Vrela

Vrela can be understood through two clearly distinct historical themes: the medieval caravan route and the former watermills along the stream. These are joined by a documentary mention dating from 1485 and road and bus connections to Cetinje. This information gives you specific points of reference if you are considering Vrela as a destination for a stay and planning your journey.

Medieval Route and First Mention

Vrela’s first documentary mention appears in a charter by Ivan Crnojević dating from 1485. The town is also connected to the medieval Kotor–Podgorica–Plav–Peć route. Along this route, Vrela served caravans as a place to get water and rest; an overnight stay was probably also possible. Water, rest and a possible overnight stop thus met different needs along the way: supplies, a break and, if necessary, a longer interruption to the journey.

Watermills Along the Stream

Four mills once operated along Vrela’s stream. Two were brotherhood mills donated by Bishop Petar I in 1786; before that, they had belonged to the Cetinje Monastery. The year dates the donation and makes the former ownership a specific part of the mills’ history. Alongside the caravan route, this offers a second historical perspective: the use of the stream and the history of the mills.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Vrela lies on the road from Cetinje toward Budva. A turnoff about 1.8 kilometres long connects the settlement to the main road; Cetinje is around nine kilometres away. Bus connections to Cetinje are also available. Check the current timetable before travelling.

The two distances refer to different routes: around nine kilometres is the distance from Cetinje, while 1.8 kilometres refers to the turnoff between the settlement and the main road. If you are planning a hotel stay, compare the location of the specific accommodation with your preferred route.

Cetinje as a Cultural Destination in Its Own Right

The historic centre of Cetinje is a cultural heritage ensemble of exceptional importance. It includes protected individual monuments and parks, and its regular urban layout is also a defining feature of the ensemble. Cetinje is known as the “City of Books”: for centuries, books were written, printed, read and preserved there. Oktoih, the first printed book of the South Slavs, was printed in Cetinje in 1494.

The Cetinje Monastery became a centre of Montenegro’s spiritual, cultural and political life. It also served as the mausoleum of the Petrović dynasty; Prince Danilo and his family were buried there. This history adds a religious and political landmark to the picture of Cetinje.

All the institutions of the National Museum of Montenegro are located in the historic centre, with the exception of Njegoš’s birth house and the mausoleum on Lovćen. The museums are about 500 metres, or a five-minute walk, from the bus station. The birth house is in the hamlet of Erakovići in Njeguši. Petar I Petrović, Njegoš’s uncle, had it built in 1779; in 1973, it was converted into a memorial museum dedicated to Njegoš. Ethnographic materials and small, finely crafted pieces of weaponry are displayed there.

Discover more destinations: Obzovica, Rijeka Crnojevića, Drušići, Šinđon, Cetinje, Njeguši, Rvaši

Return to the main travel overview: Cetinje.