Motički Gaj: Name, Slope and Spring

Local names in Motički Gaj

A local tradition links the name Motički Gaj to a story about Toma Vuković. Priporac is considered a steep slope within Motički Gaj. Smrdan is a spring in Motički Gaj; its name refers to a plant with sword-shaped leaves. A storytelling tradition, a landform and a spring thus stand alongside one another as distinct local points of reference.

In the wider destination of Žabljak

Winter sports and lakes

In the wider destination of Žabljak, the Savin Kuk ski centre offers a total of 4.6 km of ski runs. These include blue, red and black runs, as well as terrain for beginners. Winter sports in the wider Žabljak area also include cross-country skiing, ski touring and snowshoeing in Durmitor National Park. Ski infrastructure and operating conditions are seasonal and may change, so check current operating information before making specific plans.

Vražje Lake lies within the municipality of Žabljak, is part of Durmitor National Park and is a glacial lake with crystal-clear water. Zminje Lake is in the village of Pitomine, also within the municipality of Žabljak. It is connected by the 2.6 km-long Mlinsko Stream to Veliko Crno jezero, which lies 100 m lower. For Vražje Lake, the focus is on its national park status and glacial-lake character; for Zminje Lake, it is on its location in Pitomine and its connection via the stream.

Durmitor National Park contains 18 glacial lakes; Black Lake is the largest and best known. It lies 3 km southwest of Žabljak at an elevation of 1,418 m, is Montenegro’s second-largest mountain lake and is protected by UNESCO. Black Lake is notable for a rare bifurcation: its waters flow underground into the Tara and Piva rivers.

Trails in the wider destination

Several marked hiking and walking trails start at Black Lake; a built footpath leads from there to Zminje Lake. Access to Jablan Lake follows a different route: a road goes as far as the Momčilov grad restaurant, after which a gently uphill footpath leads through a pine forest. This trail is suitable for people seeking relaxation and for families with children. The destinations differ in the sequence of access: a footpath from Black Lake to Zminje Lake, compared with a drive followed by a footpath to Jablan Lake.

Culture and orientation in Žabljak

Žabljak’s registered religious heritage includes single-nave stone churches with bell towers on their façades. They date from the first half or the end of the 19th century. Near Riblje Lake, in the village of Novakovići, are medieval tombstones known as stećci, which are protected by UNESCO. Žabljak’s cultural life also includes the Wild Beauty Art Festival, a multidisciplinary arts event held every summer.

The Durmitor Ring is also part of the regional context of Žabljak: signs mark the panoramic road in both directions.

Discover more destinations: Njegovuđa, Žabljak, Polje, Zminica, Uskoci

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