Berane is one of the largest towns in northeastern Montenegro, along the Lim River. It is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious municipality with a rich history.
Berane was known as Budimlija during medieval times. It was a town of political and economic importance within the Serbian state of Raska until Turks took over in 1455. Many battles were fought against the Turks between the first Siberian Uprising and final liberation in 1912. Berane was heavily damaged during both World Wars. From 1949 to 1992, Berane was named Ivangrad. Under Yugoslavian rule, it was a prosperous industrial centre. The town remains a center of education, medicine, religion, and sport.
Đurđevi Stupovi (Monastery of the tracts of St. George) in Berane was built by Stefan Prvoslav, nephew of the great ruler Stefan Nemanja, at the start of the 12th century. According to tradition, Nemanja was imprisoned in a cave and vowed to build a monastery dedicated to St. George. The Serbian Orthodox monastery is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. It lay in ruins for 300 years until reconstruction began 40 years ago.