Serbian Athos and Ovčar Banja

Find out why the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge, with its natural beauty and valuable monuments, draws attention for centuries!

In addition to its natural beauty and meanders, over 10 monasteries are located on this gorge, giving it the name of Serbian Mount Athos. On this tour, we’ll visit some of the spiritual endowments located there and, after refreshing our spirits, it’s time to refresh our bodies in the pools of the Ovčar spa, whose water reaches a temperature of up to 38ºC. Optionally, we can go on a boat ride on the Međuvršje lake.

Transfiguration Monastery

The Transfiguration Monastery is nowadays located on the right side of the West Morava, on the northern slopes of the Ovčar gorge. The first mention of this monastery in written sources dates back to 1525. The old Transfiguration Monastery was demolished for a railroad to Užice to be built. The bishop Nikolaj Velimirović in 1938 started a iniciative to build a new one. Life there is organized according to holy mountain rules: there’s no parish nor property, it has a missionary role.

Nikolje Monastery

The Nikolje Monastery is the the oldest one on the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge. It was built on the Kablar slopes, on the left bank of the West Morava. On the basis of its architectural characteristics, it’s assumed that it’s from the Middles Ages, most likely the period between the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th century. In the Nikolje monastery’s treasury, the most significant handwritten book in Serbian history is kept – it’s the Karan Gospel, written in the beginning of the 17th century.
Once, over 300 monks lived in Nikolje. Also, prince Miloš Obrenović and his family hid there from the Turks.In 1817, he built a residence there in the yard, which exists until today and has his name.

Annunciation Monastery

The Annunciation monastery is located on a gentle hill above the Ovčar Banja village. This is one of the few monasteries on the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge for which they know exactly when it was built and who built it. The writing above the church’s entrance says “built in 1601-02”. It was built in the Raška style and it’s the most beautiful monastery on the gorge after the Trinity Monastery.
This monastery possesses one of the oldest books, the Annunciation Gospel, from 1372. In its treasury, a gospel from 1552 is kept. In it, Patriarch Pavle became a monk.

Ilinje Monastery

The Ilinje Monastery is located above the Annunciation Monastery. There’s no information about when it was built and who built it. Considering it’s close to the Annunciation Monastery, it is believed that annunciation monks, on their way up, built it as their metochion. Today’s monastery was built in 1938 on the foundation of the old one.
“Kablar” Wellness Center

Itinerary:

Saturday 25th of October: Departure from Belgrade at 8 am. Drive through Rudnik and Čačak, arrival on the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge and visit the monasteries. Lunch in some of the restaurants and boat ride on the Međuvršje lake (optional). Visit the „Kablar“ wellness center. Return to Belgrade at 8 pm.

Price: 34 e (includes transportation, tour according to the program, memebership card, wellness center)
Price doesn’t include lunch (5 e) and individual costs of travelers.

Reservation deadline 23rd of October