Lake Skadar National Park

Lake Skadar National Park essentials

Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans, is a significant wetland habitat and historical hub. This selection highlights the 15th-century Besac and Lesendro fortresses, the island prison of Grmožur, and medieval Orthodox monasteries like Kom and Starčevo. Natural landmarks include the Pavlova Strana viewpoint, which overlooks the Rijeka Crnojevića horseshoe bend, and the freshwater beach at Murići. The National Park Information Centre in Vranjina provides context for the park’s diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage.

Lake Skadar National Park Essentials — Map

Katalin Behina / CC-BY-SA

A

Pavlova strana

Panoramic viewpoint overlooking the dramatic horseshoe bend of the Rijeka Crnojevića river as it enters Lake Skadar.

B

Lesendro

Lesendro is an island and a fortress in Skadar Lake in Montenegro. It is located near the small town of Vranjina.

C

Stari Most

Double-arched stone bridge built in 1853 by Prince Danilo, serving as a central landmark in the historic village of Rijeka Crnojevića.

Römert / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Plaža Murići

The largest freshwater beach on the lake's southern shore, featuring a stretch of sand and pebbles near the village of Murići.

Vitalii Lytvynov / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Starčevo

Orthodox monastery on Starčeva Gorica island, founded between 1376 and 1378. It was a known center for manuscript transcription.

F

Grmožur

Grmožur is a fortified islet in Lake Skadar, located near the village of Godinje, in the Montenegrin municipality of Bar.

G

Besac

Restored 15th-century Ottoman fortress situated on a hill above Virpazar, featuring a rampart, barracks, and views of the surrounding marshlands.

H

Kom Monastry

15th-century monastery on Odrin hill, containing original frescoes and the tomb of Stefan Crnojević. It is often accessible only by boat during high water.

I

Livari

Elevated roadside viewpoint offering vistas of the lake’s southern archipelago and the distant Albanian mountain ranges.

J

National Park Information Centre

Visitor center in Vranjina featuring natural history exhibits, relief models of the national park, and information on local bird species and boat routes.