When is the Independence Day of Montenegro?

Montenegro’s Independence Day is celebrated on May 21 each year. This date marks Montenegro’s official declaration of independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. It is a significant day that honors the country’s sovereignty and national identity.

Is the Independence Day of Montenegro a public holiday?

Yes, the Independence Day of Montenegro, celebrated on May 21, is a public holiday. On this day, Montenegrins observe various festivities, official ceremonies, and events to honor their country’s independence and national pride.

History of Montenegro Independence Day

Montenegro emerged as a semi-autonomous region within the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. A series of rebellions against Turkish control led to Montenegro gaining its independence in 1878 under the Treaty of Berlin. The name Montenegro, referring to the black mountains covering about 60% of the region, was first used in the 15th century. In 1918, at the end of the First World War, Montenegro became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and later a republic within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after the Second World War. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1992, Montenegro and Serbia formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was renamed Serbia and Montenegro in 2003 under the Belgrade Agreement. The independence referendum was held on May 21st, 2006, with an 85% turnout. Votes in favor reached 55.5%, just over the 55% threshold. Subsequently, Montenegro’s Parliament declared independence on June 3rd, 2006. Montenegro became the 192nd member of the United Nations on June 24th, 2006. The national flag was adopted on July 13th, 2004, with a design based on the flag used during King Nicola I’s reign from 1910 to 1918.

Capital of Montenegro

Podgorica, known in Montenegrin Cyrillic as Подгорица, meaning “Under the Hill,” is the capital and largest city of Montenegro. Located north of Lake Skadar and near the Adriatic Sea’s coastal destinations, it sits at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers, in the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley surrounded by mountainous terrain. After World War II, Podgorica was designated as Montenegro’s capital in 1946 and renamed Titograd in honor of Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito. It remained the capital of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until Montenegro declared independence in 2006, after which the city’s original name was restored in 1992 following Yugoslavia’s dissolution. Podgorica’s economy includes manufacturing, trade, services, and a growing IT sector with startups and tech companies. It serves as a key transportation hub with extensive road and rail networks and the nearby Podgorica Airport. The city is also a tourism gateway to Montenegro’s natural and cultural attractions. Podgorica hosts the University of Montenegro, the Montenegrin National Theatre, the Natural History Museum, galleries, and libraries. Parks, gardens, and natural landscapes such as Gorica Hill cover about one-third of the city. Prominent landmarks include the Millennium Bridge, the Clock Tower, and the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, alongside historical sites like the ancient Roman settlement of Doclea and the Ottoman town of Stara Varoš.