I am sure that almost all tourists traveling around the Bay of Kotor have seen the tourist signpost for “Lipci” on the round-about, where the new road from Žabljak/Nikšić joins the coastal road (south of Risan). And I am also sure that hardly anybody has made efforts to find this archeological treasure, as there are no other signposts or markings at all.
What is it all about? Well, Lipci Rock contains prehistoric drawings showing deer hunting scenes, a symbolic sign of the rising Sun and some other symbols. These drawings represent the most complete ensemble of prehistoric Balkan art. They were created in the 8th century BC, being the second oldest on the Adriatic coast.
The paintings show two hunters on horses in movement, throwing a spear on five stags and one doe (photo 1). There are also geometric patterns. The pictures were engraved with flintstone into the limestone rock.
How can you get there? Park your car along the main road. Take the narrow single-lane road uphill. It looks like a private parking drive, but you can follow it until the end of the asphalt. There you will see an old reddish signpost with an arrow (photo 2).
Now walk along the narrow, overgrown (!) and rocky path that leads further towards the rock face.
After 10 minutes, you will see a kind of cave on the right side with a protective stone wall (someone has obviously been barbecuing in there…). Continue a bit further and you will find yourself on a wider patch of stones.
Look up the cliff face (photo 3) and you will be able to see the hunting scene and some other geometric designs.
Trip Advisor reviews show the disappointment of foreign tourists, who were unable to discover the paintings, through their low ratings (“poor”) of this tourist attraction. What a pity that the Municipality and/or Tourism Organization of Kotor do not pay more attention to the importance of these archeological findings! Putting some good signposts and clearing the path would not be too expensive. And maybe it would also be possible to place an information board at the entrance…
I can assure you, a visit of Lipci is worth the effort. It is just a small detour when you are traveling around Boka Kotorska. And it is really incredible to find yourself looking at pictures that were created almost 3,000 years ago (photo 4)!
10,000 years ago
We went there last month, thanks to your website no trouble finding it. Really worth a detour! Since the time you published this site (2 years ago) some authority has thankfully made an effort with this art. The rock with the artwork is now fenced off, and there is an information board in Montenegrin and English telling you about it.
Thank you for the information, I will update my post!
We were there today (July 2019). The information board has – unfortunately – practically disappeared but the fence is still there. Definitely worth visiting. The signposting coming from Melinj isn’t really there but coming the other way the turn-off is clearly marked.
This topic is kind of double edged sword: leaving the site as it is now, will give it some protection: less people knows its location means less opportunity to be vandalized, destroyed. But without proper government protection the forces of nature will do it…
Hello, visited today 14. June 2019. The maps.me maps show a path to the cave paintings that end at the first small cave with two crosses scratched on the wall inside. Continuing just a few meters up to the left of the first cave you can find the face of the rock with a home made low fence. There is a map with the drawing added but because it is not protected it has largely disintegrated. We had a hard time locating the hunters.
Thank you for your wonderful post about Montenegro.
Best
Ksenija Olmer
http://Www.crazyparentstravel.com
I just surrounded the Bay by bike and checked out the paintings. I was there all alone. Nobody seems to be interested in this terrific site!
Thanks to your article I now know a bit more about the site.
Dominic
July 2019
I visited Jan 2020. | could only make out the geometric shapes, no hunters. But worth it.
[…] The most famous of the Lipci primitive rock paintings is this one showing male stag deer (and one doe) and men on horseback. ( Montenegro For Me ) […]
Update from 08/2022
Path to the rock us cleared, is ok also for trail running. Signposts are placed and clearly showing the way, so was no problem to find it. The wooden fence around the rock is destroyed and smashed on the ground.
Geometric shapes are visible right away, you can also walk to them and touch them. For the hunting scene you have to look around 2-3 meters up and little bit to right. It was really nice and worth to see it 🙂
The Blue Line buses from Kotor (or most coaches) will drop you off at Lipci (just before the roundabout), or you could drop off at Morinj, which is just past Lipci (if you are coming from Kotor), and walk back 10 minutes to Lipci. Morinj has a couple of cafes/restaurants and a bakery so it is quite nice to walk up there after seeing the rock paintings. Moring also has some parking and a beach to swim from if you feel like it. From the roundabout (there is only one!) walk back 100m towards Lipci (i.e. towards Kotor direction) and there will be a sign on the left side of the footpath (no sign walking the other way). Follow the small road up past some houses. Where the road ends at a house take the path to the right of the house and follow the rocky path up a few hundred meters. There are a few small signs to guide you up the road. Go past the small cave with a stone wall in front and 10m past there is the rock face on the right. Look up and slightly to the left and you will see the deer, hunter and geometric patterns. There isn’t very much there but it is worth going to take a look and it’s only a 10 minute walk from the main road.
Hi Gerard, sorry for the late response. I will certainly update my blog post with your information. Thank you so much!!!
Hi Gerard, sorry for the late response. I will soon update my blog post with your information. Thank you so much!!!