’s cave. Where Josip Broz Tito had his headquarters from the 20th to 29th of May 1943 and made the decision to fight through the encirclement of Sutijeska.
If you head from Podgorica toward the town of Bar you would pass the Skadar lake but also the town on three bridges – Virpazar. This once famous merchant town, today is a beloved place to take a coffee or lunch break while exploring the Skadar lake. It is also the opportunity to make a bout cruise around the lake. As you start exploring the city one thing will catch your attention is the monument standing over the city on a hill. The monument is dedicated to the Fallen Fighters in the Second World War. It was in the town of Virpazar where on the 13th of July 1941 the Montenegrin partisan uprising started. It was the most energetic uprising in enslaved Europe in II World War. More than 30.000 fighters from all over Montenegro participated in it. Partizans achieved the liberation of most of the territory of Montenegro in just 12 days.
Going north following the Morača river and its splendid canyon you will reach one of the beautiful monasteries of the north the Morača monastery. This spiritual sight was founded in 1252. In the 16th century the Ottoman soldiers the monastery was damaged and abandoned but in 1574, the main church of the monastery was rebuild once more. The monastery itself is surrounded with walls to prevent any more damage to it and to secure the monks living in it. But alongside beautiful gardens and cultural and spiritual sights one stands somehow out. And it is the monument to the people of the region who gave their life for freedom in the First and Second World War.