The cultural background of Montenegro has been formed under the influences of both eastern and western civilizations, from prehistoric times to the present day. On this relatively small area one can detect the influences of the Mediterranean, middle European, East European and Oriental civilizations and cultures. Such a historical process has affected the formation of the cultural image of Montenegro which is primarily characterized, in the first place, by the multiculturality in the broadest sense.

Today's cultural treasury of Montenegro offers an abundance of archaeological, written and artistic objects of great value by means of which one can discover the cultural history of these parts. Diverse architecture of cultural and historical monuments, as well as the richness of the museum, archives and library stocks, provide material evidence on the specific cultural milieu of Montenegro.

The finds of human living and thus the first cultural contents!, can be traced to the Paleolithic settlements, which provide material evidence that life was developing continually from the early stone age through the later stone age, to late bronze and early iron ages. For the world's archaeology of particular interest are the localities of Crvena Stijena (Red Rock), Bioce okapine (shelters) in the Moraca Canyon, Malisina pecina (cave) and Medena stijena (rock) in the Cehotina canyon.

Along the coast and its hinterland the romanisation of the Illyric population can be followed since the first century A.D., the evidence of which is provided by the remnants of settlements at the crossroads of the main roads and along new communications (Risan, Budva, Acruvium, Duklja, Municipium S...).

Pre-Roman, Roman, Gothic and baroque styles are apparent in architectural decoration, carved stone and painting along the Montenegrin Seaside. The greatest concentration of cultural treasures in this region is found in the Bay of Kotor area. The best example of this is the city of Kotor that as such was incorporated into the UNESCO's World Heritage list. In the city itself, the cathedral of St.Tripun is most prominent for its monumentality and beauty, while sacral monuments all along the Bay of Kotor represent the peak of artistic creativity, which is particularly evidenced by the Savina Orthodox Monastery.

In the hinterland, the area of Lake Skadar is particularly rich in specific monastery complexes built on goricas (small islands): Beska, Moracnik, Starcevo, Kom, Vranjina, and with the fortresses of Zabljak (Crnojevica) and Lesendro.

The Byzantine influence on the architecture and fresco painting of the monasteries can be seen in the inland of Montenegro: the Moraca Monastery is recognizable for the famous cycle about St.Ilija (Elias) - one of the best pieces of monumental painting in 13th century on the Balkans; the monasteries of the Holly Trinity in Pljevlja, of Djurdjevi Stupovi near Berane and the Piva Monastery, with its iconostasis of an outstanding cultural value. The Monastery of Ostrog, architecturally specific, is one of the highest spiritual and historic points of the Montenegrin environment.

After the fall of the major part of Montenegro under the Turkish rule, the local tradition was brought into contact with the Islamic culture. This influence left marked traces on the sacral (such as the Mosque of Husein-pasha Boljanic in Pljevlja) as well as on the residential architecture (like the Redzepagics' Manor - kula - in Plav).

The twelfth century saw the start of a rich written tradition in these parts. In the second half of that century, written treasures of the immense historical and literary value appeared. Among these, of particular interest are: Ljetopis Popa Dukljanina (Chronicles of the Doclean Priest) and Miroslavljevo jevandjelje (Miroslav's Gospel), which is particularly noted for its illuminations and an unusually beautiful orthography. Two centuries later, another book was produced standing out for its beauty and historical significance - Divosevo jevandjelje (Divosh's Gospel).

Goricki zbornik (The Gorica Collection) is another written document of importace for the development of our overall literary tradition. It appeared in 1441-42, and contained the correspondence (epistles) between Jelena Balsic and her confessor Nikon Jerusalimac, who compiled the collection.

The continuous literary activity, which can be followed since 12th century, was in the beginning characterized by simple copying and later by independent creations, to come to the point at the end of 15th century when Montenegro mastered an invention of modern cultural tradition - the printing press. The merit for this civilisational achievement goes to the then ruler of Montenegro, the feudal lord and patron Djuradj Crnojevic and the grand master of printing hieromonach Makarije. The Crnojevic's printing house was the first in Montenegro, first with the South Slavs, and first in the Balkans (second with the Slavs in general). In 1493, thirty eight years after the printing of the legendary Bible by Johannes Gutenberg, the print house of Obod produced Oktoih prvoglasnik (Octoechos in the First Voice) - the first ever Cyrillic incunabula with the South Slavs.

