Resava Cave

Discover Eastern Serbia in this day-long tour. Begin by exploring Manasija, a monastery built in early 15th century. Trace the fortifications surrounding the complex constructed to protect the Church of Saint Trinity against the Ottomans. See its fresco paintings, a representation of the greatest achievements of medieval Serbian arts and culture. Continue on to witness the dazzling cave jewelry of Resava, an 80-million-year-old cave discovered in 1962. Walk the 800 meter trail that is open to visitors and discover why this is one of the most visited caves in this part of Europe. Afterward, proceed to Veliki Buk waterfall, one of Eastern Serbia's top attractions. Admire the Krupaj Spring located 30km from Veliki Buk waterfall, on the west side of Beljanica Mount. It belongs to the group of karst springs and represents one of the most beautiful springs in Eastern Europe. Return to Belgrade in the early evening.

Start with pickup from Belgrade at 8:00 AM. Travel to the first stop, Manasija Monastery, which was built in the 15th century by Serbian ruler, Stefan Lazarevic. Discover one the most significant medieval monuments in Serbia known for its artistic, cultural and historical value. Explore the monastery which is surrounded by magnificent towers of the medieval fortress. Continue to Resava Cave, one of the oldest and largest caves in Eastern Europe. Explore the interior of the 80 million-year-old cave which measures approximately 4.5 kilometers in length. See numerous and magnificent halls, channels, galleries, columns, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies and flowstone waterfalls. Finally, make a final stop at the Lisine waterfall which is over 20 meters high and is one of the highest and most impressive waterfalls in Serbia. Before returning to Belgrade, enjoy free time for lunch in a restaurant near the waterfall. Make sure to try the homegrown trout.

Your tour starts from your accommodation, where your guide will pick you up. Head towards Pomoravlje District, known as the center of the last Serbian Medieval Kingdom, where monasteries still have enormous cultural and historical legacy and wealth. Your first stop is Ravanica monastery. It was the endowment of Prince Lazar built during the period between 1375 and 1377, with its frescoes painted in the years preceding the Battle of Kosovo. Due to its architectural and artistic features, the Ravanica church can be called the birthplace of the new artistic movement called the Morava school. Continue your ride to Manasija monastery.  Manasija monastery is one of the last monuments to Serbian medieval culture, raised by Despot Stefan Lazarević, son of Prince Lazar. The construction of the church, an extravagant fortification and large refectory lasted from 1406 to 1418. The Church of the Holy Trinity, which is part of the monastery, is considered a prime example of Morava architecture. Also marvel at the frescoes in Manasija, together with those in Kalenić, which are the most beautiful of the Morava properties and are considered among the best in old Serbian art in general.  After this extraordinary experience, you will visit the Resava cave, one of the oldest in Serbia. The interior of the cave consists of numerous and varied halls, channels, galleries, columns, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies and flowstone waterfalls. Further on, you will enjoy a traditional Serbian lunch in a unique atmosphere, in a restaurant directly below the waterfall. After an unforgettable day, you will head back to Belgrade.

Discover the gemstones of Mother Nature and medieval culture in the flourishing Resava Valley. Be ready for departure in front of your accommodation in Belgrade at 8:30 am. You will be picked up and transferred in a comfortable minivan. The first stop will be after a 2-hour drive accompanied by an interesting story of your guide. Learn about the medieval Serbian State on your way to beautiful Šumadija and arrive somewhere between the green hills of the vivid Resava River gorge, where the medieval Manasija Monastery is located. Discover this complex with its magical atmosphere. It was built as a real military fortification with towers and walls to protect the Church of the Holy Trinity from the Ottomans. It was built during the rule of Despot Stefan Lazarević in the early 15th century. Turks conquered the Monastery in the 15th century, then Austrians in the 18th, so in the 19th century the Monastery was restored twice. Floor mosaics and wall frescoes along with architectural objects of Manasija represent a real rarity for Serbian medieval architecture and old Serbian painting. Visit Resava Cave which was not discovered long ago. It holds the title of one of the most interesting caves in Serbia and its natural beauty is protected by state law. The next sight is the beautiful Lisine Waterfall, located in a mountainous green area. You will enjoy the crystal clear water view and nature's peaceful sound. 

