Court Church at Cipur
Crkva na Ćipuru
Church on the site of an old monastery, built by Prince Danilo.
Built in the 1890s on the site of a destroyed 14th-century monastery, the church houses the tombs of Prince Danilo and King Nikola with his wife.
How to Get There
On foot from Cetinje center ~11-17 min.
From Becici by taxi ~19 min.
From Rafailovici by taxi ~19 min.
From TIV airport (Tivat) by taxi/transfer ~25 min.
From TGD airport (Podgorica) by taxi/transfer ~41 min.
Description
What this place is
The Court Church at Ćipur is an Orthodox church of the Nativity of the Virgin, located in the historic center of Cetinje. It was built in 1890 by King Nicholas I on the site of the former monastery founded in the 15th century by Ivan Crnojević. The church is an important memorial site of the Petrović dynasty and part of Montenegro’s museum complex.
Key features
- Built of white stone and consecrated in 1890.
- Houses a valuable iconostasis made by Russian iconographers of the 19th century.
- Contains tombs of Ivan Crnojević and members of the royal family.
- Declared a cultural monument of Montenegro in 1961.
- Included in the Historical Museum of Montenegro in 2012.
What to see
- White-stone church with King Nicholas’s dedicatory inscription above the entrance.
- Tombs of King Nicholas, Queen Milena, and princesses.
- Preserved foundations of the old monastery of Ivan Crnojević.
History
In the 15th century, Ivan Crnojević founded the Monastery of the Holy Virgin at this site, making it the first center of Cetinje and the place of the first Cyrillic printing press in the Balkans. The monastery was destroyed and rebuilt several times before falling into ruin.
King Nicholas I began construction of a new church in 1886, but poor workmanship led to its demolition. In 1890, the current church was rebuilt by architect Miloš Lepotić, almost exactly on the old foundations. A dedicatory inscription was placed above the western entrance.
In 1989, the remains of King Nicholas, Queen Milena, and their daughters were reburied here. In 2010, the remains of Ivan Crnojević were returned to the crypt. Today, the church and monastery excavations form a single heritage site.
Practical information
Location: historic core of Cetinje, Ćipur complex.
How to get there: walking distance from the city center, nearest bus stop – Cetinje.
Access: open to visitors as part of the Historical Museum of Montenegro.
Visiting hours: usually daytime, aligned with museum schedule.
Duration of visit: 30–60 minutes.
Best time: spring and autumn, best for exploring the outdoor complex.
Special conditions: access may be limited during religious ceremonies and state events.
