History
From the Crnojevićs and Obod to steamers, the cannery and today.
Fortified c. 1475
Rijeka Crnojevića
A river, a bridge and the first Cyrillic book of the South Slavs
A word to begin
A river slips out of a cave under a hill and, a few kilometres on, flows past a small stone village. About seven kilometres further downstream it meets Skadar Lake. The little village has a big story.
Here Ivan Crnojević fortified Obod around 1475. Here, by tradition, the first Cyrillic book of the South Slavs was printed in 1494. Prince Danilo built the stone bridge in 1853, and in the 19th century this was Montenegro’s main lake port, full of steamers, fish and traders.
At the last census, in 2023, 84 people lived here. The river is quiet, and the bridge is still standing. This guide tells their story, simply and with sources.
Where to begin
Sights
Danilo’s Bridge, Obod hill, Pavlova Strana and Ljeskovac palace.
Nature & activities
Water lilies, pelicans, boats, kayaks and the trail to Obod.
Plan your visit
Getting there, park fees, when to come and what to bring.
Five years that shaped Rijeka
- I
- II
- III
- IV
- V
The village and around
Events on the river
Montenegro · 1899
The river port
From the archive
The river port in 1899
Do you have an old postcard or photo of Rijeka? Send it to us.