Đurđevića Bridge

Concrete arched bridge Đurđevića is one of the main sightseeing of the National park Durmitor. It is located at the crossroads between Mojkovac, Žabljak and Pljevlja, over the biggest in Montenegro canyon of Tara River. Surprisingly, the bridge was not named after its architecture, but after the name of the farm's owner located nearby.

The bridge was built by an architect Mijat Trojanović during 1937-2940, when Montenegro was a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Technical Director of the project was Isaac Russo.

The 365 meters long bridge has five arches; the largest span is 116 meters. The roadway stands 172 meters above the Tara River. At the time of its completion, it was the biggest vehicular concrete arch bridge in Europe.

The history of the bridge is amazing. Much of Montenegro, including the Tara Canyon, came under Italian occupation following the German-led invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. As the mountainous terrain made it suitable for guerrilla warfare, a partisan uprising occurred in the area.

In 1942 Yugoslavian partisans together with one of the engineers, Lazar Jaukovićhave detonated the central arc the way that the rest of arch spans remained untouched.  The attack cut the only feasible crossing over the Tara Canyon halting the Italian advance. When Jauković was eventually captured, however, the Italians executed the engineer.

The bridge was rebuilt in 1946. It exists nowadays and attracts many tourists every year. You can go on a rafting by kayak or air boat over Tara. There is a wonderful view opening from the bridge to turquoise green waters of Tara rapid river.