Tara

Situation

In the extreme West of Serbia stretching along the river Drina that separates it from Bosnia, the National Park of Tara is abundant in natural beauties. On 162 km. away from the Serbian capital this mountain massive is spreading over19,175 hectares and has been counted among the most important summits on Serbia. The summit Stolac is 1673 meters high followed by Zboriste of 1544 meters. Formed 600 million years ago this ensemble of young mountains was for a period a part of the Panonian Sea. This explains a very accidental orography with the reliefs very different indeed, but also with the fauna and flora rich in very rare specimens. The result has been an important number of wedged in valleys like Brusnica and Derventa with the most important canyons like that of the Drina. Finally two lakes on the height completed the picture. One in the service of the hydroelectric power station Perucac and the other situated in the heart of the park and of the full beauty with its emerald green and that quietness that surrounds the lake of Zaovine.

The natural richness

But that is without taking into account a great variety of animal and vegetal kinds. To the fauna of the mountain belongs the bear weighing up to 250 kg, the chamois escaped to the higher places. The sly lynx and the brave eagles. But you will encounter also a trail of wolves, foxes, boars and…hedgehogs. In addition to this already attractive, you would like to see the end: more than 150 bird kinds live and cruise in the full liberty in the park with several preserved kinds threatened by desperation. Neither the flora rests. With the omnipresent forests constituted of the alpine treasury high and dark green, high fir trees the age of which goes back to 150 years, the brilliant bastards an numerous beeches, but the most outstanding has been “Panciceva omorika” a fir tree that flourishes in these remote places and which reach the accessible heights thanks to a particular orography seen higher. Finally more than 1,000 flower species are present here, being a third of all flower species in Serbia. This is true formic issues and violets encountered in all Alps till the protected species which bloom only in those regions. The “bozur” or the violet “jeremicak” of white and tan shades.

The Itinerary

If you lime this program follow the guide. The itinerary bringing you most quickly “in the bath” of that laving the little town of Bajina Basta and going along the river Drina reaches the lake of Perucac. There take the road without any indication on the left, but take the direction toward the mountain and climb up to the summit. A magnificent view of the Drina and Bosnia is offered to you. Then direct yourself toward the wood, so characteristic to the park of Tara by its great trees and here don’t hesitate to leave your car to get directed to take the road signed road indicating the direction of many caves of Jabucka, Kozja or Todosina caves and the deer and bear are nearby. At a few kilometres the bungalows of Mitrovac and the summer mountain pastures in full beauty. By retaking your road you will b directed to the lake of Zaovina which can be bypassed in two ways. You will always come to the same place. Then the road will lead you toward the hotels and the historical sites. In the whole park not les than 18 road signed ways making the joy, the pathway to go through in 2 to 8 hours.

For the amateurs strong sensations. Having left Mitrovac one could establish there a gathering camp. Many attraction are accessible to the West from the Park by the aid of the guide or by a good map.. Many alpine or forest houses could offer to spent a night in on this travel. The main attraction are to the West from Mitrovac. On the hill Zvezda a magnificent cave of “Topla pecina” with stalactites and stalagmites. On the river Beli Rzav the waterfalls of Veliki Skakavac are finally to be seen. Finally two nice canyons, but each of them in a different style. On the river Drina one can travel on a raft or in a kayak besides the landscapes of the young mountains, the lakes or the rivers. On Brusnica the landscape is less grandiose, but there are numerous waterfalls. One could also climb the cliffs near one to another.

The last possible activity there is the cultural tourism with the site of Steci Perucac, remnants of Kulin in Solotnik and the medieval monastery of Raca at Kaludjerska Bara. In the same place a little but very interesting ethno village with its houses typical for West Serbia. Finally at redescending towards the regional centre Uzice there is the memorial of Kadinjaca, an ensemble of tombstones arranged in 1979 in honour of the combatants of the workers’ squadron of Uzice killed in this place on November 29th 1941 by the Nazis.