Nearby Attractions
Untouched nature, skiing resorts and archaeological sites are the leading attributes of Tara, a mountain known for its diversity of flora and fauna.
Mount Tara with endless evergreen and deciduous forests, lush pastures and vast meadows is one of the most beautiful corners of Serbia. Thus no wonder that the old Slavic God Tar had chosen Mt. Tara for his home. According to the legend, the mountain was named after him.
Zaovine Lake
Zaovine Lake is an artificial lake in central-west Serbia, on the Tara Mountain. It was created on the Beli Rzav river as a reservoir for the Bajina Bašta II reversible hydro power plant. The lake, with its five bays, have been nicknamed the "Jewel of Tara".
The lake covers an area of 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi) and has five branches, or bays.
The entire lake lies in the Tara National Park, one of five in Serbia. The lake is surrounded by vast woods as forestation of Tara mountain is 75%. Zaovine is the area where Josif Pančić, a leading Serbian botanist, discovered the endemic Serbian spruce in 1875 on the nearby Kik hill.
Complaints came from the local population, tourists, environmentalists, fishermen, excursionists and the representatives of the Tara National Park, who claimed that such fluctuation will damage wildlife, especially the fish population, as the lake is a spawning area.
Perucac Lake
Perućac lake, created after the construction of the dam on the river Drina, is an ideal destination for relaxation in untouched nature or for a great fishing experience
The artificial lake Perućac is located in Western Serbia, on the very border with Bosnia & Herzegovina, at the altitude of 290 meters. It was created by damming the flow of the Drina river and construction of the hydroelectric power plaint “Bajina Bašta”. The surface of the lake is 12 square kilometers while its depth reaches 60 meters.
Perućac is the fishing paradise as the lake abounds in fish. The annual huchen fishing competition is organized on the lake and some fishermen can boast with enviable trophies. The lake is also rich in the European chub, catfish and carp.
In the beautiful surroundings of the nearby Tara mountain, all you need is a fishing rod, a fishing license that can be issued by any of local Fishery Associations, and a little of “fishermen’s luck”. You don’t have to be a passionate fisherman to have a great time on Perućac lake.
Drina River
For centuries a place where the East and the West clashed, today the unusually green, clear, winding and powerful Drina river carries the merriest regattas on its waves through exciting nature, for which it became the favorite destination of bohemians and adventurists.
Once it was an important battle site that divided the Eastern and the Western Roman Empire, later the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Serbia, and today the Drina is the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Almost along its entire course the Drina cuts through mountain ranges creating gorges, only to enter a valley quite unexpectedly and change its character like a skillful actor. Its moodiness manages to trick even the most cunning ones, while its beauty will soften even the cruelest hearts.
Mokra Gora
Lush nature of Mokra Gora merges the spirit of old times and modern era: the old “Šargan Eight” railway, Emir Kusturica’s ethno-village “Drvengrad” and a modern ski center with artificial snow cannons.
Steep, exciting relief covered with dense pine forests between Mt. Tara and Mt. Zlatibor was once known as “Markovo polje” (Marko’s field), a place where Marko Kraljević, a Serbian medieval knight and a hero of epic poetry, threw maces from one hill to another, according to traditional folk stories.
Today, however, Mokra Gora (eng. Wet mountain) is better known for its tourist attractions and breathtaking nature surrounded with valleys and gorges of the White and the Black Rzav and the Kamiška River.
Vrelo River
Vrelo is a right tributary of the river Drina in the settlement of Perućac, Bajina Bašta municipality in Serbia. The river is only 365 meters long and is probably one of the shortest rivers in the world.
The stream springs out of a large rock. It forms a small waterfall and then flows mostly slow, with crystal clear water. After it passes under the concrete bridge, it rapids over the natural obstacles made of rocks and tree roots. It fastens, starts to resound and foam, before it reached the waterfall and falls into the Drina.
Due to its length (same number of meters as days per year), many call it the Godina "Year" and say it's one year long. The river has a large spring and after its short course it flows into the Drina via a waterfall. Although short, the river has all the characteristics of major rivers - the great, powerful source from which water gushes whitish, a pond on the right bank, water mill on the left, a left tributary in the form of clear creek, a village on the left bank, two bridges.There is a restaurant on the small plateau above the final waterfall.
Banjska Stena
Banjska stena is the most visited site in Tara National Park, located 6 km from Mitrovac. Banjska stena is a very popular site, with a protective fence on two levels and a panorama of the Drina river canyon and its steep cliffs, Perucac Lake, and gentle slopes of Bosnia. The forest road goes to the viewpoint and is a perfect foot or bicycle path equipped with wooden benches and information boards.
The viewpoint is located 10 kilometers from Mitrovac. The road to the viewpoint is clearly marked, and there are benches and a safety fence at the top of it. The name Banjska stena comes from Banjsko vrelo, which is a spring at the foot of the viewpoint. The spring was of karst origin with water temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. Banja (Turkish for spa, resort) denotes a place with warm water. The citizens of Tara used this water even during the winter because it was always warm. Banjsko vrelo was flooded in the construction of lake Perućac.