Untouched nature, skiing resorts and archaeological sites are the leading attributes of Tara, a mountain known for its diversity of flora and fauna.
Mount Tara with endless evergreen and deciduous forests, lush pastures and vast meadows is one of the most beautiful corners of Serbia. Thus no wonder that the old Slavic God Tar had chosen Mt. Tara for his home. According to the legend, the mountain was named after him.
Tara is located in Western Serbia near Zlatibor and Mokra Gora, and it presents an area of exceptional natural beauties. It is the perfect destination for relaxation and recreation.
The canyon of the Drina River in the north of the mountain range contributes to the already exceptional beauty of Tara. Lake Perućac on the Drina River and Zaovine lake are located at the foot of the mountain. Thanks to these extraordinary natural beauties and unique ambient, Tara is a true jewel among Serbian mountains.
In winter time Tara, with its several smaller ski resorts Beli bor, Nagramak, Šljivovica and Mitrovac na Tari (Mitrovac on Tara), attracts numerous fans of winter sports. The highest quality ski resorts are located in the region of “Predov Krst” and they are equiped with trails for Alpine and Nordic skiing and the system of ski-lifts.
All year long numerous visitors come to Tara because of favorable climatic conditions. Zaovine with lakes, Kaluđerske Bare, Mitrovac, Sokolina and Predov krst are the most visited tourist resorts in Tara. During summer season cycling and hiking tours are organized, while all fans of extreme sports can enjoy mountain cycling tours.
If you prefer activities such as walking and hiking and enjoying the beauties of untouched nature, Tara will exceeded all your expectations. You can also visit some of the numerous cultural and tourist attractions.
Bajina Bašta, Višegrad, ethno village Drvengrad and the unique “Šargan Eight” rail can be visited as they are located at the foot of the mountain. You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to experience a unique steam train ride on the inaccessible terrain and the narrow eight-shaped railway track between Mokra Gora and Šargan.
Several archaeological sites can be found in Tara, and particularly interested are stećci (medieval tombstones) in Perućac, medieval fortress Solotnik and the Rača Monastery from the 13th century. For restless spirits and true adventurists there is whitewater rafting on the Tara River and the Drina.
In 1981 the mountain range of Tara was declared a National Park with spectacular nature and rich flora and fauna. There are 53 species of mammals and 153 species of birds living in this nature reserve park while bear, chamois and roe deer are protected by law.
“Tepih livada” (Carpet meadow), a part of the natural reserve “Crveni potok” (Red creek), is a particular attraction in Tara. It was named after a unique phenomenon – the meadow sags under your feet giving you a sensation that you’re truly walking on carpet. This phenomenon is a result of water preserved under the watertight soil. Lack of oxygen, acidic base, excess water and low temperatures prevent plants from decaying.
Climate in this region is humid and cold, thus it’s perfect for the growth of moss that creates white peat deposits. This moorland has been forming continuously since the last ice age, it is thousands of years old and it is still rising 1mm a year.
How to get to this preserve of natural beauty?
If you are heading to the mountain of ancient Slavic gods from the direction of Belgrade, the shortest route to take is the Belgrade-Valjevo-Rogačica-Bajina Bašta-Tara road which is 180km long. Tara is also 246km from Novi Sad.
There are two daily buses from Belgrade, but the buses to Bajina Bašta are more frequent and you can take a local bus from there to Mt. Tara.
The closest railway station to Tara is on Braneško polje on the Belgrade-Bar railroad, and it is located 15km from the mountain. Braneško polje is 16km from Bajina Bašta and just as far from the famous Mokra Gora.
Foto: Irene Becker, Flickr.com
