Plužine is a small town in the northwestern part of Montenegro, not far from Durmitor National Park, so you can visit these destinations together (these destinations are connected directly by a breathtaking road). The main attraction of Plužine is Lake Piva (Pivsko Jezero), and the history of the town is closely related to this lake.
Lake Piva is the largest artificial lake in Montenegro and appeared as the result of the construction of Mratinje Dam, a large hydroelectric plant. The Mratinje Dam is one of the largest in Europe, with its height of 220 m. It was completed in 1976.
Historically, this region was a part of Old Herzegovina, and it became a part of Montenegro in 1878. But you won’t see any Old Town or historical buildings in Plužine since the old town of Plužine is at the bottom of the lake. The only saved building is Piva Monastery, which we will describe below.
Most of the houses in Plužine were built in 70-80s of the 20th century. Nowadays, some new buildings appear, related to the tourism growth in this area. But still, the town preserves its atmosphere of the second half of the 20th century.
In Plužine, there is a start of a hiking trail to Zarisnik Hill. This is a trail of medium complexity, and after 1.5 hours of going along the trail, you’ll get a panorama of the town, Piva Lake, Durmitor, and all the surrounding region.
Plužine is close to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the road goes along the canyon of the river Piva. The distance from Plužine to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina is about 25 km, and the road is good, but it will probably take much more time than you initially think. In some places, it is impossible not to stop and take a photo.
Along the road, there are many tunnels, mostly quite picturesque. Also, in several places, the road goes from one bank of the river Piva to another and vice versa, including Mratinje Dam itself and a large bridge across the river Piva.
And yes, the views of Lake Piva itself are gorgeous. The water colour of a mountain river, but turned into a lake by human power. This is unforgettable. Here you can find the biggest zip line in Montenegro (1450m) and fly above the fantastic water of Lake Piva.
Piva Monastery is located not far from Plužine (only 7 km of distance). Initially, it was located in another place, but due to the construction of the Hydro Power Plant in the 20th century, it was relocated to its current place. The relocation took 13 years, the same as the initial construction.
The treasures of the monastery include old frescoes relocated from the original monastery and old manuscript books. The book collection consists of the first books printed in the Balkan region (the only preserved Psalter from the Obod Printing House).