After almost a yr of ready, I’ve lastly arrived within the Balkans. Enthralled by the area’s pure magnificence, historical & medieval historical past, and ignored locations, my Balkan tour formally begins. The primary nation I had the pleasure of visiting was Serbia, and this landlocked nation was a bag of mysteries. It’s among the many nations I researched the least, so I used to be wanting to kick off my close to 2-week journey right here.
All through historical past, Serbia has been a crossroads of empires, conquerors, and numerous cultures. From Celtic tribes and the traditional Romans to the medieval Serbian Empire and the Ottomans, Serbia has at all times been a strategic landmass. Serbia’s historic gems and pure magnificence will spark the wanderlust inside worldly vacationers, and extra folks ought to go to.
When you’re itching to go to this Balkan nation, I’ve listed my 5 greatest locations to go to in Serbia. Whether or not you’re a nature lover or city dweller, you received’t be disillusioned.
Tara Nationwide Park
Located in Western Serbia close to the border with Bosnia & Herzegovina, Tara is a jewel of untouched nature. Mount Tara sits throughout the internal Dinaric Alps and rewards nature lovers with year-round outside actions. With the emerald-green waters of the Drina River Canyon, limestone cliffs, and coniferous forests, it’s my favourite vacation spot in Serbia. When you’re trying to find top-notch mountaineering in Serbia, Tara has over 290 km of trails.
However for those who’re on restricted time like me, I like to recommend hiring a driver to take you to the most effective viewpoints of Tara. The charming mountain village of Bajina Bašta is the place I counsel beginning your Tara journey. Earlier than arriving on the houseboats on Lake Perućac, go to the well-known Drina River Home and River Vrelo. At solely 365 meters, the Vrelo can also be known as “A 12 months River” and the shortest in Europe. The Vrelo flows into the Drina River through a 10-meter waterfall and hosts one in every of Serbia’s greatest summer season festivals.
As you ascend the mountain roads, vistas of the Drina River Canyon solely turn out to be extra spectacular. Rugged peaks dot the horizon, and the emerald river sparkles within the daylight. You’ll additionally discover the embankment dam that serves the Bajina Bašta Hydroelectric Energy Plant. Water from Lake Perućac is pumped 600 meters above to Zaovine Lake, a refreshing swimming spot throughout summer season. And for essentially the most dramatic view of Tara Nationwide Park, Banjska Stena overlooks the mighty Drina River Canyon from above.
Rača Monastery
When you’re already in Bajina Bašta, I extremely advocate paying a go to to the peaceable Rača Monastery. The Serbian Orthodox monastery is simply 7 km south of the village and sits alongside the Rača River. With a historical past courting to the thirteenth century, the medieval monastery was instrumental in preserving Serbian literature. Though Rača was destroyed by the Turks within the seventeenth century, the resilient Serbs repeatedly rebuilt the church throughout Ottoman rule.
The church contains an elaborate iconostasis from the mid-Nineteenth century, and exquisite fresco work adorn the inside. The adjoining guesthouse comprises sacred Serbian literary works that date to the Center Ages. With the encompassing forests and trickling mountain stream, it’s a surreal setting to middle your self.
A mountaineering path behind the monastery follows the river and ventures deeper into the forest. After a slight ascent via the valley, you see distant mountain peaks and arrive on the spring of Lađevac. With dozens of tiny waterfalls cascading in opposition to a moss-covered, rocky slope, it’s a magical sight. And simply above the waterfalls, there’s a crystal-clear pool to style the refreshing water. Though I like to recommend this ONLY for summer season, a particularly steep ascent above the spring takes you to a medieval cave the place Serbian monks hid objects from the Turks.
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and cultural heartbeat of Serbia and the place my Serbian journey started. Though my keep was transient, I rapidly discovered the significance of this strategic metropolis all through historical past. On the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, Belgrade Fortress is the place Belgrade’s story begins. Relationship to the 2nd Century, the hilltop fortification has witnessed numerous battles through the years. Wander the ruins to find remnants of the Romans, Serbs, Turks, and Austro-Hungarians.
