The Monastery of Saint George is a prominent cultural and historical landmark in Dobrilovina. It is associated with the Nemanjić dynasty, is known locally as “Little MoraÄa,†and lies in the Tara Valley on the left bank of the river. The monastery complex was built between 1593 and 1610.
Monastery History and Political Past
The recorded dates mark different milestones: the monastery was restored in 1609 and reconsecrated in 1989. Together with the construction period, these dates provide a timeline for its history; the restoration and reconsecration are distinct events from the construction of the complex. The dedication to Saint George and the local name “Little MoraÄa†are also among the monastery’s distinctive associations.
Dobrilovina also has a historical political role. The place served as a meeting point for leaders from the wider areas of Potarje and Polimlje. Decisions about resistance to Ottoman rule were made there. Thus, the monastery’s history is connected with a regional past in which Dobrilovina also played a role in political deliberations.
A much older historical period is associated with Gornja Dobrilovina: the oldest known evidence of human presence in the Tara Canyon is found here. This includes finds from the Palaeolithic and Metal Age at Å alintraÄa and Äurova Pećina. These archaeological traces are clearly distinct in age from the construction history of the monastery complex and broaden the picture of the area’s history.
If you are planning your trip around cultural themes, Dobrilovina offers several distinct points of interest: the monastery dedicated to Saint George, its historical development, political deliberations from earlier times, and archaeological traces from much older periods. This means the place can be explored not only through the monastery’s architecture, but also through the different historical periods associated with Dobrilovina and Gornja Dobrilovina.
More Cultural and Natural Highlights in the Wider Žabljak Destination
The wider Žabljak destination offers its own cultural attractions. UNESCO-protected medieval tombstones, known as Stećci, are located near Riblje Lake in the village of Novakovići. Žabljak’s religious heritage also includes single-nave stone churches with bell towers on their façades, dating from either the first half or the end of the 19th century. The Wild Beauty Art Festival is a multidisciplinary arts event held every summer in Žabljak.
The lake landscape is another distinctive feature: Durmitor National Park contains 18 glacial lakes. Black Lake is the largest and best known; it lies 3 km southwest of Žabljak at an altitude of 1,418 m. It is also Montenegro’s second-largest mountain lake and is protected by UNESCO. Its water flows underground into the Tara and Piva rivers.
Black Lake is the starting point for several marked hiking and walking trails. A constructed footpath leads from there to Zminje Lake. The lake is in the Pitomine area and is connected to Veliko Crno jezero, 100 m lower, by the 2.6 km-long Mlinsko Stream. Žabljak’s natural highlights can therefore be explored through its lakes, water connections, and trails.
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