Gradiste Monastery
Manastir Gradište
An 11th-century Orthodox monastery overlooking Buljarica Bay, one of the oldest on the Budva coast.
Gradiste Monastery stands on a hillside above the sea between Petrovac and Buljarica. It is an active Orthodox complex with three churches, preserving 17th-century frescoes and traces of its old defensive walls.
How to Get There
On foot from Petrovac center ~21-31 min.
From Sveti Stefan by taxi ~12 min.
From Rafailovici by taxi ~17 min.
From TIV airport (Tivat) by taxi/transfer ~45 min.
From TGD airport (Podgorica) by taxi/transfer ~44 min.
Description
What it is
Gradište Monastery is an Orthodox monastery in Montenegro, located in the village of Buljarica near Petrovac-na-Moru.
It is an active monastery and one of the important cultural and historical landmarks of the Adriatic coast.
Key features
- The monastery complex includes three churches – dedicated to St. Nicholas, St. Sava, and the Dormition of the Virgin – as well as monks’ quarters and a defensive wall.
- The Church of St. Nicholas preserves frescoes from the early 17th century covering its entire interior.
- The Church of St. Sava features an iconostasis carved by Greek artist Nikolaos Aspiotis in the 19th century.
- Defensive walls with arrow slits indicate the monastery’s need for protection during frequent attacks.
- Gradište has been repeatedly damaged (during Ottoman raids, wars, and the 1979 earthquake) and later restored.
What to see
- Church of St. Nicholas with 17th-century frescoes
- Church of St. Sava with a wooden iconostasis
- Church of the Dormition of the Virgin
- Remains of the defensive wall and monks’ quarters
- Panoramic views of the coast and surrounding hills
History
The monastery is believed to have been founded in 1116, though the first written records date to the 13th–14th centuries.
In the Middle Ages, Gradište was under the spiritual authority of Visoki Decani Monastery and served as a local religious and educational center.
In the 18th–20th centuries, it was destroyed several times – in 1785 during attacks, later in both World Wars, and again after the 1979 earthquake.
By 1993, the restoration was completed, and the monastery resumed its religious life.
Practical information
Location: Buljarica, Budva Municipality, Montenegro
Getting there: from Petrovac, follow the main road and turn uphill after the tunnel; the monastery stands on a hill above the coast
Access: open to visitors and pilgrims; grounds are well maintained
Visiting time: around 30–60 minutes for a full visit
Duration: 30–60 minutes
Best time: spring and summer months for pleasant weather and clear views
Special conditions: steep climb from the main road; during restoration, some areas may be closed
