Šavnik (

Cyrillic The Cyrillic script ( ) is a writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. It is the designated national script in various Slavic, Turkic, Mongolic, Uralic, Caucasian and Iranic-speaking countries in Southeastern Europe, Ea ...

: Шавник, ) is a town in

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

in the northern region and administrative center of the

Šavnik Municipality Šavnik Municipality is one of the municipalities of Montenegro. The municipality is located in Northern Montenegro. The administrative center is the small town of Šavnik. Geography and location Šavnik is located at the confluence of three river ...

. It is located at the confluence of three rivers - Bukovica, Bijela and

Šavnik Šavnik (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Шавник, ) is a town in Montenegro in the Northern Montenegro, northern region and administrative center of the Šavnik Municipality. It is located at the confluence of three rivers - Bukovica (Komarnica), ...

, at an altitude of 840 meters. It is the lowest lying settlement in the municipality.

History

Unlike most settlements in the area, which date back several centuries, Šavnik is relatively new, founded only in 1861. It was populated by migrants from other parts of

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

and

Herzegovina Herzegovina ( or ; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Hercegovina, separator=" / ", Херцеговина, ) is the southern and smaller of two main geographical Regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being Bosnia (reg ...

, mostly craftsmen, merchants, riflers and blacksmiths, which were needed by local farmers. The area was overgrown with

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, of the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 350 species (plus numerous hybrids) of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions. Most species are known ...

s, which the newly formed town was named after (šavice – willow branches or seams, which were used as a roof covering). Before the construction of first houses on the site of today's town, there were two mills on Šavnik River. The first three houses that were built in Šavnik were a tavern with a shop, rifle repair shop and a blacksmith shop. The town quickly became a center for the

Drobnjaci Drobnjaci ( sr-Cyrl, Дробњаци, ) was a tribe and historical region, Drobnjak, in Old Herzegovina in Montenegro (municipalities from Nikšić to Šavnik, Žabljak and Pljevlja). Its unofficial centre is in Šavnik. The Serb Orthodox ...

region, and incorporated a post office, school, primary court, and military post. Industrialization during the

SFR Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (commonly abbreviated as SFRY or SFR Yugoslavia), known from 1945 to 1963 as the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as Socialist Yugoslavia or simply Yugoslavia, was a country ...

era mostly bypassed Šavnik, so did all major transit road or rail links, and economy of town went into stagnation. Population of Šavnik and entire municipality is since in slow but steady decline. Most of the residents are migrating to

Nikšić Nikšić (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Никшић, ), is the second largest city in Montenegro, with a total population of 32,046 (2023 census) located in the west of the country, in the centre of the spacious Nikšić field at the foot of Trebjesa ...

and southern Montenegro, and Šavnik is often a synonym for a poor and deteriorating town. The new road Risan -

- Šavnik -

Žabljak Žabljak (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Жабљак, ) is a small town in Montenegro in the Northern Montenegro, northern region. It has a population of 1,723. Žabljak is the seat of Žabljak Municipality (2011 population: 3,569). The town is in ...

(P5), and proximity of Žabljak as a main mountain tourist resort in Montenegro may boost Šavnik's economic prospects.

Population

Šavnik is administrative centre of Šavnik municipality, which in 2023 had a population of 1,588. The town of Šavnik itself has 364 citizens. Population of Šavnik: *1981 - 633 *1991 - 821 *2003 - 571 *2011 - 472 *2023 - 364 Ethnic groups (2003 census): *

Montenegrins Montenegrins (, or ) are a South Slavic ethnic group that share a common ancestry, culture, history, and language, identified with the country of Montenegro. Montenegrins are mostly Orthodox Christians; however, the population also includes ...

– ~59% *

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...

– ~30% *Others – ~11%

Transport

Šavnik is situated on a regional road between

(45 km) and

(15 km), and it is its only link with the rest of Montenegro.

Gallery

File:Шавник2.jpg, File:Шавник.jpg, File:Свјетлопис Шавника.jpg, File:Свјетлопис Шавника2.jpg, File:Свјетлопис србске православне цркве Светог Ђорђа у Шавнику.jpg,

References

Populated places in Šavnik Municipality {{Montenegro-stub