To better showcase the rich cultural and historical heritage of Pljevlja and the significant exhibits it holds, there is a pressing need to construct a new building for the Local History Museum.

This sentiment is echoed by the director of the Homeland Museum, Dejana Drobnjak.

For decades, this idea has lingered in Pljevlja, yet no local administration has acted on it. The museum, established in 1952, currently resides in what was initially deemed a temporary solution at the Cultural Center, where it remains today.

“As a cultural institution, the museum ought to serve as a center for both culture and tourism, especially with the growing appeal of cultural tourism and the fact that it houses a rare and priceless diatreta, one of the few surviving intact pieces globally,” stated Drobnjak in her annual report. Despite being one of Montenegro’s most valuable movable cultural artifacts, the diatreta (an extravagant piece of glassware crafted from relief-decorated colorless crystal, dating back to the fourth century) is not accessible to the general public, with only a select few having had the chance to view it.

The current facilities within the Cultural Center are insufficient for displaying this exquisite exhibit permanently. The establishment of a dedicated building for the Homeland Museum would enable better physical and technical protection for the collection.

Drobnjak advocates for a location easily accessible for public visits, suggesting the area in the park in front of the Post Office, which has long been considered an ideal site for a museum.

“Our alternative proposal, for practical reasons, suggests utilizing a municipal plot near the meteorological station in Stražica, which is already designated as a memorial park,” added Drobnjak.

The Detailed Urban Plan indicates that the museum is to be situated behind the Municipal Assembly building adjacent to the Husein Pasha Mosque. “This location is utterly inadequate for various reasons. It is not owned by the Municipality, thus requiring an expropriation process. The site’s accessibility for larger vehicles (such as vans and buses) anticipated during organized tours is poor. Additionally, the architectural style would clash with the surrounding area, which features a historically significant 16th-century religious building, while the museum is expected to conform to European standards through a more contemporary architectural approach,” emphasized Drobnjak.

News