Montenegro’s largest gallery of 16th-century paintings
Piva Monastery is located near Plužine, on a plateau above the source of the Piva River, about 8 km south of the small town.
Its Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos was built between 1573 and 1586 by Metropolitan Savatije Sokolović, on the site of an older church. The church is a three-aisled basilica of grey and pink stone, without a dome or bell tower, and the interior hides around 1,260 m² of wall paintings — which is why it is called Montenegro’s largest gallery of paintings. Due to the construction of the Mratinje dam and the creation of Lake Piva, the church was dismantled and reassembled stone by stone from 1969 to 1982. Today it is an active monastery of the Eparchy of Budimlja-Nikšić and a stop along the road to Šćepan Polje.
Cover shoulders and knees. Some monasteries ask women to wear a headscarf, and skirts and scarves are often available to borrow at the entrance.
Monasteries are living communities of monks or nuns. Speak softly, silence your phone and keep out of areas closed to visitors.
Photography inside churches is often forbidden or limited, especially during services. Ask before taking pictures inside and never use a flash.
Entry is usually free. A donation towards the monastery's upkeep and candles are voluntary.
A three-aisled basilica of grey and pink stone, without a dome or bell tower, is about 23 m long and 13 m high. The interior is painted with around 1,260 m² of frescoes, which is why it is called Montenegro’s largest gallery of paintings. The nave was painted in 1604–1605 by artists influenced by Cretan art, and the narthex by priest Strahinja from Budimlja and kyr Kozma.
The treasury is among the richest in Montenegro. It preserves the Psalter from the Crnojević printing house from the end of the 15th century and Savatije’s embroidered omophorion. There are also particles of relics; a visit to the treasury is usually by prior announcement to the monks.
Next to the south doors there is a rare fresco on which, according to interpretations, Mehmed-paša Sokolović hands over a model of the church. This composition bears witness to the connection between the ktetor and the time in which the church was built, and it is one of the most interesting details of the wall paintings.
An artificial lake on the Piva River was created by the construction of the dam at Mratinje. Because of it, the monastery was moved stone by stone. In dry years, such as 2011, the remains of the old monastic quarters emerge from the water.
The dam at Mratinje created Lake Piva and changed the entire landscape. From the viewpoint next to the main road there is a view of the dam and the Piva Canyon; along the road there are rest areas and cold water springs.
Viewing the frescoes, iconostasis and ktetor composition next to the south doors.
Photographing the three-aisled basilica of grey and pink stone in the setting of the Piva plateau.
The Nikšić–Plužine–Šćepan Polje main road along Lake Piva and the Piva Canyon.
Try Piva skorup, prljo, sour milk and mead in village households.
Walk 400 m from the main road to the monastery and further to points with a view of the lake.
Hiking, walking and cycling routes that start here or pass nearby, with maps and GPX downloads.
81.6 km↑ 2,135 m8–11½ h
406 km↑ 10,191 m6–8 days
413 km↑ 8,566 m5–8 days
399 km↑ 9,352 m5–8 days
19.4 km↑ 332 m1½–2½ h
8.3 km↑ 1,364 m5–7 h
9.1 km↑ 1,558 m5½–8 h
The monastery is next to the Nikšić–Plužine–Šćepan Polje main road (E762/M-3). From the Nikšić direction, about 8 km before Plužine, turn right onto the access road of about 400 m. It is about 9 km from Plužine (15 min), about 50 km from Nikšić (about 1 h 5 min), about 100 km from Podgorica (about 2 h), and about 57 km from Žabljak.
There are no confirmed bus services to the monastery in the data provided; the most reliable access is by car or taxi from Plužine. Check the local timetable for services to Plužine.
The nearest airports are Podgorica (TGD) and Tivat (TIV). From Podgorica, the monastery is about 100 km by car, about 2 hours; from Tivat, the route goes via Nikšić and takes considerably longer.
Official information about an entrance fee has not been published, so it cannot be confirmed whether entry is charged. Leave a voluntary contribution for the upkeep of the monastery.
By car via Nikšić on the E762/M-3 main road to Plužine; the turn-off for the monastery is about 8 km before Plužine. The drive from Podgorica takes about 2 hours, about 100 km in total.
According to the available information, photography inside the church is not allowed; the exterior and courtyard can be photographed.
No official rule has been published, but when visiting an Orthodox monastery it is customary to have covered shoulders and knees, with modest clothing.
From May to October; September and October are more pleasant, and a lower water level of Lake Piva can reveal the remains of the old monastic quarters.
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