Encompassing the central and highest part of the Lovcen Massif, which rises pre cipitously from the coast, Lovcen National Park — proclaimed as such in 1952 is the third largest of Montenegro's four national parks. It's predominantly an area of rocky limestone slopes, distinguished by huge crevices, fissures and depressions. Dominating the heart of the park are the twin peaks of Stirovnik vrh (1748m), crowned by a telecommunications tower, and Jezerski vrh (Lake Crest; 1657m),
Around 8 km east of Cetinje, a road breaks off from the main highway towards RIJEKA CRNOJEVICA, some 10km distant. Flanked by precipitously slanting nills, this wonderfully picturesque fishing village is located at the source of the Crnojevica — the river, a glittering emerald-green colour, flows for about 5 km before dumping into Lake Skadar.
Nestled in a shallow bowl surrounded by clipped woods and frozen limestone peaks, CETINJE, 30km west of Podgorica, is the spiritual heart of the country. Once the royal capital of Montenegro, it also withstood repeated Turkish assaults over the centuries — thus the town exerts a peculiarly romantic hold over many Montenegrins.
Beyond Godinje, the road crawls higher and tighter, cutting inland so that the lake is out of sight. Several kilometres on, near Đuravci, the lake reveals itself once again, the shore below studded with innumerable picturesque islets and rocky coves. Just beyond the sign for Đuravci, a narrow road tapers down to MURICI, site of a lovely pebbly lakeside beach. Here, too is the lake's second visitor centre, which, in addition to tourist brochures, has displays on local folk art and the region's economic activities, the most important of which is olive growing.
Around 4km distant, and overlooking Lučice Bay, is the hillside village of GODINJE, distinguished by its unique chain system of conjoined houses, complete with passages and tunnels in between them - allegedly they were built this way so that the villagers could escape detection by the Ottomans. Just by the roadside house (which sells refreshments) in the centre of the village, the road rises steeply to the oldest part of the settlement - Stari Selo - where there are some fine examples of these cramped, and now mostly ramshackle, old dwellings with their stone-paved terraces.