Homolje Mountains – Homolje Region
The Homolje mountains make up picturesque landscapes of East Serbia featuring intriguing caves, ancient legends, customs, traditions, mystics, hidden treasures, numerous waterways, ample waterfalls, rocky peaks, lush pastures, mountain viewing points, picturesque villages and outstandingly hospitable locals who sing authentic shepherds songs… Homolje Mountains is area between mountains of Ježevica, Vukan, Vranj, Crni vrh and Beljanica, which contains settlements and villages of Žagubica, Laznica, Selište, Milatovac, Suvi Do, Vukovac, Jošanica, Izvarica, Osanica, Krepoljin, Breznica, Sige, Milanovac, Krupaja, Bliznak, Lipe, hamlet Laznice in road-less area of Crni vrh Mountain.
Beljanica Mountain is a favorite trekking region of East Serbia thanks to numerous marked walking trails and the natural treasure of Serbia – Vinatovača virgin forest – Nature park being the sole one of its kind in Serbia and this part of Europe. Herds of cattle graze and horses gallop on these mountainous pastures, while thick beech and oak forests of Homolje make the last sanctuary of wolves and roe deer, wild boar and musk ox. In the very center of Žagubica town is the Mlava River spring, one of the deepest spring wells in Europe, known as an oasis of serenity and quietness and crystal-clear water. Krupajsko Vrelo – Krupaja River spring, located in the western foothill of Beljanica Mountain, on the right bank of Krupaja River, between villages of Milanovac and Krupaja, 35 km away from Žagubica, also makes one of nature rarity and the brand of Homolje region.
The Homolje Honey is the first national product with geographical origin as the Homolje area produces the largest quantities of honey in Serbia – nearly 40% of honey produced in Serbia comes from the Homolje Mountains. The locals of Homolje Mountains consider bee as old as the humanity. There is a whole system of beliefs and rituals that since the time immemorial helped local population to ensure suitable conditions for life and development. During the time of Princedom of Serbia every house possessed a plum orchard, always with the house surrounded with beehives.
The Danube River flows between mountain ranges and forms the border separating Romania, to the North, and Serbia, to the South. The Retezat Mountains make part of the Carpathian Range above the Danube and one of the highest massifs in Romania. The Retezat Mountains have many glacial lakes, including the largest glacial lake in Romania, Bucura Lake (lacul Bucura). The Carpathians continue south of the Danube; this part of the range in Serbia is known as the Homolje Mountains. Snow rests on the Homolje Mt peaks on both sides of the border, while the valley below through which the Danube flows remains clear. The Homolje Mountains are among the most striking of Serbia’s scenery, providing adventurous travelers a chance to combine their interests in Serbian culture and history with outdoor recreation such as hiking, bird-watching, fishing, hunting, jeep ride, mountain-bike, and mountain climbing.
“The Carpathian Mountains in Serbia make the southern portion of the mountainous range of the Carpathians that spread in Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The Carpathians in East Serbia are positioned along the banks of the Velika Morava River, with mountains that create the Carpathians which are Miroč, Homoljske planine, Veliki and Mali krš, Deli Jovan, Beljanica, Kučaj, Goli krš, Malinik, Javorište, Crni vrh, Liškovac, Šomrda, Rtanj, Ozren and Devica“. recorded by Milan Popovic
Vinatovača virgin forest is situated within the Despotovac Municipality. The Vinatovača virgin forest – Nature Park is best known for beech more than 350 years old ! Vinatovaca virgin forest deserved its status by the fact that the area of 37 hectares of the forested land at an elevation from 640 up to 800 meters was neither treated by human hands nor cut and forested since the ancient times of the forest formation. The Vinatovača unique natural reservation of dark beech forest is not widely known to the audience and was concern of some people in regard its protection what is the reason that the forest is so well preserved. The Vinatovac stream, the left tributary of Resava River flows through Vinatovaca virgin forest that comprises some beech trees over 350 years old about 1 meter in radius and up to 40 meters high what means their full-scale is several meters making the wooden amplitude from 600 to 800 m3 !
Visitors to Homolje may find various plants here and most likely are astonished with freedom of tame wild animals passing nearby ! We recommend tour of Homolje Mountains area which includes visit to Manasija and Ravanica Monasteries, Resavska Pecina Cave, various rich colorful traditional customs of Vlachs and Serbs and ends in gorgeous Veliki Buk of the Lisine Watefalls, one of the highest waterfalls in Serbia. After such amazing cultural and natural exploration of the Homolje area there are interesting rock-nested restaurants where you should /must/ taste the famous and delicious Homolje traditional food: Homolje honey, lamb, cheese, kacamak /hominy/, mountainous stream trout,…
