What Pomoravski okrug is known for

Jagodina, the capital city of Pomoravski Okrug, offers a range of attractions for visitors. People can start their day with a walk in the city park "Potok," which is primarily known for its greenery and flowers. There is also a Djurdjevo Brdo—a symbol of Jagodina—with trails, benches, children's parks, and an artificial waterfall. Those who enjoy seeing animals can visit the "Tigar" Zoo, home to over 80 different species, including Bengal tigers, lions, and zebras, to name a few. Adjacent to the zoo is Jagodina's Aqua Park, covering 3.5 hectares and featuring 7 pools, water slides, and sports facilities. For those interested in Jagodina's culture, the Museum of Vax Figures showcases wax sculptures of prominent Serbian figures. Alternatively, the Regional Museum of Jagodina displays archaeological, natural, historical, ethnological, and artistic exhibits, highlighting the city's history dating back to the Stone Age. Jagodina also offers additional attractions such as the National Library, Botanical Gardens, and several historic churches.[8]

Manasija Monastery, situated in the Resava River gorge within the Pomoravlje District, is a testament to Despot Stefan Lazarević's vision. Built after the Battle at Kosovo in the late 14th century, its construction spanned from 1406 to 1418. The monastery is particularly known for its fortification, showcasing eleven identical towers, defensive walls, and machicolations, which are reportedly rare in Serbian military architecture. The Despot's Tower, with its strategic elevation and defensive galleries, exemplifies the monastery's defense system. Additionally, the architectural style of the monastery church aligns with the Morava School, blending Byzantine and Romanesque elements. Inside, preserved 15th-century frescoes depict an array of subjects. Thus, the Fortified Manasija Monastery is now protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.[9]

In the heart of the Kučaj mountains, the Vinatovača forest spans 37 acres, serving as a strictly protected nature reserve and the only Serbian rainforest. Vinatovača is protected and known for its ancient beech trees, which have grown there for more than 350 years, reaching heights of over 45 meters. Moreover, Vinatovača is also home to a diversity of plant and animal species.[10] In close proximity to the rainforest is the Resavska Pecina Cave, also known as Resava Cave. Resavska Pecina Cave is found approximately 20 kilometers from the town of Despotovac on the Babina glava karst hill. This area holds the distinction of being the first cave open to visitors in Serbia, with its arrangements for tours established in 1972 after a decade of exploration. Resava Cave reportedly ranks among Serbia's most popular tourist destinations. This cave system stretches over a total length of about 4.5 kilometers, with approximately 2,850 meters explored and an 800-meter-long designated tourist path. Resava Cave is one of Serbia's oldest caves, believed to have existed for around 80 million years, and its artifacts date back 45 million years, including the oldest cave jewelry and ornaments. Inside Resava Cave, visitors encounter an array of chambers, passageways, galleries, columns, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, and petrified waterfalls. As the pathways inside the cave may be slippery, visitors are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear in the cave's cool environment.[11]

Geography

The Pomoravlje District comprises six municipalities situated around the upper course of the Velika Morava River. Covering an area of 2,614 square kilometers with a population of 242,931 residents, the district features a diverse landscape, including plains, hills, and mountains, with agricultural land constituting 62.3% of its territory. The Velika Morava River, along with its tributaries, provides water resources, while the region also houses various minerals such as clay, sand, gravel, limestone, quartz, granite, and coal. The area is known for its fertile soil and climatic conditions which are suitable for agriculture. It is also home to several natural landmarks, including the Vinatovača beech forest. The Pomoravlje District benefits from an extensive network of transportation routes, including major highways and railways.[4]

The Kučaj-Beljanica National Park, encompassing an area of 45,371.62 hectares, spans across the municipalities of Žagubica, Despotovac, Boljevac, and the town of Bor. Located in the northeastern corner of Pomoravski Okrug, Kučaj-Beljanica National Park extends across the district's borders. This park derives its name from the Kučaj and Beljanica mountain ranges, jointly forming Serbia's largest limestone massif.[5] The Resava Gorge Reserve, part of the Kučaj-Beljanica National Park which is located in the Pomoravski Okrug, is characterized by its limestone cliffs, dense forests, pastures, and a network of streams. Approximately 70% of this area is covered by forests, consisting of mixed hornbeam and oak forests in the lower and warmer zones, while the higher zones feature pure beech forests, the largest in Serbia. To the east of the Resava Gorge, visitors can find the Vinatovača primeval beech reserve, where individual trees can reach heights of up to 46 meters, with trunks exceeding 1 meter in diameter and an age of around 200 years. In terms of the local animal species, the Resava Gorge Reserve region provides a home to a diverse avian population, with around 124 bird species documented and approximately 100 species breeding within the reserve. To name some of them, visitors might encounter the golden eagle, short-toed eagle, forest bee-eater, and peregrine falcon. Additionally, the Resava Gorge is also home to various mammals, including the Eurasian otter, lynx, brown bear, and grey wolf.[6]

Concerning the weather in Pomoravlje District, May and September typically offer average temperatures ranging from 20°C to 26°C. Summer, the hottest season, occurs from June through September, with August being the warmest month, reaching an average maximum temperature of 30°C. In contrast, January is the coldest month, with an average maximum temperature of 5°C. When it comes to precipitation, May tends to be the wettest month, receiving around 79 millimeters of rainfall. Conversely, August is the driest month, with 50 millimeters of precipitation.[7]

History

During the Early Stone Age, about 100 villages developed near Jagodina on sunny slopes near rivers. They initially lived in semi-dugouts and later transitioned to houses, with findings such as charred wheat, animal bones, tools, pottery, and figurines. Traces of human settlements from the Iron Age to the Bronze Age were found in Lanište. In ancient times, the Great Morava region was influenced by Greeks, Thracians, and Illyrians, creating a unique Iron Age culture with Illyrian influences. Later, Celts and Dacians introduced technology and civilization. Roman rule brought unified administration, culture, and construction, leaving an impact on the region's history.[1]

In medieval times, the Jagodina region yielded artifacts, including coins and Slavic pottery from the 6th century. In 1183, Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja liberated areas including Belica, Levač, and Lepenica from Byzantine rule, with Jagodina situated in Belica county. Jagodina was first mentioned in 1399 in a letter to Princess Milica. After 1458, Jagodina fell under Ottoman rule. During that period, Jagodina saw the construction of mosques, caravan stations, and a clock tower. By 1660, the town's population consisted mostly of Christian Serbs converted to Islam. In the modern era, Jagodina played a role in the Serbian Revolution against Ottoman rule and later experienced industrial and civic development. After World War II, it became industrialized and expanded under communist Yugoslavia. Finally, in December 2007, Jagodina was granted city status.[2]

One of the historical landmarks within Pomoravski Okrug's borders is Ravanica Monastery. Constructed between 1375 and 1381, it showcases the Morava school of architecture, characterized by a trefoil base, an inscribed cross with five domes, and a slender cupola with four smaller cupolas. The original frescoes, completed between 1385 and 1387, feature motifs of Holy Warriors, hermits, and medallions surrounded by rainbow-colored strips. The monastery endured destruction and reconstruction during various periods, retaining its significance. Holy Prince Lazar's incorruptible relics were brought to Ravanica Monastery in 1392, further elevating its status as a revered pilgrimage site. It played a role in the spiritual, cultural, literary, and artistic life of Serbia, influencing the construction of other churches and monasteries in the region.[3]