Piva Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Pluzine, Montenegro
Piva Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery in Montenegro, set in a steep mountain valley on the shore of Piva Lake. Its stone church has three naves and walls covered from floor to ceiling with religious frescoes painted by local monks.
The monastery was built in the second half of the 16th century under Ottoman rule, with permission granted by Sultan Selim II. In the 1970s, it was moved stone by stone to its current location to make way for a hydroelectric dam.
The monastery follows the Serbian Orthodox tradition and draws pilgrims as well as curious visitors today. Inside, you can see frescoes painted by monks in the 16th century depicting saints and biblical scenes that remain vivid on the walls.
The monastery is easiest to reach by car, as it sits in a remote mountain valley with limited public transport. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the ground around the site can be uneven, and should expect weather to change quickly at this altitude.
Before the monastery was moved, divers had already explored the riverbed and confirmed that rising water would have submerged it completely within a few years. Every stone and every section of painted wall was numbered before being taken apart, allowing the building to be reassembled with great accuracy at the new site.
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