Fruska Gora National Park

National Parks and Nature Reserves of Serbia
Fruska Gora National Park

Fruska Gora National Park

Former island of the Pannonean Sea, with the Latin name of Alma Mons is nowadays the Fruška Gora Mountain and the National Park. Fruska Gora Mountain spreads along the 80 km of ranges between the Danube and Sava Rivers, over the southern part of Srem in Vojvodina, with the highest peak Crveni Cot (539 m). Fruška Gora Mountain is located just along the right bank of the Danube River and spreads direction west-east from the westernmost villages of Ljuba and Sarengrad direction Croatia in the west up to Stari Slankamen village in the east. For its exceptional flora and fauna, rare nature spots and cultural-historical monuments, Fruška Gora has been declared in 1960 the National Park of Serbia. The oldest forests of the Fruska gora Mountain are under the highest level of protection – in the areas of the “Javorova gudura” and “Papratski do“, as well as number of natural rarities. Large areas of Fruska Gora Mountain are covered by woods (linden-trees, oak trees, beech, willows…) and vineyards and fruitful gardens and orchards, where delicious and tasty vegetables and fruits, and grapes and natural honey and benefiting royal jelly are grown and produced….. The Fruška Gora National Park and the Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve have been awarded with the Europarc Federation European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Brussels in December 2014.

During their stay in the Fruska Gora National Park, at the Eco Center in Sremski Karlovci – or other tourist facility with our recommendation, thanks to very suitable terrain of gentle mountain slopes and numerous nearby facilities for Team Building/outdoor programs, visitors take part in various unique activities in open – orienteering /cross race in which participants use very detailed map and compass to find the way to the control points, in unknown terrain, through forests and across streams…. under supervision of experienced sport orienteering instructors/, full or half day education-adventurous hike in nature with Eco guides, creative workshops “recycle”, “treasure hunt”, “all senses nature experience”, orienteering /activities with bandages, making perfume from ingredients found in environment, walks along the trees…/, bicycle ride with cycle guides, outdoor lunch or in the mountain hut in Strazilovo, with active participation in food preparation – barbecue, hiking or orienteering competition race till the Monument of Branko Radičević on the Stražilovo spot, along the arranged hiking trail through the Fruska Gora National Park, horse-back riding and various walks along the Fruska Gora Mt…

The National Park Fruška Gora is considered as a site of a very special natural beauties and cultural-historical monuments. The area of 25.000 hectares within the Fruska Gora National Park is a real treasury of flora and fauna. There are more than 1400 relic floral species in Fruska Gora, as well as numerous species of fauna /more than 200 bird species and rare mammal species/. Due to its geographical position, there can be found orchids and conifers, as well as variety of animal species: roe deer, rabbits, wild boars, eagles etc.

Thanks to tectonic movements in the whole region of the Pannonian plain, at its southern part, the Danube River modified Fruška Gora Mountain determining its position. Northern part of Fruška Gora was omitted by the Danube flow due to non-tectonic movements. Two river beds were formed then so together they could constitute today’s Danube course. Western part of the Fruska Gora National Park lies between towns of Sarengrad and Sid and it represents the leveled rising grounds with the elevations of 200 meters high. Between 1965 and 1986 14 accumulations – artificial lakes were created in Fruska Gora with the purpose of irrigation of agricultural surfaces and defense from the torrent floods. Lakes of Fruska Gora Mt-National Park from the east to the west are : Ljukovo Lake by Jarkovci village, Šelovrenac Lake by Maradik, Dobrodol Lake by Šatrinci village, Međeš Lake by Šatrinci village, Borkovac Lake by Ruma, Popovica Lake by the weekend settlement at Popovica site, Kudoš or Pavlovačko jezero Lake by the Pavlovci village, Mutalj Lake by the Bešenovački Prnjavor village, Testera Lake by the Testera vacation complex, Manđelos or Vranješ Lake by Manđelos village, Čalma Lake by the Čalma village, Moharač Lake – between Vizić and Erdevik, Sot Lake by the Sot village. On the southern slopes of Fruška Gora Mountain there are numerous artificial lakes of outstanding beauty, mostly used for sports and recreation: Sot, Bruje, Moharač, Čalma, Vrnješ, Bešenovačko Lake, Međeš, Dobrodolsko, Pavlovačko, Hopovačko, Petkovičko, Ljukovo, Kapavica, Testera, Vranješ, Kameničko, Mutaljsko, Parloško.

