Lovćen (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Ловћен, pronounced [lôːʋtɕen]) is a mountain and national park located in southwestern Montenegro. It is the reason for the names Montenegro and Crna Gora, both of which mean "Black Mountain" and describe the appearance of Mount Lovćen when covered with thick forests. The name Crna Gora first appeared in a document created by Stefan Milutin in 1276 and was used to describe several areas in medieval Serbian lands, including Skopska Crna Gora and Užička Crna Gora.
Mount Lovćen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin, helping form the long, winding bays of Boka Kotorska and separating the coastal town of Kotor from the inland area. The mountain has two large peaks: Štirovnik, which is 1,749 meters (5,738 feet) high, and Jezerski vrh, which is 1,657 meters (5,436 feet) high.
The mountain’s slopes are rocky, with many cracks, pits, and deep depressions that give the landscape a unique appearance. This is a karst landscape formed from limestone and dolomite. Lovćen lies at the boundary between the sea and the mainland, meaning it is influenced by both coastal and inland climates. These different environmental conditions have led to the development of diverse biological systems. There are 1,158 plant species found on Lovćen, two of which are found only in Montenegro: Taraxacum validum and Cardamine montenegrina (List of endemic species of Montenegro).
National park
The national park includes the central and highest parts of the mountain range and covers an area of 62.20 km (24.02 sq mi). It was established as a national park in 1952. The park protects both the natural features of Lovćen and important historical, cultural, and architectural sites in the area.
The region contains many examples of traditional buildings. Old homes and village structures called guvna are original, as are the small cottages in katuns, which are summer homes used by shepherds.
A notable historical building is the road that winds uphill from Kotor to the village of Njeguši, the birthplace of Montenegro's royal family, the House of Petrović.
History
When World War I began, Montenegro was the first country to support Serbia. On August 8, 1914, King Nicholas I of Montenegro ordered his army to attack the Austro-Hungarian naval base in the Bay of Kotor, which was the southernmost Austro-Hungarian naval base in the Adriatic Sea. This base was located near Mount Lovćen, where Montenegrin forces had placed several artillery batteries. On the same day, Montenegrin guns began firing at Austro-Hungarian fortifications. The Austro-Hungarian forts in Kotor and the armored cruiser SMS Kaiser Karl VI responded, using reconnaissance from navy seaplanes to guide their attacks. However, on September 13, Austro-Hungarian reinforcements arrived from Pola, including three older battleships: the SMS Monarch, SMS Wien, and SMS Budapest. These ships overwhelmed the Montenegrins, who continued to resist for several weeks with daily artillery duels.
When France entered the war, French leaders believed capturing Kotor could benefit their navy. On September 18–19, France sent an artillery unit with four 15 cm (5.9 in) and four 12 cm (4.7 in) naval guns, led by Capitaine de frégate Grellier, to Antivari. It took Grellier a month to move the guns inland, but eventually, his batteries were placed in fortifications on the south side of Mount Lovćen.
On October 19, the French guns began firing. The Austro-Hungarians requested more help, and on October 21, Admiral Anton Haus sent the modern battleship SMS Radetzky, which had four 30.5 cm (12.0 in) and four 24 cm (9.4 in) guns. Naval seaplanes had taken photographs and mapped positions, and at 16:27 on October 22, all the battleships opened fire. The Radetzky hit several Montenegrin and French positions on the mountain. On October 24, one of the French 12 cm (4.7 in) guns was destroyed.
On October 26, the Radetzky fired before sunrise, surprising the French and Montenegrins. Heavy bombardment destroyed several batteries and fortifications, including another French 12 cm (4.7 in) gun. By 10:00, Allied forces on Mount Lovćen stopped firing. The next day, the Radetzky moved closer to the shore and attacked Allied positions further inland. Grellier surrendered his remaining usable guns, and the Montenegrins abandoned their fortifications. By November, the French High Command decided to end its campaign to capture Cattaro, and the Radetzky returned to Pola on December 16.
In early January 1916, the Austro-Hungarian army attacked Montenegro again. The battleship Budapest helped troops fight against renewed defenses on Mount Lovćen. By January 10, Austro-Hungarian forces captured the Lovćen Pass and nearby areas where French guns had previously been stationed. The bombardment of Mount Lovćen weakened the defenders’ morale, and two days later, the Montenegrins requested an armistice.
Mausoleum
The most important and largest monument in Lovćen National Park is the Mausoleum of Petar Petrović Njegoš, which was built in 1971. Njegoš chose the location for his burial and the mausoleum at the top of Jezerski vrh as his final request.