Kalemegdan, the grassy area round Belgrade Fortress, is now essentially the most stunning metropolis park in Belgrade. The park contains quite a few monuments, cultural websites, museums, eating places, and sports activities services for residents. Stari Grad bustles with folks from all walks of life and hosts a lot of Belgrade’s prime sights. Wander Knez Mihailova for espresso, meet your mates ‘kod konja’ (under the horse) at Republic Sq., or really feel the bohemian vibe of Skadarlija.
And earlier than you depart Belgrade, positively go to its two most spectacular church buildings. Sitting atop the Vračar plateau, the Temple of Saint Sava is likely one of the largest church buildings on the planet. The 82-meter excessive white-marble constructing with 49 bells and 18 gold-plated crosses is the centerpiece of the Belgrade skyline. Though not as well-known, St. Michael’s Cathedral additionally gave me goosebumps throughout my go to. The church dates to 1837 and performed an instrumental position in the course of the Serbian battle for independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Uvac Particular Nature Reserve
Simply outdoors of Nova Varoš, the Uvac Particular Nature Reserve is likely one of the most stunning spots in Serbia. The stillness of the Serbian countryside across the Uvac River Canyon was a chilled place to flee metropolis life. It’s among the many greatest wildlife viewing areas in Serbia, with Griffon vultures as the primary attraction of the character reserve. The Uvačko, Zlatarsko, and Radoinjsko synthetic lakes are a fishing utopia for chub, trout, salmon, catfish, and different species.
With hanging vistas of the River Uvac bending via the canyon, Uvac supplies a few of Serbia’s greatest mountaineering. Climb the limestone cliffs for unbelievable views of the emerald water and luxurious vegetation from above. The continual sharp bends of the River Uvac make this arguably essentially the most unbelievable snapshot in Serbia. My solely remorse was not arriving at this idyllic nature reserve throughout hotter climate to kayak or take a ship journey on the river.
Niš
Niš was the ultimate cease throughout my travels via Serbia and one other metropolis drenched in historical past. Identified throughout antiquity as Naissus, it’s among the many oldest cities wherever in Europe. The Romans conquered Naissus in the course of the 1st Century B.C., and it will later be the birthplace of Constantine the Nice, the primary Christian Roman emperor. The Medijana archaeological web site was an elaborate villa from Constantine’s rule from 306 to 337. Within the metropolis middle, the Nationwide Museum in Niš comprises Roman artifacts and objects from different historic eras.
Niš additionally has its fair proportion of tragic historical past and morbid sights you may go to. Constructed after the Battle of Čegar in 1809, the Cranium Tower stays a logo of the Serbian Rebellion in opposition to Ottoman rule. The grisly title is the way it sounds, and the tower was constructed with partitions of human skulls. The horrific construction initially contained 952 skulls, and there are 57 that stay (throughout my go to).
From the WWII period, the Crveni Krst (Pink Cross) Focus Camp remembers victims of the Holocaust from Niš. It’s believed that 10,000 folks died on the camp, and the campgrounds are actually a museum. On February 12, 1942, the Pink Cross camp was the positioning of the primary mass escape from a Nazi focus camp. It’s one other instance of the fierce resiliency of the Serbian folks.
Only a brief stroll from the Pink Cross Focus Camp, Niš Fortress is likely one of the best-preserved fortifications in Serbia. Though its present design is from the 18th century throughout Ottoman rule, the fortress dates to the Historical Roman Empire. Nestled on the correct financial institution of the Nišava River, the fortress provides wonderful views of the mountains round Niš. The ruins include an historical Octagon Palace, Lapidarium, Vaulted Constructing, Turkish Tub, the Bali-Bey Mosque, and extra.
Bonus Vacation spot: Ovčar-Kablar Gorge
If you end up close to Čačak in Central Serbia, I counsel spending a few days within the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge. The meandering West Morava River flows via the verdant gorge and creates one in every of Serbia’s most picturesque sights. Alongside the rocky massifs and limestone cliffs, there are round a dozen monasteries from the Center Ages. Whether or not you kayak its emerald waters, hike via medieval forests, or calm down on the Ovčar Banja Spa, tranquility awaits on this small piece of Serbia.
