Holiday apartment in Rasina District: discover mountains, wine and culture

Rasina District between mountains, wine and history

Rasina District brings together very different types of landscape: the district extends from elevations of 250 to 2,017 metres. It includes the mountain regions of Kopaonik, Jastrebac, Goč, Željin and the Gledić Mountains. When choosing a holiday apartment in Rasina District, you can therefore tailor your trip to your own interests – for example, with a focus on nature, culture, wine traditions or active experiences.

Jastrebac is particularly diverse. The mountain is used for walking, hiking, cycling, skyrunning and orienteering. It is also one of the few mountains in Serbia with extensive silver birch forests; the silver birches found there are legally protected. At an elevation of around 650 metres lies an extensive plateau with an artificial lake, 20 kilometres from Kruševac. The “Stazama Jastrepca” adventure offering includes a children’s adventure park, a zip line over the lake, a climbing rock equipped with the required safety certifications, and large adventure courses on two levels.

The “Jastrebački trougao” mountain-bike route also adds its own distinctive touch: it connects the Jastrebac mountain lodge, Ribarska Banja at the foot of the mountain, and the village of Svarča in the valley of the Toplica River. The district’s themed offerings also include opportunities for hunting and fishing on Jastrebac, at Lake Ćelije, on the Western and South Morava rivers, and on the Rasina River. The Morava Corridor connects Ćićevac, Stalać, Kruševac and Trstenik with major long-distance roads, including Corridors 10 and 11.

Choose a holiday apartment in Rasina District based on your travel interests

For cultural and historical discoveries, the district offers an unusual density of sites. The Lazarica Church is dedicated to Saint Stephen and was built in 1376 to mark the birth of Prince Lazar’s son Stefan. It is considered likely that Prince Lazar had his capital, Lazarev grad, built in 1371. The remains of the larger fortified town include, among other things, a palace, a court church and a stable.

The National Museum of Kruševac is located in the archaeological park. It holds around 23,000 museum objects spanning more than six millennia of history. Expert guided tours are available for visits to the museum areas; tours of the exhibition are offered in Serbian and English. Further examples of the Morava School can be found on the western façade of Naupare Monastery: it features two rosettes considered important examples of this historic architectural school. The church of Veluće Monastery was built in the 14th century, around 1370, belongs to the Morava School and is protected in Serbia as a cultural monument of great importance. The monastery also preserves old liturgical books and vestments.

The medieval Koznik Fortress is considered one of Serbia’s best-preserved medieval fortifications and is situated at an elevation of more than 900 metres. During the “Koznik – City of Knights” event, it becomes a medieval setting with a prince’s hall, craft workshops, stables, arbors, banners, shields, and performers and volunteers in medieval costumes. The event includes a feast with various dishes and Župa wines. At Ljubostinja Monastery, the Serbian architect Rade Neimar built a foundation for Princess Milica. The cultural event “Jefimijini Dani”, dedicated to the first Serbian female poet Jefimija, is also held there.

Wine, regional cuisine and relaxation

Župa defines the culinary character of Rasina District. The “poljane” are a special group of wine-growing settlements preserved in this form only in Župa. The Museum of Viticulture and Oenology is housed in a wine cellar built in 1924 by the agricultural school and documents the development of viticulture and wine production over the centuries. “Župska Berba” is a harvest festival that has been held for half a century. Visitors can taste wine from the “wine fountain”, as well as wines and other grape products along the “wine route”. In the village of Srndalje, an ethno-restaurant is regarded as a destination for traditional local dishes and regional specialities; it can be reached via a 1,800-metre-long paved mountain road.

Ribarska Banja was one of the first six Serbian spas to be restored in 1833 during the rule of Prince Miloš. Today, the resort offers massages and treatments with medicinal herbs, algae, wine and chocolate, as well as salt rooms, saunas, whirlpools, a fitness area, an indoor and outdoor pool, a Green Bar and a Turkish hammam. The “Samar” sports and leisure centre includes tennis and beach-volleyball courts, a small water park and a children’s playground. Depending on whether you want to combine culture, mountain activities, wine or relaxation, you can tailor your search for a holiday apartment in Rasina District to different travel ideas.

Further places to help you find your bearings

For further orientation in the region, you can also consider Kruševac, Brzeće, Brus, Aleksandrovac, Ribarska Banja, Jablanica and Trstenik. Another regional option is Zlatibor District.

For the higher-level travel overview: Central Serbia.