The "Swiss Alps" smack in the middle of Serbia: This mountain is a gem of winter, but also of summer tourism

Photo: Shutterstock

Spring has arrived, the tourist season in ski centers is coming to an end, but one mountain in Western Serbia is only now beginning to shine inits full splendor.

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On Mt. Golija, which is considered one of the richest mountains in Serbia, currently a true snow idyll reigns. The road to the top of the mountain is passable, which attracts a large number of domestic tourists who still have the opportunity to enjoy the snow magic.

"It's really fantastic here, I feel like I'm not in Serbia. The air is clean and you can breathe with full lungs at this altitude. What thrilled us was that wild nature is at your fingertips, this is one of the few mountain locations that is not by and large urbanized. This is a real paradise for those of us who love long walks in the snow," Aleksandra from Belgrade told RINA. She decided to spend the weekend with her family on Golija.

The most important thing for all visitors is whether or not the roads are passable, because one of the most risky routes in Serbia is located in this territory. The Preko Brdo-Odvracenica road was blocked for traffic for a long time due to strong wind and snowdrifts.

"With great perseverance of road maintenance workers and with the help of heavy machinery, we managed to clear the road that was causing big problems. The section is located below the highest peak of Golija, Jankov Kamen, strong winds are blowing from the Pester Plateau and that is why this is a section where a road that has just been cleared can get snowed in again in just a few minutes. We hope that there will be no more heavy snowfall, but the situation here is uncertain until the summer, and the road services are standing by in April and May as well," said Vitomir Arsovic from the public company Putevi Ivanjica.

In order to preserve natural and cultural values, Mt. Golija is on the UNESCO World List of Biosphere Reserves. And precisely because of all these features, Golija is becoming one of the most visited destinations in Serbia, which provides quality but above all a safe stay and vacation.

Photo: RINA

"The winter season on Golija is coming to an end, we are very much preparing for the summer, which will be significantly better than in previous years based on the interest shown so far, the booked accommodations and announcements. Golija is our favorite in the summer period, because many of its locations, which are very attractive and the beauty of a wild mountain are more accessible when the snow melts," said Miloje Ostojic from the Tourism Organization Ivanjica.

Golija is considered to be one of the most beautiful and wood-rich mountains in Serbia, and with its massive size, it dominates the landscape and occupies an area almost twice as large as the neighboring and much more famous Mt. Kopaonik.

In 2001, Golija was declared a Nature Park, while the Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve is under UNESCO protection. The highest peak on Golija is Jankov Kamen at 1,834 meters above sea level.

The untouched nature of southwestern Serbia is best reflected in the beauty and uniqueness of this mountain. Golija boasts stunning beauty and extremely rich flora and fauna. It spreads across the territories of five municipalities, all the way from Ivanjica to Novi Pazar, through Raska, Sjenica and Kraljevo.

You will find beautiful springs of pure, mountain water on this mountain, that emerge from the wild and still untamed nature. The mountain water on Golija is crystal clear, refreshingly cold and immensely beautiful.

Photo: Ivan Strahinic

Golija is about 230 kilometers from Belgrade, 317 kilometers from Novi Sad, and 224 kilometers from Nis. The nearest towns are Ivanjica, 40 kilometers away, and Novi Pazar 32 and Raska (43 kilometers.)

Golija is also a mountain extremely rich in clear springs, while the best-known rivers that spring on Golija are Studenica and Moravica. There are also three smaller lakes on Golija surrounded by incredible nature - Ticar (Dajicko Lake), Nebeska Suza on Okruglica, and Kosaninovo Lake, which are true pearls of summer tourism.

Golija also has its own nature park, which is a treasure trove of rare plant and animal species, and shows its true face in the spring and summer months.

Near this mountain are the Serbian Orthodox monasteries Studenica and Gradac, which are an unavoidable part of the tourist and cultural offer of this area.

(Telegraf.rs/RINA)