Danilovgrad

Danilovgrad Даниловград
Coat of arms
Danilovgrad Location of Danilovgrad in Montenegro
Coordinates: 42°37′N 19°03′E / 42.61°N 19.05°E / 42.61; 19.05Coordinates: 42°37′N 19°03′E / 42.61°N 19.05°E / 42.61; 19.05
Country	Montenegro
Settlements	80
Government
- Mayor	Branislav Đuranović (DPS)
- Ruling party	DPS - SDP
Area
- Total	501 km2 (193.4 sq mi)
Population (2003 census)
- Total	5,208
- Density	33/km2 (85.5/sq mi)
- Municipality	16,523
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	81410
Area code	+382 20
ISO 3166-2 code	ME-07
Car plates	DG
Website	http://danilovgrad.me/

Danilovgrad (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Даниловград, Danilovgrad, pronounced [dǎnilɔv̞graːd]) is a town in central Montenegro. It has a population of 5,208 (2003 census). It is situated in the Danilovgrad Municipality which lies along the main route between Montenegro's two largest cities, Podgorica and Nikšić.

The town of Danilovgrad is located in the fertile valley of the Zeta River, sometimes called also the Bjelopavlići plain, after the name of the local clan. It is the centre of the municipality, which has a population of 16,523.

History

In the place of Danilovgrad, there are remains of Gradina (Martinići), remains can be found of the ruler Petar Gojniković. The court was built by prince Mutimir, who was also once buried in there, also from the dynasty of Vlastimirović (Višeslavić). Gradina is also a prominent seat from the Nemanjić period, believed to be the birthplace of Prince Rastko, also known as Saint Sava, the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Danilovgrad was founded with the purpose of being the capital of Montenegro. Foundations for this planned city were first laid by King Nikola I in 1870. However, after the liberation of Nikšić and Podgorica its significance diminished. It got its name after Nicholas' predecessor Prince Danilo.

Population

Danilovgrad is the center of the Danilovgrad municipality, which in 2003 had a population of 16,523. The town itself has 5,208 citizens.

Population of Danilovgrad:

• March 3, 1981 - 3,664
• March 3, 1991 - 4,409
• November 1, 2003 - 5,208

Ethnic groups (1991 census):

• Montenegrins (89.88%)
• Serbs (5.90%)

Ethnic groups (2003 census):

• Montenegrins (67.84%)
• Serbs (25.51%)

Tourism

Main tourist attraction within Danilovgrad municipality is Ostrog Monastery, famous orthodox pilgrimage site visited by believers from afar. It is located on an almost vertical cliff overseeing Bjelopavlići plain, approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) from Danilovgrad in the direction of Nikšić.

Other notable points of interest are Ždrebaonik Monastery and well of Glava Zete.

Transport

Danilovgrad is situated approximately halfway between two largest Montenegrin cities, Podgorica and Nikšić, on the main road that connects these two.

Podgorica Airport is 30 km (19 mi) away, and has regular flights to Belgrade, Budapest, Bari, Zagreb, Skopje, Zurich, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome and Vienna.

References

External links

• Official site
• Visit-Montenegro.com