Ostrog Monastery q
Manastir Ostrog
Founded by St Basil in the 17th century, Ostrog
Monastery was built into a sheer cliff face high above
the Zeta river to guard it from the Ottomans. It com-
prises two com plexes: Lower Monastery, which houses
the administra tive buildings, including the abbot’s resi-
dence, and the Upper Monastery, which contains two
cave-churches – the Chapel of the Honourable Cross
and the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary.
Montenegro’s most important place of pilgrim age,
Ostrog has been asso ciated with many healing mira-
cles, attracting Catholic, Christian and Muslim pilgrims.
536 SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp541–2 and p543
STAR SIGHTS. Upper Monastery
. St Basil’s Relics
. Chapel of the
Honourable Cross
Lower Monastery
The 18th-century Lower Monastery stands
beside St Trinity Church in the valley below
the Upper Monastery.Lower
Monastery. Upper Monastery
Completely rebuilt in the 1920s following a devastating
fire, the Upper Monastery provides accommodation for
Ostrog’s 15 monks. The narrow corridors are decorated
with lovely, colourful icons and mosaics.
St Trinity Church
Part of the Lower Monastery
complex, St Trinity Church is
over 200 years old. Its barrel-
vaulted interior is covered with
intricate frescoes in gold and
turquoise, which have been
restored over time.