After practically a 12 months of ready, I’ve lastly arrived within the Balkans. Enthralled by the area’s pure magnificence, historic & 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 desirous to kick off my close to 2-week journey right here.
All through historical past, Serbia has been a crossroads of empires, conquerors, and various cultures. From Celtic tribes and the traditional Romans to the medieval Serbian Empire and the Ottomans, Serbia has all the time 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.
In the event 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 gained’t be upset.
Located in Western Serbia close to the border with Bosnia & Herzegovina, Tara is a jewel of untouched nature. Mount Tara sits inside 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. In the event you’re looking for top-notch climbing in Serbia, Tara has over 290 km of trails.
However in the event you’re on restricted time like me, I like to recommend hiring a driver to take you to one of the best 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 referred to as “A Yr River” and the shortest in Europe. The Vrelo flows into the Drina River through a 10-meter waterfall and hosts certainly one of Serbia’s largest summer time 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 time. And for probably the most dramatic view of Tara Nationwide Park, Banjska Stena overlooks the mighty Drina River Canyon from above.
In the event you’re already in Bajina Bašta, I extremely suggest 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 delightful fresco work adorn the inside. The adjoining guesthouse incorporates sacred Serbian literary works that date to the Center Ages. With the encompassing forests and trickling mountain stream, it’s a surreal setting to heart your self.