THE
PETROVIĆ CASTLE

The current headquarters of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro is located within the Petrović palace complex in Kruševac, most of which dates back to the late 19th century and holds cultural heritage status. The residential complex, comprising the Petrović Castle and the House of the King’s Guard, represents some of the most attractive exhibition spaces in Podgorica. The complex also includes the Church of Saint Demetrius, built in 1894, which served as the family chapel for King Nikola I. Constructed from dressed stone with a dome and a quadrangular bell tower, the chapel was built by mason Miloš Lepetić. In 1997, an open-air structure for musical events—the Music Chapel—was built, functioning as part of the Museum. The chapel hosts promotions, concerts, theater performances, and other events.

The representative building of the Castle was erected by King Nikola I Petrović, intended for his son, Prince Mirko Petrović. The Castle has cultural heritage status. It was built in 1891/92, shortly after the liberation of Podgorica from Turkish rule. The cornerstone for the construction of the Castle at Kruševac was laid on April 20, 1891, near the right bank of the Morača River, on what was then a secluded elevation called Kruševac, which was the property of the Milonjić, Zlatičanin, and Harović families. The Castle was built according to the plans of an unknown designer, with the involvement of local craftsmen, and the construction was overseen by engineer Marko Đukanović. The construction of the palace complex, which included the castle, the Perjanički House, and the court chapel, was completed in 1894.

The palace complex also features a large park, the landscaping of which began in 1905 when the addition of an upper floor to the Castle and an auxiliary building (“the kitchen”) commenced. In 1906, work was carried out on the façades, construction of staircases, pillars, and a terrace on the western side of the castle, and in 1908, significant renovations were made to the auxiliary buildings, the stable, and electric lighting was installed. At the end of 1910, according to the plans of French architect André Saffrey and with the help of local craftsmen, the “Pavilion for Flower Cultivation” (Botanical Garden) was built.

During the Balkan Wars, the Castle and auxiliary buildings were repurposed into a hospital, which operated there until 1974. In 1919, the American Red Cross thoroughly renovated Prince Mirko’s palace at Kruševac and converted it into a hospital and its headquarters. In 1984, the entire complex was revitalized and transformed into exhibition spaces. In November of that year, the Gallery of Art of Non-Aligned Countries “Josip Broz Tito” was opened within the complex, operating until April 1995, when the Center for Contemporary Art of Montenegro was established. In January 2012, the first floor of the Petrović Castle was granted to the Petrović Njegoš Foundation, founded by Prince Nikola Petrović, a direct descendant of King Nikola’s family.

Address: Kruševac bb, Podgorica, Montenegro