Lake Skadar National Park travel

Lake Skadar National Park

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Western Balkans

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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 (小泻邪写邪褉褋泻芯袌械蟹械褉芯), the Balkans鈥� 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鈥檚 top bird habitats. It鈥檚 a blissfully pretty area encompassing steep mountains, island monasteries, clear waters, and floating meadows of water lilies. The main 鈥� albeit tiny 鈥� towns here are Virpazar and Vranjina, though if you鈥檝e got wheels, you can easily explore the timeless villages sprinkled along the shore.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

沤abljak Crnojevi膰a

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鈥�

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鈥�

Rijeka Crnojevi膰a

Lake Skadar National Park

The northwestern end of Lake Skadar thins into the serpentine loops of the Rijeka Crnojevi膰a (袪懈褬械泻邪笑褉薪芯褬械胁懈褯邪; Crnojevi膰 River) and terminates near the鈥�

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鈥�

叠别拧办补

Lake Skadar National Park

In the early years of the new millennium, an exceedingly welcoming community of nuns revived 叠别拧办补 Monastery after 300 years of abandonment. Fourteenth鈥�

厂迟补谤膷别惫辞

Lake Skadar National Park

厂迟补谤膷别惫辞 Monastery was named somewhat unflatteringly after the hermit who founded the monastery in 1377; it translates as Old Man鈥檚 Monastery. Revived in鈥�

顿辞诲辞拧颈

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鈥�

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鈥�

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