Within the confines of this capital city full of utilitarian concrete buildings is a natural haven. In fact, it’s the city’s namesake. Podgorica means ‘under the hill’, that hill being Gorica Hill. This large green space calls to me and I visit it every other day. Gorica Hill Park an oasis found in Podgorica Montenegro and a sanctuary of peace.
Location
Gorica Hill is located in the centre of the city right beside the Podgorica City Stadium. The size is almost three-square kilometres and has an elevation of 130 metres. As you can imagine, views from the top are spectacular. The main entrance is right next to the old Church of St. George which is definitely worth a visit too.
Trails/Paths
When you enter the park at the foot of the hill, find yourself on the trail system that is considerable. Visitors are greeted with maps and boards loaded with information in both Montenegrin and English.
The paved paths are interlinked and in total provide a six-kilometre route for walking, running and cycling. These trails readily show up on my Google Maps, so I have never felt lost on Gorica Hill.
Adventure Park
Following the main path from the entrance gates, in short fashion, visitors will reach the Adventure Park. This is a space created for aerial exercise, and includes all sorts of obstacles and challenges on five different paths. Apparently appropriate for ages 4 to 70, I am always at the park before this opens, so haven’t actually seen it in use yet.
Here find a cute café tucked under the tall pines, a perfect spot to have a cool drink in the heat of summer. This is open early in the morning, I hear the music at 6:30 am and often see people enjoying a coffee after their stroll.
Partisan Mausoleum
Near the Adventure Park, in fact down the trail right across from it, is the Partisan Mausoleum. This massive stark white monument was created in 1957 and measures 10 metres tall. Inside the crypt are the remains of 68 revolutionary fighters.
Built to commemorate the 6,790 partisan fighters who perished in WWII, it also represents the 7,479 civilian victims. When it was first constructed, there were no trees on this part of the hill and it could be seen from miles and miles around.
Hiking
If you are feeling adventurous or want some added exercise, you can go off the paved paths and into the forest. Gorica Hill provides a place for people to hike all year round.
My first visit to the park I did just this, and learned the hard way to make sure one applies insect repellent before you go. The hiking trails are extensive and now that I have been in the park quite a few times, I know that it would be difficult to get lost. Traversing the hill both up and down, one comes across the paved paths often, a perfect way to orientate yourself.
Outdoor Gym/Sport
Once you make it to the top of the hill, find an outdoor gym space complete with a football field! Gym equipment is rustic; however, I do see people here every time I visit, working out and using the space as intended.
Views
The best part about reaching the top? The views of course. See the city from two sides, and the mountain ranges in the distance. It is clear that Podgorica sits in a large plain, surrounded on all sides by mountains.
There are multiple benches along the paths to sit and enjoy these views as well as large wooden loungers placed in the fields of tall grass.
Flora & Fauna
Its summer time here now, the heat is intense and the vegetation dry. There are some flowers, ones that are drought tolerant. Most of the green comes from the wild pomegranate trees of which there are hundreds.
The tall pines supply ample shade and have a natural ability to clean the air. Often times, Gorica Hill is referred to as the ‘lungs’ of Podgorica.
There are a lot of bugs! Especially flying ones. From lovely butterflies fluttering over the ground to the gnats that sit in the air, seemingly a face level. Walking through swarms of these is not pleasant.
The best wildlife to be found? Land tortoises! Called Hermann’s Tortoise they are a species native to southern Europe. Find them roaming around in the early morning hours. This is when they emerge from their dens in search of food, mostly low-lying wildflowers. By midday they have disappeared again, it becoming far too hot outside.
I have found a beautiful oasis in Gorica Hill park. It has become my favourite escape from the city. Fully immersed in nature, I often visit early in the morning when the heat of the day is not yet upon me. Locals are out having had the same idea, walking and running, or just coming here for a respite from streets and vehicles. For me, this is the best part of the city of Podgorica, I can’t imagine the city without this treasure.
