Nikšić

What to see and do

• Bedem, the fortress of Onogošt. The name is first recorded in the Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja in the second half of the 12th century; the Ottomans took the town in 1465 and built the present fortress from the end of the 17th century as their main stronghold in Herzegovina, and the Montenegrin army took it in 1877. It is an open site with no gate and no ticket, partly reconstructed, used for concerts, plays and exhibitions, among them Bedem Fest in late August.
• Carev most (Tsar's Bridge) at Kličevo, built in 1894 over the Slivlje on the old Podgorica-Nikšić road: a main bridge of 18 arches of 13.20 m, 275 m long, and a small bridge of two arches, 21 m long. It is a protected cultural property and is named after Tsar Alexander III of Russia, whose help paid for it.
• Moštanica bridge, the oldest bridge in Montenegro.
• King Nikola's palace of 1890, now the town's local museum (Zavičajni muzej).
• Trebjesa, the park forest above the town, with the memorial complex to the fallen patriots.
• Crvena stijena at Petrovići, one of the oldest archaeological sites in Europe.
• Memorial Park Grahovo in the west of the municipality.
• The Trebjesa brewery, home of Nikšićko pivo, the country's best-known beer.

Lakes, rivers and mountains

The upper Zeta forms in the north of the Nikšić field and sinks at its southern edge in the Slivlje sinkholes; after about 3 km underground it re-emerges at Glava Zete (Perućica) at 74 m and winds 42 km to the Morača. The reservoirs on the field belong to the Perućica hydro scheme of 1960: Krupac (5.2 km²), Slano (8.9 km²) and Liverovići (0.9 km²). Krupac is the local bathing spot and the venue of Lake Fest, a three-day pop-rock festival. Kapetanovo lake lies higher up on Lukavica, on the boundary with Kolašin municipality, at 1,678 m. Vojnik (1,998 m) rises about 20 km to the north between Nikšić, Šavnik and Plužine and drops into the canyons of the Komarnica and the Bukovica; Prekornica (Kula, 1,926 m) is the other high ground nearby. The Nevidio canyon on the Komarnica, in Šavnik municipality, is about 2 km long and under 1 m wide in places; the passage takes 3-4 hours with a guide.

Skiing at Vučje

The Vučje ski and tourist centre is about 20 km from Nikšić on the road to Žabljak, on the slopes of the Krnovo plateau: a 1,200 m recreational run, two 120 m runs and Montenegro's only snow park, run by Turistički centar Vučje. A day pass costs €12 for adults and €6 for children, and equipment rental €10. It opens in winter when there is snow; the larger resorts are on the skiing page.

History in brief

A Roman camp called Anderba stood here in the 4th century; the Ostrogoths knew the place as Anagastum, and the name Onogošt is linked to the Gothic commander Anagastos. The Ottomans took it in 1465. The Montenegrin army captured it in 1877 after a siege, and the Congress of Berlin confirmed it as Montenegrin in 1878. The grid plan of the modern town was drawn in 1883 by the architect Josip Slade for Prince Nikola, who became king in 1910. The steelworks, bauxite mining and the brewery are the traditional industries, and the town has a university.

Getting there and around

• By air: Podgorica Airport is 60.6 km away, about 1 h 16 min by road; Tivat Airport 86.6 km, about 1 h 51 min.
• By train: Nikšić station is the end of the branch from Podgorica, opened as narrow gauge in 1948 and rebuilt to standard gauge in 1965. The Bar-Belgrade line does not pass through; the connection is at Podgorica.
• By road: the main road from Podgorica through Danilovgrad, and the road north over Krnovo towards Šavnik and Žabljak.
• Parking: Parking servis Nikšić runs about 900 spaces in three zones, paid by SMS to 14661 (zone I, red), 14662 (zone II, yellow) and 14663 (zone III, green).
• Tourist office: Turistička organizacija opštine Nikšić, Ivana Milutinovića 10, telephone +382 40 213 262. Postcode 81400.

Road distances below are free-flow routing on OpenStreetMap data, without traffic or snow.

Ostrog Monastery, often listed under Nikšić, is in Danilovgrad municipality; the access road leaves the Podgorica-Nikšić road at Bogetići.

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When to visit

Summer is the season for the lakes, Nevidio and Bedem Fest in late August; Lake Fest at Krupac runs for three days. Vučje works in winter when there is snow. The town itself, the fortress and the bridges can be seen in any season.

Nearby

• Danilovgrad, down the Zeta valley, with Ostrog Monastery at about 900 m above the valley.
• Podgorica, the capital, by road or by the railway branch.
• Žabljak and Durmitor National Park, up the road past Vučje and Šavnik.
• The Komarnica and the Piva to the north, with the Piva canyon viewpoint at Babići.
• Other fortresses in Montenegro.

Questions

Is Ostrog in Nikšić?

No. The monastery is in Danilovgrad municipality, 18.5 km from Nikšić by road; Nikšić is the nearest large town.

Where can you swim?

Krupac lake is the local bathing spot and festival venue; Slano is the larger reservoir next to it. Both are artificial lakes of the 1960 hydro scheme.

Is Nikšić on the railway?

Yes, at the end of the branch from Podgorica; the Bar-Belgrade railway does not pass through the town.