R i tam Srbi je / Rhythm of Serbia 82 | Čačak » Čačak for liberation, home to famous artists and a place of refuge for pilgrims, Čačak and its surroundings represent placeswhere nature and culture intertwine in their great diversity and beauty. TheWest Morava, with its distinctivemeandering course and complexof lakes, represents themost importantwater systemin theČačak area.This area presents the best of Serbia in one place, and wholeheartedly opens its doors to everyone: families, adventurers, art lovers, fans of urban events and good cuisine, as well as those seeking peace of mind. Ovčar-Kablar Gorge The Ovčar-Kablar Gorge is a jewel of nature that’s located just 18 kilometres fromČačak.The gorge, which has carved itself a home between the sheer rock faces of Ovčar and Kablar, is a place that invigorates both body and soul. Here history and nature have fused on the forestedslopes, representingaunique treasure. Anyonewho sets out along the Ibar national road, in the shadow of the sloping fringes of the mountains, is enticed by the gorge itself to stop and enjoy the scenes of themeandering river, or to visit theOvčar Spa and regenerate and reinvigorate themselves in its thermal waters. There are few gorges in Serbia that are adorned by such prominent river meanders or thermal springs as this one. The gorge is under state protection, as a Category I area of exceptional natural characteristics, and provides a habitat formany species of plant and animal. Combining perfectly in the embrace of the gorge are the shady beaches of the Morava and the sunny Međuvršje Lake, but also strolls beside the river and a catamaran ride on it. SerbianHolyMountain Apart fromstunningnaturalbeauty, theOvčar-Kablar Gorge is alsodecoratedwithOrthodoxmonasteries that date back centuries. Thanks to its numerous monasteries and holy sites, this part of the Čačak area is known as the SerbianHolyMountain.Themountain ridges and rises above the Morava provide a haven for as many as 10 Orthodox monasteries and two holy sites. It was at the Annunciation Monastery that popular Serbian Patriarch Pavle first became a monk. JovanjeMonastery [namedafter JohntheBaptist] is situated on the left bank of the West Morava, overlooking the river’s largest meander, while on the right bank is the Kađenica Cave, the Smoke Cave, which is also a sacred site with a monumental cave church. NikoljeMonastery [namedafter St.Nicholas],which boasts the oldest church among the Ovčar-Kablar monasteries, was erectedon the slopes of Kablar. Its treasury preserves the Karan Gospel, the most important handwrittenbook inSerbian culture, whichwas penned early in the 17th century. Uspenje, AssumptionMonastery, is the only monastery that can be observed from all sides of the gorge. Hiking trails and the paths of clergymen make this gorge an ideal place for both recreational hikers and pilgrims. Program je koncipiran kroz četiri podteme „Na slobodi“, „Na raskršću“, „NaMoravi“ i „Na kaldrmi / The programme has been conceived through four sub-themes: On Freedom, On the intersection, On the Morava, On the Cobblestones Famous Petrović family Čačak was also home to the famous Petrović family, which gave us the likes of painter Nadežda Petrović and poet Rastko Petrović. Another great of the Čačak area is Serbian poet Vladislav Petković Dis, after whom the annual literary event that’s a trademark of Čačak culture is named, Disovo proleće (Dis’s Spring). And these are all more than adequate reasons for you to include a visit to this magnificent region in your travel schedule for the year ahead.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzExMjc5