Ethnological treasure
Within the National Park, numerous settlements are scattered: Dobrilovina, Budečevica, Đurđevića and Lever Tara, Tepca, Mala Crna Gora, Motički gaj, Razvršje, Pitomine, Bosača, Rasova, Pitomine, Bosača, Rasova, Virak and Nadgora. The traditional Durmitor house is a log cabin, where the space is divided into two parts, with a separate economic zone (pantry, warehouse, workshop), which is built of stone, and above is the residential part - a log cabin with a steep roof covered with shingles or clapboard.
Near the house there are commercial facilities: cattle sheds, dairies, huts. An integral part of the decor of the Durmitor region are the picturesque katuns with endless meadows where herders stay during the summer: Lokvice, Stari katun, Veliki do, Katun in lower Ališnica, Ograda, Poljica, Dobri do, Veliki štuoc... Their uniqueness and simplicity are reflected in their architecture.
Watermills and cloth rolling mills, built as log cabins, played an important role in the life of the settlement.
The beauty of the place is made up of the people and their mentality. They are recognized by their deep-rooted and strong family ties. Customs are nurtured in various forms of gatherings, in which various competitive games are organized, such as throwing stones from the shoulder, long jump, horse racing...
Spiritual creativity is preserved through epic folk songs, which are often performed with fiddles or duos.
Twins
Dvonice is the name for a rectangular double flute. It consists of two pipes made side by side from the same piece of wood. Each tube has a spout and holes. The right tube has a hole higher. The instrument produces two tones at the same time. Below the lip part is the body of the flute, richly decorated with carvings. This type of flute is widespread in the Balkans in different variants, and it also has different names. In Montenegro, it has the name dvojnica or dvojenica.
Fiddle
When first encountered by an unaccustomed ear, these tones may sound unfamiliar and strange. They are produced by playing the gusle. The gusle is a traditional string instrument in the Balkans. In Montenegro, however, it is more than that: a symbol of tradition and an important part of Montenegrin culture and identity.
The gusle is actually a type of lute. A single, thick string, made by tying together up to 30 horsehairs, is stretched across the body of the gusle. This is quite unusual, as horsehair breaks easily. Therefore, the instrument must be tuned and played with care.
Few instruments from the region are decorated like fiddles. The head of the gusal is most often decorated with animal motifs such as the head of a chamois or a horse, it can be a falcon or an eagle. The neck and sound body are decorated with various ornaments. There are different types of fiddles, but Montenegrin fiddles are the largest, and they are considered the best and most beautiful among fiddles. Fiddles are played by skilled and musical performers, because their sound is open and bright, and the skill is how to maintain the tone.
The fiddle is played by a musician called a guslar. He sings and accompanies himself on this instrument. He draws a large, wooden bow, also made of horsehair, over the strings on the body of the instrument, while pressing the strings on the neck with the fingers of his other hand. Therefore, playing the fiddle is a true art.
Heroic songs and epics, which tell different stories, are performed on the fiddle. And with those stories, they pass on the tradition and legacy of their ancestors.
Montenegrin writer and bishop, Petar Drugi Petrović Njegoš, wrote the epic poem "Gorski vijenac" (Mountain Wreath), which is considered the most important work of South Slavic poetry from the Romantic period. In this work, the role of the gusla in Montenegrin culture is highlighted, as Njegoš writes:
„"You can't hear the fiddle in the house, the house and the people are dead."“
