On the katun there is no boss, no party membership card, and no fixed working hours. Katuns have for centuries been nomadic pastoral settlements, and today there are around 400 of them in Montenegro. Despite the pressure of mass tourism and urbanization, the tradition of seasonal migration endures, preserving an authentic way of life.
Authenticity of the Katuns
The Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije initiated the protection of seasonal migration at the national level, and is now working on international recognition through the UN GIAHS network. “Our katuns are still authentic, despite the rapid devastation,” emphasizes Jelena Krivčević, the Agency’s executive director.
Katuns have shaped Montenegro’s culture, customs, and landscapes – songs, dances, crafts, architecture, and entire cultural sceneries.
Community and Customs
In the past, migrations were organized collectively, with village agreements strictly respected. Rules of seasonal movement were binding, ensuring fairness in grazing rights. Life on the katun was also a social event – neighbors worked together, shared wisdom, and strengthened community ties.
Katun Dwellers of the 21st Century
Today there are three groups of katun dwellers: traditional herders, modern herders with permanent structures, and those who use ancestral rights to build weekend houses or tourist facilities without livestock. The first preserve tradition, the second adapt it, while the third often undermine it.
The Role of the Planinka
Women on the katun – the planinke – have an irreplaceable role. They stay on the katun, care for livestock, make cheese, and maintain the household. Their work has always been respected due to the harsh conditions and courage required.
The planinka is indispensable on the katun – she reigns over katun life.
Children on the Katuns
Children once enjoyed freedom and games in nature, while today they often feel isolated. The story of Bogdan from Komovi illustrates the challenges – walking eight kilometers to charge his phone and stay connected with peers.
Tourism and Transformation
Katuns can be an exclusive tourist offer if tourism develops alongside pastoral life, preserving architecture and tradition. Unfortunately, many so-called eco and ethno villages distort authenticity and lead to abandonment of katuns.
True tourism on the katun is the one that preserves tradition and gives value to the katun dwellers.
Why Katuns Matter
Katuns are a “time machine” – a return to a simpler life without electricity or television, in pure nature. Foreign visitors experience them as a revelation, an authentic encounter unlike anything in their own countries.
Tijana Radulović, Normalizuj.me
