Serbia is full of natural riches, endemic plants and animals, as well as interesting geological formations. It’s impossible to list all the attractions Serbia has to offer, but here a few definitely worth mentioning.
Tara
Tara National Park, source: serbia.travel, author: B. Jovanović
Tara is a National Park in the west of Serbia (on the border with Montenegro). The main point of this Park is Tara mountain, which belongs to the Dynar mountain chain and is spread over 50 km with many scenic overlooks on average around 1200 metres high. The highest peak is Kozji Rid (1591 metres high). Tara is one of the most scenic places in Serbia, perfect for mountaneering, horseback riding, rafting and many more sports.
Around the Park you can visit many charming villages where you can stay and taste the local cuisine. The most remote one, Jagoštica, is placed on Tara’s mountainside, on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is surrounded by nature reserves and Drina River canyon. Tara is home to many rare species, including the biggest in Serbia population of Brown Bear.
In Tara you can also discover some historical monumets, dated even to neolithic times, the most important being Monastyr Raca, Necropolis in Perucac and Rastiste, which are nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Zaovine Lake, source: serbia.travel, author: D. Bosnić
Kopaonik
Kopaonik, source: serbia.travel, author: D. Bosnić
Kopaonik National park is in central Serbia and within its territory (11.810 ha) are the highest parts of the mountain range, surrounded by the river banks of Ibra, Josanica, Toplica nad Brzećka river. There are many endemic and semi-endemic plant and animal species living in the Kopaonik park (especially birds), however during the winter Kopaonik is first and foremost the main ski centre of Serbia.
Đerdap
Veliki Štrbac in Đerdap, source: serbia.travel, author: D. Bosnić
Đerdap National Park in the East of Serbia is located on the Romanian border (on Danube River). Đerdap offers beautiful views of the Danube gorge, especially for bikers who decide to ride through Đerdapska magistrala, untouched nature and mountain tracks with very few tourists on site. Along the river there are many charming villages and a few towns with growing tourist infrastructure. A few kilometres from Golubac town, there is Golubac Fortress, built on the rock over the river.
Devil’s Town – Đavolja Varoš
Đavolja Varoš, source: serbia.travel, author: D. Bosnić
Đavolja Varoš is the only rock formation of its kind in Europe, nominated by Serbia to the new 7 wonders of the world list. High pyramids (2-15. high) are traces of an old vulcanic activity. They are built of a very fragile rock, which would quickly erode if it didn’t have a ‘hat’, which is made from a very durable material. Of course there are many legends connected to this place and even the local springs have gotten devilish names: Devil’s Water and The Red Spring (the minerals colour the water red).