Serbia by Car

2. BEOGRAD - LJIG - KRALJEVO - NOVI PAZAR - SOPOČANI

Ibar road leads southward from Beograd through Lipovacka wood, an excursion point of citizens of Beograd, continues to Ljig (88 km), via Rudnik, with remnants of the old fort of Ostrovica to Gornji Milanovac and Preljine.There one road turns to Kraljevo while the other on the right leads to Cacak and Užice.
Nearby Kraljevo there is Žiča monastery (13 C), the seat of the first Serbian archdiocese the place where during the medievel period seven Serbian king were coronated.There are many frescoes from 13 C and 14 C. In the immediate vicinity is Mataruška Banja, a spa near the river Ibar.
27 km from Kraljevo, there is Vrnjacka Banja one of the most visited and most known spa. From Kraljevo the road leads along the river Ibar valley. 20 km far away Bogutovacka Banja, a spa with three spring of mineral water used in treatment of nerve disorders, chronical rheumatism, some skin and heart diseases. The road then continues through the picturesque Ibar gorge with its perpendicular sides. The river is good for kayaks there. On the cascades of Grncic and Jagnjilo rough water kayak championships are held. At the entrence of Ibar gorge 30 km far from Kraljevo on the cliff 200 m above the river there is Maglic a medieval fort with 8 towers (14 C).
Farther south near locality of Ušce where the river Studenica empties its water into the river Ibar the road turns to 11 km far away Studenica monastery, comprising three churches (12 – 14 C). During the whole of the medieval age it was the most important Serbian monastery decorated with extraordinary sculptures and frescoes executed at the zenith of that period and put on the list of UNESCO world patrimony.
Southward from Ušce 15 km in the left the road turns towards Jošanicka Banja (10 km), a spa on the banks of the river Jošanica, with 5 springs of fot mineral water (62-72°C), lying on the wooded slopes of Kopaonik mountain 550 m above the sea level. From Jošanicka Banja the road leads up to Kopaonik the largest massif of Serbia and one of the most beautiful mountains with excellent ski terrains, arranged paths, cable and ski-lifts. The ski terrains are 1600 – 1970 m above sea level. Kopaonik can be reached from the south via Raška, too. Between Ušce and Raška there are the ruins of the Medievel fort Brvenik (14 C).And 14 km westward from Brvenik there is Gradac monastery (13 C), the endowment of Queen Helen of Anjou, the spouse of King Uroš. Nearby Raška there are medievel monasteries Stara and Nova Pavlica. From Raška to the right the road turns to Novi Pazar and Sopocani monastery.
Novi Pazar is a town with preserved oriental architecture – Isabeg’s bath (15 C), Altum-Alem mosque (16 C), the old Turkish caravansary. 9 km far away there are rhe ruins of the old Ras, capital of medievel monasteries and churches. In the vicinity of Novi Pazar there are several very important medievel monasteries and churches.In the immediate vicinity (2 km below the town) there is Petrova chirch, the oldest church in Serbia. It was mentioned for the first time in 10 C but had been built earlier than that, and it served as the episcopal seat.There are the fragments of the oldest frescoes painted in 8 C and 9 C.In the vicinity there is another monastery Djurdjevi Supovi erected upon the order of grand “župan” (prince) Stefan Nemanja, in 1170.Southwest of Novi Pazar 15 km far away there is Sopocani, a monastery built in 1265.The church frescoes are considered the highest achievement of Serbian medieval wall painting and they are on UNESCO list of world patrimony.