Niksic is the second largest municipality in Montenegro with the second largest population. It belongs to the central region of Montenegro, situated between the mountains and the sea, east and west, and it is a crossroad of important roads. Niksic is close to everything, to the sea, the mountains, the airports, the state borders.
The town has long tradition and culture, the most outstanding karst in the world, hydrographic potentials and specialties (estavelle Gornjepoljski vir - the largest in the Dinarides) and various geomorphologic forms.
The town's center is dominated by town square, one of the most beautiful in Montenegro, built in 1885 at the request of King Nikola, and with wide streets and boulevards, arranged allies and green areas.
Niksic is both sunny and snowy. In the summer you can swim in one of the five beautiful lakes because of a large number of sunny days, clean water and pleasant temperatures; hike on marked trails; ride a bike and visit the most beautiful places in Niksic; on Trebjesa hill you can try out 5,8km long mountain bike circular trail; take off from Niksic airport and parachute in tandem with a licensed instructor. In winter you can enjoy winter wonderland in Vucje - skiing, snowboarding, and sleding; in the Krnovo plateau covered with a white blanket, you can walk on snowshoes, enjoy the landscapes, breathe to the fullest and be in line with the nature that surrounds you.
Wherever you are "Good Spirit of Niksic" will be with you and the local narrator will tell you, depending on your interests, about the famous history, cultural and historical monuments, beautiful and preserved nature, important authors, good hosts who produce organic food on their farms and kindly welcome visitors, beer production and the famous Niksic Beer.
In the camp below the Krupac dam, in the shade of the poplar trees and on the fortress built in the 4th century, in August, experience the atmosphere of LAKE and BEDEM FESTS, the festivity of rock music, good times and positive energy. Throughout the year choose a cultural, sports or artistic event organized by cultural institutions, NGOs, associations or clubs. Alone, or in a company, in one of the many cafes on the town square, drink up one "Niksicko" and take with you a unique impression Niksic offers
HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENTS
Crvena stijena(Red Rock) - category I monument, is an archaeological site of worldwide significance, in the same level with El Castillo in Spain, more than 180,000 years old, in which a neanderthal lived, and where research is still ongoing. It is located 45km of the Niksic - Trebinje road. By now, 31 cultural layers have been identified in which more than 20,000 artifacts have been found.
The archaeological site Rijecani belongs to the most important, first class category of epigraphic monuments. After the discovery of a plate with the name Saltua and later discovery of a milestone in a nearby meadow in the valley of Suntulija it was determined that the Roman road passed through the Anderba (on the land of Niksic) and led to the coast. The great concentration of artifacts gives the village the character of an open-air museum.
Mostanica Bridge is the only bridge that can be reliably claimed to originate from the Roman period, the construction of which is linked to the third century. It has been under the protection of the state since 1947. According to archaeological findings at this location, a settlement existed there in the Roman period.
BEDEM (Rampart)- the city fort is a remnant of the Roman fort from the 4th century. Roman Anderba, Gothic Anagastum, it was repeatedly destroyed but during the Turks from 1700-1705 it was renovated and preserved to this day. Today, various cultural and artistic programs are organized at the fortress, and from the walls of the old town there is a beautiful view of the city. The most important event is a festival of rock and electronic music Bedem Fest.
King Nikola's Palace was erected in 1900 and belongs to the most valuable cultural heritage of Niksic and Montenegro. This representative building was built for the needs of the Montenegrin court. Today, in this building, Homeland Museum, City Library, galleries and Archives are situated. The museum is of homeland – complex type. Its special value is the archaeological collection from the prehistoric site of Crvena stijena. In addition to this, collections of antiquity, medieval times, liberation wars and an ethnological collection are exhibited.
Lapidarium - acropolis of stećci, old tombstones from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries are a special cultural asset of the municipality of Niksic. According to some earlier researches there are more than 1300 stećak tombstones in the municipality of Niksic. The Lapidarium is a place behind King Nikola's Palace, with the specimens of stećci that are promoted as our significant cultural heritage.
Emperor's Bridge is one of the most beautiful stone bridges in Southeast Europe. It is the most beautiful building in the municipality of Niksic. A bridge with 18 large vaults (arches) was built of cut stone in 6 months. While opening the bridge for transport, Prince Nikola emphasized the importance of the bridge and suggested that it should be called Emperor's, after Russian Emperor Alexander III who helped build the bridge.
Church of St.Peter and St.Paul was built according to some (P.Sobajic, 1938,19) in the 12th century. The valuable frescoes in the church are preserved in the altar apse. The wall painting of this temple belongs to the last painting originated in the Byzantine tradition. A special thing in this church is the portrayal of Aaron and Solomon, who are placed in a standing position, the first with a scepter, and the other with the temple of Jerusalem in his hand.
Cathedral Church of St Basil of Ostrog erected on top of Peter's hill is dedicated to St. Basil of Ostrog. This magnificent, sacral structure dominates the panorama of Niksic. It was built in 1899, and the interior of the church is equipped with fascinating ornaments. The names of the 3098 dead soldiers of the Montenegrin and Herzegovinian army, who were under the command of Prince Nikola in the Velji War (1876-1878), printed in silk, are exposed in the "golden frames" on the sides of the temple.
Zupa Monestery was built, on the basis of some historical sources, in the 13th century. During the history, the monastery had a huge liberation and enlightenment role for the Zupa tribes. Today Sv.Luka Monastery in Zupa is a place where a large number of tourists comes from the country and abroad. The sisterhood of this monastery opens workshops for making pottery, icons and other objects and souvenirs within the complex.
Church of the Holy Salvation at Grahovac was erected in honor of the great battle which took placed in this place in 1858 and the victory of the Montenegrin army over the Turks. It was built on the orders of King Nikola in 1864, in a symbolic way, because its construction began on Tuesday, and ended on Thursday, at Spasovdan, just like the Battle of Grahovac. Its foundations were excavated in the place where the tent of the commander of the Turkish army was located.
Kosijerevo Monastery was erected, according to the tradition, in the 14th century. It is located in the village of Petrovici, on the southwest of the Niksic municipality, near Bileca Lake. The monastery had the role of a spiritual and cultural-political center. At the moment, the foot of St. Apostle Luke is located in the monastery.
Ostrog Monastery is located near Niksic and it is one of the largest religious sanctuaries in the Balkans. The monastery is annually visited by about a million visitors, and the reconstructed road Bogetici - Ostrog significantly contributes to your pleasant journey to this unique sanctuary in the Balkans.
The Mosque is located in the city center. It was built by Hadzi Ismal Lekic in 1804. Around the mosque is a fenced courtyard with the graves of the famous Niksic Muslims. On the stone slab above the door in the Arabic language is written who and when erected a mosque.
Catholic church – the town's Catholic Church was constructed in 1986.The sisters of the Franciscan order , who recived the town's level of recognition for their humanitarin work, the Liberation of Niksic Award, attend to the up keep of the church.
Monument under Trebjesa hill – the monument was erected in memory of the 32nd patriots and anti fascists who werw shot under Trebjesa by the occupires during the Second World War
The Monument to King Nikola on the central city square dominates with its grandeur and captures the attention of every visitor. It was built in 2006.
Nikšić is located approximately 56 km from Podgorica Airport (Montenegro), 90 km from Tivat Airport (Montenegro), 165 km from Dubrovnik Airport (Croatia), and 170 km from Tirana Airport (Albania).
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