Lake Piva Monastery

Lake Piva is an artificial reservoir in northwest Montenegro formed by damming the Piva River. The reservoir occupies a steep, canyon-like valley and is notable for its narrow, elongated shape and clear mountain water.

The lake is used for hydroelectric power generation and for recreation including boating and shoreline viewpoints; roads and viewpoints around the reservoir provide views down the steep canyon. The nearby Piva Monastery was moved to higher ground before the valley was flooded and remains a cultural landmark for visitors.

The reservoir was created in the 1970s with construction of the Mratinje Dam, which submerged lower valley sections and changed the local landscape and river flow regime. The dam and lake are key infrastructure in Montenegro’s hydroelectric system.

Lake Piva lies in Plužine Municipality in northwestern Montenegro, in a mountainous region where the Piva River cuts a deep canyon; the nearest town is Plužine.

• Artificial reservoir: Formed by the construction of Mratinje Dam in the 1970s, which created a narrow, long reservoir tucked into the Piva canyon.
• Monastery relocation: Piva Monastery was relocated out of the valley prior to flooding and is now an accessible cultural site near the reservoir.

Lake Piva sits near the town of Plužine in northwestern Montenegro. From Plužine, follow local R-5 roads along the reservoir’s edge; the drive from Nikšić takes roughly 1-1.5 hours. The nearest major airport is Podgorica (about 2-3 hours by car). Road conditions are generally good but narrow in places; allow extra time for photo stops.

• If visiting the Piva Monastery site, check local tourist information in Plužine for guided visits; the monastery was painstakingly relocated stone-by-stone in the 1960s.
• Drive the road along the lake's shore slowly-numerous viewpoints and small pullouts offer dramatic perspectives of the reservoir carved into karst cliffs.
• Avoid the busiest summer weekends if preferring solitude-small campgrounds fill quickly.