Ethno-villages and parks

It's nothing new to say, that in all spas people come increasingly often to relax and enjoy themselves. The sports and recreation complex Sunny River in Banja Koviljaca has lately become a place that deserves such epithets. In addition, one would not be mistaken to consider it both ethno and even eco-resort on the River Drina.

Not far from Belgrade, in Zornic’s House, a tourist homestead and farm, guests are able to enjoy a true pastoral atmosphere, as if they were distanced from urban life by hundreds of kilometers. There they are surrounded by luxuriant countryside, hospitality, excellent food and comfort as well.

At the Stara Planina Mountain, in eastern Serbia, where the highest peak in Serbia – Midzor, is located, along with pheasants, hares, wild hogs and deer, the locals say it is possible to occasionally see a mountain buck or a bear, straying from the neighboring Bulgaria. However, deer and hinds are prevalent, so the ethno-village of Sasa Prokopovic carries the name “Srna” (Serbian for doe).

What the life was like for countryside families in the area of Srem at the beginning of the last century – one can find out in the ethno house Stajkov in Boljevci. It is a village on the left bank of the Sava River, some 40 km upstream from Belgrade, or 29 km via land road. The original settlement was directly on the riverbank, but due to flooding the inhabitants moved a little bit to the west, on the higher altitude.

“If you do not know Heaven on Earth how to feel, bring your loves ones to ‘Babina reka’ and find it for real”, say the verses of a renowned Serbian poet Dobrica Eric, who wrote them in February 2011, inspired by the beauty of this ethno village. It is located 50km from Belgrade, when going from Lazarevac toward Arandjelovac. Good tourist signalization informs the travelers that, if they turn right on a countryside road, pleasant surprises will await in the ethno village “Babina reka”.

The village of Varna is situated in the Pocerina region, near the town of Sabac, in western Serbia, 100km far from Belgrade. It is a hilly area, abounding in fruit serving to prepare homemade delicacies. It was in this village that, five years ago, the Kovacevic family took up rural tourism and founded the ALBEDO VILLA, which, in 2010, was presented an award of the Serbian Tourist Organization in the category of a rural tourism household.

A life-size sculpture of a Serbian soldier in ash wood, wearing a Balkan war uniform and opanci – the traditional peasant footwear, inspired by Gvozden Terzić, a former owner of the estate, is the trademark of the Terzic ethno park (Terzića avlija – avlija being an archaic Serbian word signifying a yard). Another sculpture in the yard is made of walnut wood and represents another member of the family, a potter. This village household was renovated by a grandson of Gvozden Terzić and was opened for public in 2005.

Drvengrad is situated in Mokra Gora, a village between the Western Serbian mountains of Zlatibor, Tara and Šargan, above the Mećavnik hill, and happens to be one of best known ethno villages in Serbia, always in expansion. All the ideas originate from renowend Serbian film director Emir Kusturica, who had made the scenery for the film “life is a miracle”, and it then grew into the town where the famous director now lives.

Rtanj is the mountain in Serbia shrouded in various legends and storied that several decades ago had even attracted famous British SF author Arthur Clarke.

The Zlatibor Mountain is one of best known tourist places in Serbia. It is famous for the health tourism, and in the past few years for beautiful ski tracks as well. At the same time, the area of Zlatibor is interesting for the preservation of traditions.