Zlatibor
From World travel guide
Zlatibor is a very popular and famous mountainous tourist site at the south-western Serbia. It is bounded on the north by another mountain, called Tara, on the east by the river of Veliki Rzav, on the south by the Uvac River, and on the west by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Regions
- Branesko polje (Branesci Plain) -- the biggest Zlatibor's plain and industrial zone
- Murtenica -- southern part of Zlatibor, famous as a hiding place for Zlatibor's ajduci (singular ajduk), a sort of special forces who fought the conquering Turkish army. In Murtenica there is one of three Zlatibor's old wooden small churches, in the village of Kucani.
- Eastern Zlatibor -- its capital is Sirogojno, a village famous by a special kind of a museum - a museum under the open sky. It's called The Old Village Museum, and it collects the old houses from all over Zlatibor making a small village of them. At the northern part of this region there is Mackat, a village famous by meat products, such as very popular Zlatiborian prsuta (sort of very delicious dry meat).
- Western Zlatibor -- agriculture and friendly people, two of three Zlatibor's old wooden small churches are situated here, in the villages of Jablanica and Dobroselica. There is also the monastery of Uvac at the coasts of the Uvac River.
- Northern Zlatibor -- its centres are Kremna, a village where lived the famous prophet family of the Tarabics, and Mokra Gora, a famous village tourist site with an old railway and the Cira old train.
Towns and villages
- Kraljeve Vode (The King's Waters) -- modern town with a lot of good places to go out and spend some great time, it's Zlatibor's centre, and has some historical monuments
- Cajetina -- administrative centre of Zlatibor, it has some historical monuments
- Sirogojno -- village tourist site, includes the Old Village Museum and some historical monuments - for those who prefer slower lifestyle
- Mokra Gora -- village tourist site, including the old railway, the artefact wooden town of Mecavnik, etc.
- Mackat -- village tourist site famous by meat products, such as very popular Zlatiborian prsuta (sort of dry meat, very delicious!)
- Ribnica -- village tourist site, more popular during the history than now
- Oko -- village tourist site, more popular during the history than now.
Other destinations
- Tornik -- the highest peak of Zlatibor with a ski centre
Understand
Climate
Warm and pleasant summers and cold winters. Zlatibor's air is very healthy and going to Zlatibor is recommended for those who have tyroide gland-related and breathing issues.
Relief
High hills. Highest peak is Tornik at 1496 meters, and other peaks are Brijac, Cigota, Vijogor, Konjoder, Liska... Branesko polje (the Branesci Plain) is the biggest Zlatibor's plain.
Hydrography
Zlatibor is rich with water. There are many smaller and bigger rivers, but no lakes. There are only several artefact lakes. Zlatibor's waters are very clean and they even have some good infuences on man's health because they contain some minerals.
Plant and animal life
Many animals inhabit Zlatibor's woods and pastures. More than 120 plant species can be found here.
History
The first inhabitants of Zlatibor were the Illyrians. All over Zlatibor they left their small tombs. Romans conquered Zlatibor in 4th century BC and the Illyrians were romanized.
Slavs came in 7th century from what is today Poland.
Beginning of tourism in Zlatibor dates from August 1893, when Alexander I Obrenovic, king of Serbia, came to Kulasevac, as Kraljeve Vode were called back then. However, the real tourism started in 1905, when king Peter I Karageorgevic visited Kraljeve Vode.
People
Zlatiborians are a people famous by their smartness and literacy. They are very friendly people.
Talk
In formal situations, Zlatiborians use the literary Serbian language. In unformal situations, however, languages that are used are the Traditional Zlatiborian, and the Neo-Zlatiborian.
The Traditional Zlatiborian is a dialect of the Serbian language. It is very similar to the standard Serbian, but there are some differences. The Neo-Zlatiborian is a mixture of the Traditional Zlatiborian and the literary Serbian language.
English is not spoken in Zlatibor's rural areas, but in urban areas (in Kraljeve Vode and Cajetina) many people just know some words of it, or speak it well. However, entering a hotel or a restaurant where English isn't spoken could be very possible.
Get in
The best way to get to Zlatibor is to get to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, first and then to look for a direct bus line to Zlatibor. You can also come to Zlatibor by a train, from Belgrade and other bigger cities (if you're using a train, you'll come to Semegnjevo, Susica, or Sljivovica, Zlatibor's villages. Coming to Kraljeve Vode from there could be very hard, so it would be better to leave the train in the neigbouring city of Uzice, and then use a bus to come to Zlatibor). Bus lines connect Zlatibor with all parts of Serbia and Montenegro.
Get around
When you come to Zlatibor, you will probably come to Kraljeve Vode (if you're using a train, you'll come to Semegnjevo, Susica, or Sljivovica, Zlatibor's villages. Coming to Kraljeve Vode from there could be very hard, so it would be better to leave the train in the neigbouring city of Uzice, and then use a bus to come to Zlatibor). Kraljeve Vode is a small town, and is connected with other Zlatibor's towns and villages.
See
- Old Wooden Churches (crkve brvnare) in Jablanica, Dobroselica, and Kucani.
- Kraljeva cesma (the King's Fountain) in Kraljeve Vode.
- Old Village Museum in Sirogojno.
- 'Waterfall in Gostilje.
- Old Cira Train in Mokra Gora.
- The Home of Prophecies in Kremna.
Itineraries
Staying in Kraljeve Vode is most recommended, but don't miss to go and see the Zlatibor's nature and attractions of the Zlatibor's villages. Use one-day tours or picnics to Mokra Gora, Sirogojno, Gostilje and other villages to do that.
Do
- Skiing in Kraljeve Vode or at Tornik, if you come to Zlatibor by winter.
- Hiking Zlatibor's hills, such as Sumatno brdo (smaller hiking) and Cigota (a great hiking for professionals), if you come to Zlatibor by summer.
Eat
- Zlatiborian prsuta, a sort of dry meat which is very delicious.
- Zlatiborian cheese, very delicious sort of cheese.
Drink
- Slivovitz, a sort of brendy
