The trip to Ravanica and Manasija Monasteries, Resava Cave, and Lisine Waterfall was a day in Serbia well spent. We traveled to Pomoravlje, aka “the center of the last Serbian Medieval Kingdom,” described as a “treasure of Serbian cultural heritage“.
Monasteries in Pomoravlje have an “enormous historical legacy“, and our guide provided extensive detailed information. Photography isn’t allowed inside monasteries, so photos of the beautiful, symbolic Frescoes are media shots.
Our group of five included a Malaysian couple living in Australia, an English woman also traveling solo, and a young Indian business student from Harvard. They were excellent company, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with them. Uros, our guide and driver from Victor Tours, is studying for a PhD in geography.
Ravanica Monastery
Our first stop, Ravanica Monastery, was built between 1375-1377 and is the “endowment of Prince Lazar, the Great Martyr of Kosovo“. Ravanica architecture has been called “the birthplace of the creative Morava school of art“. Monastery atmosphere is undoubtedly special, and a calming, peaceful aura is noticed by everyone who enters the grounds.
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“Ravanica frescoes are in a poor state of preservation. Many have faded or flaked from the walls, and there are sections where nothing is left at all.” Serbian Orthodox Monastery Ravanica Branicevo Eparchy
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Ravanica Frescoes were painted before the famous 1389 Battle of Kosovo. Even though they’ve deteriorated due to aging, war damage, damp weather, and other adverse conditions, they ‘re still beautiful.
Beloved Holy Prince Lazar is a respected Serbian ruler and saint of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The history of the Battle of Kosovo, Ravanica Monastery, and Prince Lazar is fascinating and has deep meaning for Serbs. Links with details are provided in this blog post. Currently, Orthodox nuns live at the monastery and are its caretakers. They watched us carefully are we toured inside.
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“For Serbs, the Battle of Kosovo, 1389 is widely seen as a noble defeat, not only a tragedy, but also the source of great national pride. The story of a proud nation bravely defending its freedom became the country’s most important national myth and gave Serbs the strength to endure during a long period of Turkish rule.” en.ravanica.rs
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Resava Cave
I visited caves in Poland and Slovenia earlier in this trip, so touring another wasn’t at the top of my list. However, interesting 80-million-year-old Resava cave was worth the walkthrough. Known as a “portal to the Ice Age,” the beautiful cave is located in Despotovac municipality.
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“Resava cave was created before The Great Ice Age by subterranean rivers that cut a path in the limestone terrain. It’s one of the oldest and most beautiful caves in Serbia.” serbia.com
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The cave is 4.5 kilometers (2.5 miles) long, but only 800 meters (2,600 ft.) are open to tourists. The temperature inside the cave is 7 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit) year round. Inside, there are numerous, unique “chambers, galleries, columns, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, and flowstone waterfalls”. It can take limestone stalactites and stalagmites a thousand years to form less than 4 inches.
Colorful “ornaments” inside the cave were created by the “dissolution of calcium carbonate“. The three colors created – red, yellow, and white – “depend on minerals in the water“. Red, the most dominant color, is created by iron oxide. White “comes from crystal calcium, and yellow is “produced by traces of clay”. There are many interesting tunnels and “halls” in the cave, including:
- Hall of Joined Columns – yellowish calcite
- Beehive Hall – stalactites resembling beehives
- Rare Tunnel of Red Breccias
- Hall of History – prehistoric stone axes, spears, animal skulls
- Path of the Flowstone Waterfalls – layers of calcite deposits
- Organ Hall – acoustic area with two crystal white sculptures
- Crystal Hall – formations elephant’s foot & mother with a child
Manasija Monastery
Our next stop, Manasija Monastery, is one of the “last monuments to Serbian medieval culture”. It was built from 1406 – 1418 by Despot Stefan Lazarević, son of Prince Lazar. It’s surrounded by “impressive stone fortification walls with eleven towers and a trench”. Despotova Kula (Despot’s Tower) is the dominant tower.
The monastery’s Church of the Holy Trinity is “a prime example of Morava architecture”. Manasija Frescoes are “among the most beautiful of the Morava properties and old Serbian art”. They depict Serbian warriors in the choir transept, prophets on the dome, and “idealized representations” of Despot Stefan Lazarević.
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“Historically and culturally, the Morava is the most important river in Serbia. The Serbian state was born in its valley, and the connection between this river and the people has entered the legend. Her unpredictable nature, as well as the beauty and fertility she brings, are sung by a large number of folk and artistic songs, and she also deserves her own unique folk dance!” Serbia.com
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Besides the monastery, church, and fortifications, Manasija has a partially preserved refectory and library. The library houses a “much-valued scriptorium in which numerous books were copied, influencing scribes for some time to come“.
Lisine Waterfall
Our final stop was Lisine Waterfall (Veliki Buk). The waterfall is considered a “monument of nature” and an a geoheritage object of Serbia. It lies along the slopes of Beljanica Mountain near Resava Cave and the Vrelu River, a tributary of Resava River. The waterfall flows year round.
There’s a small lake surrounded by boulders and a spring at the foot of the waterfall. The spring “collects water from the karst areas of Beljanica“. A direct hydrographic connection was established with the sinking rivers from the coves of Rečka and Busovata – nearby villages of viticulture and livestock farmers”.
Restoran Vodopad Lisine
After relaxing by the waterfalls, we enjoyed a traditional Serbian lunch at Restoran Vodopad Lisine, just a few feet from the waterfalls. The restaurant is popular with locals. Specialties include homemade cheese and bread, kebab, pancakes served with local honey, and delicious fresh river trout.
It was a fantastic day! I’m still absorbing what I learned about Serbian history. I have another week in Belgrade and then travel to Tbilisi Georgia – a new country for me.
More later…
Stunning!