Stone houses from the 18th century known after wine cellars, their authentic look and places where no one lives. Actually, someone does: the most quality wines of specific taste and scent, which are believed to have healing abilities.
At a hill in the vicinity of Negotin, there is, at first sight, an ordinary place. However, it is enough just to take a few steps along the rough streets which make a one-of-a-kind labyrinth, in order to realize it is about a very special place.
Houses without chimneys tell us that no one lives in there, stone facades that they are very old and intoxicating aroma of grapes that the good old wine is hiding in them.
The secret of this wine was revealed in the Roman times when people had started growing vine in this region.
Fertile land, climate and elevation have always been the winning combination for the most aromatic and tastiest red wines.
The unique taste could be recognized by the wine lovers around Europe and the world, and numerous medals speak about their high quality.
How were Rajačke pivnice created?
At the end of the 19th century, the parasite named phylloxera came to Europe and destroyed the vine. This disease had triggered the enormous shortage of wine, and viticulture in Negotinska Krajina had blossomed. How? Thanks to the rocky-sandy soil because of which phylloxera couldn’t extend even more! That is how pivnice were created, and the wine from Negotin started to be exported around Europe.
Houses or pivnice had been built from the half of the 18th century until the 30’s of the 20th century, from stone or the logs. Today, there are more than 270 of them and they represent the unique wine cellars, nominated for candidature for the World Heritage List.
Rich history and tradition of viticulture of Negotin area are still writing pages. “The treasure of Rajac” is being made and kept in around 60 wine cellars. Namely, stone houses are actually wine cellars, built in the way that their favourite residents – wines, can comfortably live in there. The lower part of the houses is sunken two meters into the ground and is used for wine production and storage, and the upper part is used as the accommodation for people during the harvest.
Owners of these wine houses live near the hill where Rajačke pivnice or, as they are also called, Rajačke pimnice are. Fifteen minutes away from pivnice there is Rajac village and it is a birthplace of people who produce the wine. Tradition and experience most of them have inherited from their ancestors who had done the exact same thing years ago – had grown and made the famous wine from Negotiska Krajina.
Whether because of the specific environment, the way of making and storage it or because of the land on which their fruit is grown, wines of this area are said to be the most aromatic, to have the healing abilities and to be encouraging positive thoughts and better singing. The most famous white wines are made from semijon, smederevka and bagrina sorts, while red wines are made from prokupac, crni burgundac and gama.
What is interesting is the unusual Rajac cemetery which is at the end of pivnice. Numerous headstones were built from the same sandstone as those in Rajačke pivnice.
Beside the wine degustation, you shouldn’t miss the walk through the wriggly streets which lead to the authentic houses more than 3 centuries old. This way, you will bump into the centuries-old mulberry tree which is also called “holly tree”. This is the place where patron saints were celebrated and today it represents the downtown of the village. Nearby is the main square with drinking fountain and also a couple of smaller squares which are believable witnesses of past times.
How to get to the unique wine cellars?
Rajačke pivnice are settled at a hill named Belo brdo, 2km away from Rajac village and 24km from the city of Negotin.
The best way of reaching pivnice is through Negotin which is 297km away from Belgrade. Once you get to Negotin, you are on a half-way drive to pivnice.
You can get to Negotin from Belgrade by international highway E-75, through Paraćin. Also, you can reach Negotin if you go through Smederevo, Požarevac and Majdanpek as well as the Danube highway through Donji Milanovac.
If you are already here, you shouldn’t miss…
Đerdap Gorge – Đerdap national park, as well known as the Iron gates of the Danube, rightfully called the biggest natural and archaeological museum in nature in the entire Europe. Get to know the rare plant and animal species, rich history and the archaeology of the most beautiful gorge in Serbia.
Vratna canyon – Do you love hiking? The adrenaline? Natural phenomena in the untouched nature? Then you should definitely visit this amazing canyon which is a real challenge for every avanturist because of its inaccessibility and astonishing beauty and for tourists who are craving for special and unusual destinations.
Days of Mokranjac – Every September in Negotin since 1966, a manifestation is organized in honour of one of the most important Serbian composers – Stevan Mokranjac. Folklore, choir singing competitions, exhibitions, book promotions and literary evenings are the main part of this cultural and artistic event, which you shouldn’t miss if you end up in Negotin during September.
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