Njegos's Mausoleum - the most important monument of Lovcen

The biggest and the most important monument of Lovcen national park is Petar II Petrovic Njegos's Mausoleum at the top of Jezerski peak. It is the location of his burial place, which was chosen by Njegos himself as his last wish.

Petar II Petrović-Njegoš was a Prince-Bishop of Montenegro, poet and philosopher whose works are widely considered as the most important in Montenegrin and Serbian literature. Njegos is well known for his epic poem Gorski vijenac (The Mountain Wreath), which is considered a masterpiece of Serb and South Slavic literature, and the national epic of Montenegro, Serbia, and Yugoslavia.

Originally, Njegos was buried in the small chapel that he had built in his life. After the chapel was destroyed by Austro-Hungarian army in the First World War, the new one was built in 1925.

At the centenary of Njegos's death in 1951, the Montenegrin Government decided to build the Mausoleum, in honor of the name and work of the great poet. The famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic was hired for the project.

When you enter Mausoleum, there are two sculptures of mother and daughter - both from Njegos's family - according to some historians. In the middle of the Mausoleum is figure of Njegos with an eagle with his wings spread. Below, in the crypt of the mausoleum is Njegos's grave.

461 stairs are leading to the Mausoleum and to the ''guvno'' - sightseeing point, from where one can enjoy in the view on the Adriatic sea as well as on many Montenegrin mountain peaks.