Pljevlja
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Pljevlja (Cyrillic: Пљевља IPA [pʎɛvʎə]) is a city and municipality located in the northern part of Montenegro, in the geografical area(43.36° North, 19.36° East). The municipality borders the Žabljak, Bijelo Polje and Mojkovac in Montenegro, as well as Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. With total area of 1346 km², it is third largest municipality in Montenegro. The city lies on altitude of 770m. Highest point of municipality is on the mountain Ljubišnja with altitude of 2238 m and lowest point is in the canyon of Tara river with altitude of 520 m above sea level. In 2003, the municipality of Pljevlja had a population of 36,918, while the city of Pljevlja itself had a population of about 27,000.
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[edit] History
First human settlements in Pljevlja’s region were in the last ice age. The evidence, which are considered to be the earliest in this part of Europe, can be found in Mališina cave near modern city of Pljevlja. But far more richer are the settlements from stone age found in Medena Stijena.
For the first cultural people in this rigion are considered the Illyric tribes Pirust which have lived there till the Roman invasion in first century AD. Romans built their own city on the ruins of Illyrian city and named it Municipium S (S is the first letter of the name of the city that was founded on the ruins near Pljevlja's Komini suburb). The city was the second largest Roman city in modern Montenegro after Doclea. Municipium S was the large trade and religious center of uper Roman province of Dalmatia. In the ruins of the city has been found the large number of valuable objects like jewelry, glass vases and pottery. The most valuable object is Diatreta, glass vase trimmed with blue glass threads which is considered to be priceless and unique in the world.
Slavs eventually entered this region in the 6th century and built a city called Breznik (Breznica), first mentioned in 822, named after the river which runs through the city. City blossomed over the centuries and became one of the main cities in early Serbian state of Raška. Breznik was on the main routes from Dubrovnik, Trieste and Kotor to Constantinople, Sarajevo and Belgrade and because of that, the first custom was opened in 1338. From 14th century city was double named as Breznik and Pljevlja. After brake down of Dušan’s empire, Breznik (Pljevlja) was ruled by many rulers : from 1368 to 1373 was ruled by Nikola Altomanović, 1373-1435 by Bosnian king Tvrtko and from 1435 by Herceg-Stjepan till 1st September of 1462 when he lost the city by Ottoman Empire.
The new name, Pljevlja, was not in use for a long time because after the Ottoman invasion the city was renamed to Taslidža (rocky terms). Turks upgraded the city into kasaba, larger Ottoman city without fortress. 15th and 16th century was a period of large number of constructions in the city: in 1465 was founded monastery of holy Trinity, in 1569 Husein-paša’s mosque and over the 16th century city got sewage system. When the center of Hercegovački Sandžak was moved to Pljevlja from Foča in 1572, city started to change rapidly: number of urban people increased from 72 houses in 1468, 150 in 1516, 300 in 1570; in 17th century Pljevlja had around 650 houses in the city center and over 400 in surrounding area; first muslem religious school, Medresa, was build in 17th century; water-works were constructed in 18th century. Russian consul visited Pljevlja in 19th century and wrote that Pljevlja was a very beautiful oriental city with gardens and fountains, mosques and churches and over 800 houses in city center ( 7 000 citizens) which made Pljevlja second largest city in Hercegovački Sandžak becide Mostar. After two big fires that burned city center to the ground, economy of the city was ruined. That was the reason of displacing the center of Hercegovački Sandžak to Mostar in 1833. After 1833 city stagnated in economical and cultural sense.
In 1878 , Pljevlja was annexed by Austria. 5 000 army men with their wifes and children came to Pljevlja. That was a beging of a new era for the city because Austrians transformed Pljevlja into modern western city with hotels, bookstores, theatre and cultural events. First modern drug store was oppened in 1879, photo store in 1892, hospital in 1880 and beer factory in 1889 (Šećerović beer factory). In 1880 Pljevlja became the center of Pljevaljski Sandžak which existed till 1912 when Pljevlja was finally liberated of Austrian and Ottoman.Serbian and Montenegrian army liberated Pljevlja at the same day. In 1913 Pljevlja became a part of Kingdom of Montenegro, and after World War I a part of Zetska Banovina in Kingdome of Yugoslavia. Finally, in 1945, after World War II , Pljevlja become a part of Montenegro.
[edit] Demographics
Pljevlja is the administrative centre of Pljevlja municipality, which has a population of 35,806. The town of Pljevlja itself has 21,337 citizens, and is the only town in the municipality with a population of over 1,000.
Population of Pljevlja:
[edit] Sights
The main features are :
- the Roman city Municipium,
- stećci (monoliths),
- Husein Pasha's mosque,
- the Monastery of the Holy Trinity ,
- saint Petka’s church,
- the oldest high school in Montenegro (Tanasije Pejatović High School),
- Šećerović house.
[edit] Economy
Pljevlja is also one of main economic engines of Montenegro. The only thermal power plant in Montenegro, which provides 45% of the electric power supply for Montenegro, is situated in Pljevlja's suburbia as well as the biggest coal mine with 100% of coal production in Montenegro. Zinc and lead can be found in Šuplja stijena mine. Richest municipality with forest in Montenegro is Pljevlja followed with lumber industry. Agriculture is widely spread in whole municipality. Pljevaljski sir ( Pljevlja's cheese ) is considered as a delicatesse. There is a big potential for ecological and winter tourism.
[edit] Transport
The main transit road connections are:
- to Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- to Belgrade in Serbia
- to Podgorica and the rest of Montenegro across bridge over Tara river
[edit] Architecture
[edit] External links
| Municipalities of Montenegro |  |
|---|---|
| Andrijevica | Bar | Berane | Bijelo Polje | Budva | Cetinje | Danilovgrad | Herceg-Novi | Kolašin | Kotor | Mojkovac | Nikšić | Plav | Pljevlja | Plužine | Podgorica | Rožaje | Šavnik | Tivat | Ulcinj | Žabljak | |
