Pljevlja

The town of Pljevlja is located in the northern part of Montenegro, in the picturesque valley of the Cjehotina and Brznića rivers. It covers an area of 1,346 km2 and is 770 metres above sea level.

Before the Greek invasion in the first century BC this northern region of Montenegro was inhabited by Illyrian tribes. On the ruins of the old city the Greeks founded a city that became the cultural centre of Dalmatia. Many valuables were found in its ruins: jewellery, glass and ceramic vases.

In the VI century the Slavs conquered the area and the town of Bereznitsa appeared. The town received its name from the river, which flows through it. Later it became one of the main cities of the Serbian state of Raska. The main road from Dubrovnik, Trieste and Kotor to Constantinople, Sarajevo and Belgrade passed through the town. In 1338, the first customs office was opened there. Plevlja was given its present name in the 14th century. According to historians, it was named after the fertility of the monastery areas, where crops were grown. Two centuries later, the town was conquered by the Turks and renamed Taslidzh. During their rule water and sewage systems, mosques, fountains and gardens were built here. In 1569, the Hüseyin Pasha Mosque was built, which is a masterpiece of Eastern architecture.

In 1878 Plevlja was under Austrian siege and an army of 5,000 soldiers with women and children entered the town. During the Austrian rule Plevlja was transformed into a modern western town with hotels, bookstores and a theatre. The first modern pharmacy, photo studio, hospital and brewery were opened. In 1913 the town became part of the Kingdom of Montenegro, and after World War I it became part of the Yugoslav Kingdom. After World War II, it became part of Montenegro in 1945.

The town of Pljevlja is also one of the major driving forces of the Montenegrin economy - there is a power station, deposits of hard coal, lead and zinc. The city has a well-developed timber industry, agriculture and cheese production. There is a large number of forests in the region, which encourage the development of eco and winter tourism.

The only power plant in the country, which provides energy for half of the population, is located in Plevlje. Would you like to try the famous cheese of Pleval, which is considered a delicacy? Then make a trip to this beautiful town.