Eastern Serbia – the landscape of beautiful nature which was the place of the long turbulent history, today is the region of the small mountain villages, strange beliefs and customs, fantasy and tradition, sources of healthy mineral water, caves, stunning waterfalls and delicious local specialties. We will start our journey by meeting Despot Stefan, a Serbian prince and a knight from the end of the 14th century, art and culture lover, and by stepping into his glorious monastery Manasija still surrounded with fortification - keeping 600 years old fresco paintings. We’ll continue towards Resava cave, whose luxurious halls will leave you breathless. In this marvel of nature, you will encounter the magnificent forms of stalactites and stalagmites thousands of the years old. Our search for the incredible natural beauties does not stop there. Enjoying one of the most attractive waterfalls in Serbia – Veliki Buk, will be completed with the tasting the best specialty in the ethno restaurant - trout raised in a local fishpond(optional). How the evil ghost Tartor seduces the young girls from these region, we’ll discover at the spring of the Krupaja river and it's mysterious cave.

On this tour you are going to visit Manasija monastery - also known as Resava, a Serbian Orthodox monastery near Despotovac town, founded by Despot Stefan Lazarevic between 1406 and 1418. The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, it is one of the most significant monuments of medieval Serbian culture and it belongs to the "Morava school". The Resava cave, one of the most beautiful natural treasures of Serbia, is 4.5 km long. However, only 2,830 meters of the cave have been researched, and visitors can go as long as 800 meters deep into it. The Resava is one of the oldest caves in the country (around 80 million years old). The temperature in it is constantly around 7°C, while the air humidity varies from 80 to 100%. The interior of the cave has numerous and varied halls, canals, galleries, columns, stalactites, stalagmites, natural drape like formations and petrified waterfalls. Because of its riches and varied colors, the Resava Cave earned an attribute “the beauty from the Resava”. In Lisine, the 25-metre high "Veliki buk" waterfall, Serbia’s most visited waterfall, was long considered the highest waterfall in the country, until the waterfalls on Stara Planina and Kopaonik were stumbled across. In the nearby restaurants run by local farmers you can taste fresh trout or some grilled meat specialties from this region. Also, we can't wait for you to try their bread! The Krupaj springs are one of the natural curiosities and features of this region. With its splendid beauty, these springs form a lake on its surface and irresistibly lure an unwary traveler to the depths of the forests, to its water and crispy mountain air. The thermal spring water complete with health properties mixed with the cold spring water from the Krupaj springs, seem to complete the picture of this almost mythical scenery. Close by there is a strong thermal spring with water temperature of 26.50C, and is protected as a natural heritage of national importance. Researchers into this spring have so far reached a depth of 123 meters!

Some of biggest legends and mysteries of this region we will discover at spring of Krupaja river, which is called Serbian Thailand. Eastern Serbia is untouched jewel of nature and the place of the long and turbulent history. With more than 10 monuments of the culture, its made for people who really love to enjoy nature wonders. Our journey starts in Manasija monastery where we will discover Serbian medieval history and meet Despot Stefan, a Serbian prince and a knight from the end of the 14th century, art and writing lover by stepping into his astonishing monastery Manasija still surrounded with fortification – keeping 700 years old fresco paintings. We’ll continue towards Resava Cave, real wonder and 2nd biggest cave in Europe. Luxurious cave halls will leave you breathless. In this wonder of nature, you will encounter the amazing forms of stalactites and stalagmites more than hundred-thousands years old. Our hunt for wonders of nature doesn’t stop here, we will visit Lisine and Veliki Buk waterfall, one of most attractive waterfalls in Serbia.