Homolje - the Lord's Stone, Manasija and Krupaj Spring

• Hiking
• Eastern Serbia
• One-day
• Sightseeing
• Family friendly
• Spring 2023

On the slopes of Beljanica, between Homolje and Gornja Resava, on the border between the villages of Lipovica, Bliznak and Krupaja, there is a unique viewpoint the Lord's Stone or the Lord's Chair, on which the despot Stefan, according to legend, developed warfare strategies and from which he watched his soldiers as they trained for knightly combat.

On this tour we will get to know Orthodox art, the basic characteristics of the "Moravian and Raška school", which are united in exceptional harmony in Manasija monastery. We will touch the land of our ancestors and move toward The Lord's Stone from where, according to tradition, the despot Stefan watched over his army and drew inspiration for creative creations and military exploits. The chosen hiking trail will give us an insight into the dividing line between the Braničevo district and Pomoravlje, from whose vantage points the view reaches Beljanica, Homolje and Kučaj mountains.

At the end of our hiking trail, there is a tour of the unique natural monument and karst phenomenon, the Krupaj spring, which is one of the largest and most beautiful karst springs in Serbia.

Additional notes:

• Equipment for the Lord's Stone and Krupaj spring tour: Deep hiking shoes with a Vibram sole or deep sports shoes with a stronger sole, backpack, layered wardrobe, adapted to weather conditions, we recommend trekking poles, bring enough water and some food (snacks, sandwiches, fruit).
• Information about a hiking trail:
  • Length: 12 km
  • Total ascend/descend: about 250 m
  • Category: easy
  • Duration: about 4h with breaks
• A minimum of 18 registrants is required for the Lord's Stone and Krupaj Spring tour.
• Price is for members of "Explore Serbia". You can find membership information here. For those who do not have a membership card, the price is 4100 dinars.
• Own transportation: in case you come by your own transport, the price of the tour is 2100 dinars (with Explore Serbia membership cards) or 3100 dinars (for those who do not have a membership card).
• In case of insufficient number of registered passengers or unfavorable weather conditions, the deadline for notification of the postponement or cancellation of the tour by the organizer is 2 days before departure.

• Trip cancellations by passengers: 

  • In case of cancellation of the trip by the passenger, 5 or more days before the tour date, the Agency retains the amount of 20% of the reservation costs.
  • In case the traveler cancels the trip less than 5 days before the trip, the agency reserves the right to the entire amount. In case of replacement by another passenger who is found either by the passenger himself or by the Agency, 90% of the paid amount is returned to the passenger.
  • In case of illness of the passenger and cancellation up to 3 days before the tour, the paid money can be returned or the amount can be transferred for another tour organized by the Agency, and the traveler is obliged to send medical documentation about the illness in writing. In case of illness of the traveler and cancellation less than 3 days before the tour, in addition to sending medical documentation about the illness, the traveler is obliged to compensate the Agency for the incurred costs (transportation and travel organization costs), and part of the money can be refunded.

Nearby attractions

Manasija Monastery

According to a culture based on the Orthodox ethos, the heart is the only organ where God can dwell. God, the king of the uncreated realm, cannot be accommodated by the whole universe, but the metaphysical heart can. That is the secret of the human heart. That despot Stefan thought deeply about this secret and raised his heart to God is evidenced by his endowment Resava Monastery.

Church of the Holy Trinity in Resava Monastery, better known as Manasija, it was built as a mausoleum of one of the most important Serbian rulers, the despot Stefan Lazarevic, the son of Prince Lazar who made a choice worthy of the Heavenly Emperor and Princess Milica, called Evgenia and Efrosinia in the monastic tradition.

The temple in Resava is dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (Spirits), which is known by the name Holy Trinity. Only rarely did any ruler dare to build a church for Christ personally and dedicate it to an event from his life.

