Kolašin (

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 ...

: Колашин, ) is a town in northern

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 ...

. It has a population of 2,989 (2003 census). Kolašin is the centre of

Kolašin Municipality Kolašin Municipality is one of the municipalities of Montenegro. Located in Northern Montenegro, municipality is part and unofficial centre of Morača (tribe), Morača region, named after Morača river. The centre is the town of Kolašin. Locatio ...

(population 9,949) and an unofficial centre of Morača region, named after Morača River.

Etymology

Rebecca West Dame Cecily Isabel Fairfield (21 December 1892 – 15 March 1983), known as Rebecca West, or Dame Rebecca West, was a British author, journalist, literary critic and travel writer. An author who wrote in many genres, West reviewed books ...

wrote that the district was originally named ''Kol I Shen'', which is Albanian for 'St. Nicholas', which was inhabited by Catholic Albanians who converted to Islam and who were expelled in 1858 by local tribes.

History

Late modern

Rebecca Wests visited the town of Kolasin in the 1930s where she learned that in the 18th century, Catholic Albanians and Orthodox Montenegrins lived in peace. In 1858, however, several Montenegrin tribes attacked the town and destroyed all the inhabitants who had kept their Albanian identity or who were Muslim. During this period, Kolašin was home to a significant

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

community. They were largely expelled in different waves during the late 19th century expulsion of the Albanians fleeing to

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...

(

Pristina Pristina or Prishtina ( , ), . is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and District of Pristina, district. In antiquity, the area of Pristina was part of the Dardanian Kingdo ...

) and

Macedonia Macedonia (, , , ), most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a former administr ...

. The Montenegrin forces also robbed the Albanians before the expulsion.

Contemporary

The Bulgarian foreign ministry compiled a report about the five

kaza A kaza (, "judgment" or "jurisdiction") was an administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire, administrative division of the Ottoman Empire. It is also discussed in English under the names district, subdistrict, and juridical district. Kazas co ...

s (districts) of the sanjak of the Novi Pazar in 1901-02. According to the Bulgarian report, the kaza of Kolašin was almost entirely populated by

Albanians The Albanians are an ethnic group native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, Albanian culture, culture, Albanian history, history and Albanian language, language. They are the main ethnic group of Albania and Kosovo, ...

. According to it, the kaza of Kolašin had 27 Albanian villages with 732 households and 5 Serb villages with 75 households.

Climate

The

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

subtype for this climate is Dfb. (Warm Summer Continental Climate).Climate Summary for Kolašin
/ref>

Sports

The local football team is former third tier club FK Gorštak, who play their home games at the Stadion u Lugu. The town's basketball team is KK Gorštak.

Tourism

Kolašin is one of the centres of Montenegro's mountain tourism. Although

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 ...

is considered more attractive destination, Kolašin has the advantage of being easily accessible by road and rail. Kolašin is located on the foot of

Bjelasica Bjelasica (Montenegrin language, Montenegrin: Бјеласица, ) is a mountain range located in the Biogradska Gora national park near Kolašin, Montenegro. The highest point of Bjelasica is Crna Glava ("Black Head"), which is high. Feature ...

and Sinjajevina mountains, which offer great conditions for

skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International S ...

. Because of Kolašin's altitude (954 m), the town is considered an air spa. Biogradska Gora national park is in the town's vicinity, and is considered a premium tourist attraction. The development of Kolašin as a tourist destination is bolstered by opening o
Bianca Resort & Spa
a luxury resort in town's center.

Transport

Kolašin is connected with rest of Montenegro by two-laned motorways. It is situated on the main road connecting Montenegro's coast and

Podgorica Podgorica ( cnr-Cyrl, Подгорица; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Montenegro, largest city of Montenegro. The city is just north of Lake Skadar and close to coastal destinations on the Adriatic Sea. Histor ...

with northern Montenegro and

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

( E65, E80). Kolašin is also a station on

Belgrade–Bar railway The Belgrade–Bar railway ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Пруга Београд–Бар, Pruga Beograd–Bar) is a long electrified main line connecting the Serbian capital of Belgrade with the town of Bar, Montenegro, Bar, a Port of Bar, major seaport ...

. Podgorica Airport is away, and has regular flights to major

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

an destinations.

Media

* Ozon Radio

People

* Slavko Labović, a Danish Serbian actor *

Veljko Vlahović Veljko Vlahović ( Cyrillic: Вељко Влаховић; 2 September 1914 – 7 March 1975) was a Montenegrin politician and career army officer. He was one of the prominent members of the Montenegrin branch of the Yugoslav Communist Party from ...

, Montenegrin communist politician * Vlado Šćepanović, a Montenegrin professional basketball coach and former player * Gavrilo V, Serbian Patriarch, 41st Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church * Milovan Jakšić, a former football goalkeeper * Amfilohije Radović, Serbian Orthodox metropolitan bishop

References

Works cited

External links

The official website for Kolašin tourism

Kolašin municipality official website

Kolašin info (English)

Ski centre Kolašin1450
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kolasin Populated places in Kolašin Municipality Ski areas and resorts in Montenegro