The remarkable printing tradition in Montenegro continued with the work of Bozidar Vukovic-Podgoricanin who, due to his merits in printing (in which he was engaged from 1519 to his death in 1539), was conferred a high social recognition - the title of the duke of printing. The work of this zealous printer that contributed to the development of printing in Romania, Russia, Serbia and Bulgaria, was continued by Vicenco Vukovic, his son, who introduced certain innovations to his father's typography. The work of the father and son Vukovic is connected with Venice, that, as a great cultural center, had a fruitful influence on Montenegrin culture at the transition from 16th to 17th century. However, it should be emphasized that the pioneer of our printing in Venice was Andrija Paltasic from Kotor.

And in the 17th century, an in many parts exceptional cultural and before all literary life was developing in the region of Boka (the Bay of Kotor). The most prominent name in that circle was certainly the baroque poet Andrija Zmajevic. This Doctor of Divinities was probably the most important figure in the Montenegrin culture of the 17th century. After he was appointed the archbishop of Bar and the primate of the Kingdom of Serbia by Pope Climentus X, Zmajevic - using his intellect and diplomatic tactfulness - managed to maintain good relations as much with the Orthodox Christians (whose origin he had) as with the Catholics and Turks, thus becoming a historical example of religious, etnic and cultural tolerance.

As if the written treasures of such value have predestined Montenegro for high literary achievements which were to reach their peak in the creations of Petar I and Petar II Petrovic Njegos (Nyegosh), and the whole Petrovic dynasty for "to lead armies and pens".

Thus the written word in Montenegro gained in importance and its field of influence extended: it became the base of literary but also of moral principles. With his works, vojvoda (voivode) Marko Miljanov was to put a particular stamp in this ethical-literary writing. At the same time Stefan Mitrov Ljubisa was to produce nowadays ever more important literary works based on the popular idiom.

.In this respect the capital town of Cetinje has become the cultural and political center of Montenegro. Architecturally and culturally increasingly important, this town - as only a few in this part of Europe - acquired the look that nowadays rightly defines it as the museum-town. Among the numerous buildings, museums and libraries, the ones that stand out are: The Monastery of Cetinje - a centuries-long cultural center of the Montenegrins - comprising, within its museums complex, a rich treasury of cultural wealth of Montenegro; and Biljarda - built by Njegos in 1838 for his residence.

Towards the end of 19th century, in the period of complete consolidation of the Montenegrin state, numerous representative buildings were erected in Cetinje: King Nikola's Palace (1867); Russian, French, Italian, Serbian, English, Austro-Hungarian, Turkish and other diplomatic representatives' buildings; Prince Heir's Palace (Plavi dvorac - Blue Palace); the Zetski dom theatre; The House of Parliament (Vladin dom), etc. All this contributed to Montenegro's entry into the twentieth century with the well established cultural values that could sustain further development.

The shift towards modern literary trends was to take place in the works of certain poets of 20th century whose poetic creativity’s were based on the avant-garde literary processes going on the territory of the inter - war Yugoslavia. Among them Risto Ratkovic and Radovan Zogovic should be particularly pointed out. In prose, distinguishing is the figure of Mihailo Lalic, whose realistic novels depict the turbulent historic events in Montenegro in World War II.

Yet, the timely reaction to the modern world's artistic movements was developed in Montenegro by painters. Visiting the leading art centers where they would familiarize themselves with the modernistic changes in the world's painting, and visibly transferring the local color and visual potentials of the Montenegrin environment into the symbols of abstract painting, these artists produced the pieces of work of international reputation. The painting of Petar Lubarda, Milo Milunovic,   Dado Djuric, Branko Filipovic-Filo, Vojo Stanic, Uros Toskovic have been exhibited in well-known galleries of the world and are found in the stocks of many well-known museums.

The theatric life started with the building of Zetski dom in Cetinje in 1888. Besides the theatre, the library, the museum and the archives were under the same roof. That created the conditions for an institutionalized cultural development.

An interesting data is that in the 1950s five professional theatres operated in Montenegro: in Cetinje, Podgorica, Niksic, Kotor and Pljevlja. At that time, Montenegro held the first place in Europe by the number of theatres to the number of inhabitants.

After World War II, with the founding of film companies, an intensive development of the cinematic art started in Montenegro, that in many instances is an exceptional area for film-makers - the "open-air studio" for shooting films.

In such an inspiring environment, numerous cultural events take place today, the programs of which are put on in an unique interaction with the said surroundings. In this respect, the Montenegrin culture holds great potentials to establish itself in the international framework.