Despot Stefan was an exceptional personality. He was born in 1377 and it was not without reason that his father gave him the titular name of Serbian ruler, Stefan, and his mother was of noble origin from Nemanjić. Thus, in a symbolic way, he was predestined to be a ruler already at an early age. Historical sources state that he was highly educated. He was also knight and writer. A great statesman and military leader. Enlightener and builder. He built schools, libraries, churches, monasteries, hospitals. Despot Stefan had a gift for politics and diplomacy, as well as for literature.

A great statesman and military leader. Enlightener and builder. He built schools, libraries, churches, monasteries, hospitals. Despot Stefan had a gift for politics and diplomacy, as well as for literature. He was closer to monks and hermits, and everything he left behind, in a literary sense, is comparable to the works of monks, learned people of the late Middle Ages. His most significant work is the literary epistle "The Letter of Love", which is assumed to have been addressed to his brother Vuk, and is also read as a hymn to Love. In accordance with the traditions of the era, but also of his own Serbian heritage, the despot Stefan was the protector of culture and the initiator of literary renewal in Serbia. The Resava school in the Manasija monastery was the center of copying and translation activities during the despot's time.

Illuminated in gold and ultramarine blue, decorated with floral patterns and shapes that symbolize infinity, Manasija is one of the top achievements of the Serbian medieval state. The specialty of the monastery is the fortification, which was designed according to all the rules of medieval fortification, and built with the aim of defending the monastery settlement.

The city and the monastery in it, in one word Manasija, emphatically nurtures the cult of the Holy Warriors, which is connected to Serbia in the 14th and 15th centuries, when the earthly Christian armies were powerless. The personification of Christian chivalry is manifested through the Christ-like figures of the Holy Warriors Areta, Nestor and Nikita, recognizable symbols of Manasia. Refined aesthetics can also be seen in other frescoes such as the Parable of the Rich Man and the Poor Lazarus. There is also a unique founding composition on which the despot Stefan is represented representatively and elegantly with symbols of the ruler's dignity.

This sacral building, perhaps, stands at the beginning of a new fourth stylistic direction which, unfortunately, could not develop due to the fall of Serbia under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

Resava area

Resava area was named after the Resava river, which originates at Kučaj mountains, at an altitude of 1100 meters. At the very beginning of its course, the Resava flows through a dense beech forest - Vinatovača rainforest. Further, it flows through the municipalities of Despotovac and Svilajnac and flows into Velika Morava.

Beljanica mountain

Beljanica mountain with the highest peak of 1339 meters, separates Resava from Homolje. Its karst composition caused the formation of many sinkholes, pits, coves and caves.

The central plateau of the mountain is bare, but that's why the slopes are covered with beech and oak forests, which are occasionally of the rainforest type. In the shadows of large trees, there are plenty of mushrooms, especially boletus. From the depths of the mountain, ten kilometers east of Manasija, you enter the world-famous Resava cave, the opening of which was discovered only in 1962. The reason for this is the dense vegetation that surrounds this natural beauty.

On the slopes of Beljanica there is a unique viewpoint, the Lord's Stone It played a significant role in the history of this part of eastern Serbia since it is part of the road connecting Resava and Mlava.

Homolje Mountains

The Homolje mountains belong to the Carpathian-Balkan group of mountains. They are built mainly of slate and limestone. They are located between the Zviška basin in the north and the Žagubička basin in the south, as well as between the Mlavska basin in the west and the source parts of Gornji Pek in the east.

The average height is about 900 meters, and the highest peak is Oman at 962 meters. The mountains are rich in dense forest and many river sources. The lower parts of the Homolje Mountains are covered with oak forests. In the middle parts there are oak and beech forests, while in the highest parts there are pastures and meadows. On them there are katuns and bačijas, ancient livestock habitats, where flocks of sheep graze, from whose milk Homolje cheese is made.

In the administrative sense, Homolje almost completely belongs to the municipality of Zagubica, which borders the municipalities of Petrovac, Despotovac, Bor, Majdanpek and Kucevo.

The organizer of the tour is the travel agency Explore Balkans doo. With this program is valid Rulebook on conducting tours by Explore Balkans doo.

According to Article 79 of the Law on Tourism, protection is not provided for one-day tours in terms of travel guarantees.