Due to the fact that Vojvodina is covered with less, the most spreading soil types are mold and saline. Mold soils range about 60% and are extremely fertile. It is mostly used for growing wheat, maize, sugar beet, sunflower, soy and other industrial crops as well as the major plants for cattle-breeding. Over Fruška Gora slopes there are rich linden and oak forests. At lower sides of Fruška Gora Mountain, forests are mostly rooted up and now there are pastures, vineyards, meadows and orchards. Fertile soil, plenty of waters – about 200 streams and mild climate contribute to very extensive and well developed wine-production in Fruška Gora. The famous Wine Festival starting with grape harvesting is tradicionally held every September in Sremski Karlovci. Gentle slopes, ancient natural sights and landmarks with living fossils, plenty of lakes and waters within forests that cover about 90% of the Fruska Gora National Park, rich vineyards and old monasteries, draw attention of many visitors, nature-lovers and scientists.

All along this beautiful mountainous area of Fruška Gora National Park there are 17 Medieval Orthodox Monasteries from the 15th and the 16th centuries settled. That is why Fruška Gora is usually called “The Holy Mountain”. In the Western part of Fruška Gora there are the following Monasteries : Monasteries of Privina Glava, Divsa, Petkovica, Kuvezdin, Sišatovac, while those looking for the spiritual relief can reach the other Fruška Gora Monasteries taking the regular road along the mountainous range : Bešenovo, Mala Remeta and Velika Remeta, Jazak, Vrdnik-Ravanica, Beocin, Rakovac, Staro and Novo Hopovo, Grgeteg, Krušedol, ending in Sremski Karlovci, Serbian cultural, educational and spiritual center.

In the Info Center of the Fruska Gora National Park, at the Iriški venac, there is the guide service, capable to provide all information about flora and the fauna, in way of presentations and lectures. The excursion places are most popular in the Fruska Gora National Park, among which are: Čortanovačka šuma, Stražilovo, Partizanski put, Iriški venac, Hopovo, Glavica, Popovica, Zmajevac, Letenka with well-appointed sport terrains and amenities for outdoor activities and meals, Hajdučki breg, Andrevlje, Testera, Ciganski logor, Ležimir, Rohalj baze and Lipovača. All the excursion places of Fruska Gora Mountain-National Park are equipped with suitable facilities for the full-day in forest, wood clearings, meadows and pastures, where numerous visitors spend their active and relaxed time, or amazing horse-back riding. At the Letenka excursion point which features youth capacities and sport amenities constructed in 1975 is traditionally successfully organized Nature School by the Provincial Institute for sports and Sports Medicine – sport terrains, wooden benches and tables, restaurant, accommodation facilities…. Along the Partisan Road of Fruska Fora NP, close to the Letenka excursion spot, there is the Jabuka Memorial which is dedicated to the creation of the 8th Vojvodina brigade – the Fruska Gora Partisan Division, in 1941.

The Beli Majdan Cave – WhiteQuarryis also known as the Rakovac Cave, as well as the old quarry. The Beli Majdan Cave was formed by digging of stone and caoline granite in the old times, most probably for needs of the nearby Rakovac Monastery as the stone was mostly used for construction of tombstones and construction of houses. The entrance to the Beli majdan Cave is wide several tents of meters, the cave hall is some 4 meters high, with the vault standing on stones pillars.

Walking paths and hiking trails of Fruska Gora National Park are well marked and circular, arranged so that visitors can choose among the northern or the southern sides of each path. Walking pathways of Fruska Gora area are adjusted to all keen for recreation, as well as for sportsmen, varying from several km up to 111 km in length (The Fruska Gora Marathon ultra plus), which features altitude differences from 300 to 500 meters. The brand new Eco Camping Fruska gora is located in the vicinity of Sremski Karlovci, close to Strazilovo, 4 km of the regional road 22.1 – a turn towards Sremski Karlovci. The Fruska Gora Eco Camping is 75 km far from Belgrade and 16 km from Novi Sad. Camping site position is at the border of the National Park Fruska gora and represents the first Eco camping site in Serbia, being the only one in Serbia within the borders of the National Park.