Central Serbia: Kopaonik, Nature and Cultural Heritage

Nature and Mountain Landscapes

Mount Rudnik characterizes central Serbia and the Šumadija region. Its dense beech, maple and oak forests are crossed by clear streams and green clearings. Hiking trails on Rudnik lead to high peaks, including the 1,132-meter-high Cvijić Peak and the steep-sided volcanic rock formation of Ostrvica. The Đerdap Gorge is considered the longest and largest breakthrough gorge in Europe. The Devil's Town consists of 202 earth pillars formed by erosion beneath protective rock caps; a 900-meter-long footpath leads to a viewpoint. Hajdučka Cave and Skakavac Waterfall are natural attractions in the Mokra Gora area. The Mokra Gora Valley and the Šargan Pass form a natural connection between the Tara and Zlatibor mountains.

Winter, Water and Trails

During the summer season, Kopaonik National Park organizes guided hikes to attractive destinations on the mountain. Kopaonik is considered Serbia's leading ski resort and one of the leading ski resorts in the wider region. The thermomineral springs of Ovčar Banja have temperatures between 35 and 38 degrees Celsius. Catamaran trips are offered on the river at Ovčar Banja; hiking tours to the summit of Mount Kablar are offered from Ovčar Banja. Lake Selište is the only lake on Mount Goč and serves as a picnic area. On the slopes of Mount Goč, locals collect blueberries and wild strawberries and process them into traditional fruit preserves. The Aleksandrović Winery is associated with the Tamjanika grape variety.

The section of the Šargan Eight between Mokra Gora and Šargan Vitasi passes through 22 tunnels and over five bridges. During the journey on the Šargan Eight, passengers can view the surrounding landscape from five viewpoints. The museum tourist train “Nostalgija” operates on the Šargan Eight during the summer and winter seasons.

Culture and Archaeology

The Sopoćani Monastery is part of the UNESCO serial heritage. The frescoes in the church of Sopoćani Monastery date approximately from 1270 to 1276. Studenica Monastery is considered Serbia's largest and richest Orthodox monastery; it was founded on the Studenica River in the late 12th century by Stefan Nemanja. The Church of the Mother of God and the King's Church in Studenica preserve valuable collections of Byzantine paintings from the 13th and 14th centuries. Žiča Monastery is part of the Council of Europe's Transromanica cultural route. At Žiča Monastery, Saint Sava crowned his brother Stefan Nemanjić as the first Serbian king. The late antique fortified palace and memorial complex of Gamzigrad-Romuliana, the Palace of Galerius, was commissioned by Emperor Caius Valerius Galerius Maximianus in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries. The complex was known as Felix Romuliana; the name was derived from the emperor's mother.

Risovača Cave is a significant archaeological and paleontological site in central Serbia. Lepenski Vir preserves archaeological remains of a culture dating from between 6500 and 5500 BC; Lepenski Vir comprises up to 136 structures with stone hearths. The Lepenski Vir Museum displays holographic reconstructions of prehistoric houses as well as reconstructions of burial rites. Manasija Monastery has fortifications with eleven towers and a moat; the famous Resava School of Orthography operated at Manasija Monastery, copying church books. Golubac Fortress is a medieval fortress from the 14th century on a steep, rocky promontory on the right bank of the Danube.

For regional orientation, you can also find Rasina District, Kopaonik and Zlatibor District.

For the overarching travel overview: Serbia.