Zabljak

Zabljak is a town and ski centre located in north-west Montenegro, at the foot of Mount Durmitor, 1,465 metres above sea level. It is one of the most beautiful towns not only in the Balkans, but also in the whole of Europe. The town is situated in the middle of the Durmitor National Park, with rare plant and animal species, in the middle of pine forests which are included by UNESCO on the World Heritage List - with its unique natural riches.

The current name of the town was not given until 1870, when a school and a church were built at the same time. The first Slavic name of the place was "Varezina voda", and later "Hanovy". Almost all the original buildings were destroyed during the Balkan wars. Only the building of the old Church of the Holy Transfiguration, built in 1862 to commemorate the victory in the battle against the Turks, remained. Soon afterwards Zabljak was granted town status and several shops and cafes were opened. Thus in the 1880s Zabljak became a commercial centre, becoming the administrative centre of the region. Before World War II, Zabljak was a small town with the typical architecture of a mountain settlement. During World War II, Zabljak was burned to the ground. After the war the town was revived and became the centre of winter sports in Montenegro. The tiny town of Zabljak does not boast a heroic history, interesting architectural monuments or museums, but nevertheless hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over Europe come here every year to admire its natural beauty and enjoy outdoor activities.