The Castle of Duke Lazar Sočica is located in Goransko, 7 kilometers from Plužine. It was built in the second half of the 19th century and the famous Duke of Piva, Lazar Sočica lived in it. The castle was one of the largest and the most beautiful houses in that time in Montenegro. It was built on a slight elevation, which the famous Serbian geographer Jovan Cvijić said that was the place with the most beautiful view in the Balkans.
In 2015, the Castle gained the status of a cultural asset. It contains the extremely rich historical heritage of the Piva region, and in addition to the historical setting, it also includes a naturalist section, which represents a unique combination of man and nature.
In the main building, which has a museum character, the archeology and ethnology of the Piva region, as well as the history of Piva from the time of the Ottoman Empire until today, are thematically presented. As part of this complex, there is also a room with an exhibition dedicated to Lazar and his son Risto Sočica.
The second part of the building is also museum-like in which the natural resources of Piva are presented with an emphasis on the biodiversity and geodiversity of this region.
Duke Lazar Sočica was born in Plužine in 1838. He was one of the most famous heroes of Old Hercegovina and Montenegro from the time of the struggle for liberation from the Ottoman Empire. Lazar participated in the battles for liberation from Turkish rule in the territory of Montenegro and Herzegovina as a commander of larger units, until the final liberation in 1878. In the battles, he achieved significant victories with the least losses, and because of this he was highly respected, both by the soldiers and by Prince Nikola himself. After the liberation from the Turks, Duke Lazar was appointed brigadier of the Herzegovina brigade by Prince Nikola, and because of his courage and speed, Prince Nikola called him Munjica (Lightning Flash).
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