Pomoravlje District combines a striking river landscape with Roman history, monasteries and industrial heritage. The Velika Morava flows through the district for about 100 kilometres. Plains, hills and mountains shape the area; rolling hills account for the largest share, covering 48 percent of the area, or 1,240 km². The river valley, hilly terrain and mountains sit side by side.
Landscapes, Caves and Summit Destinations
VinatovaÄŤa is a nature reserve with old-growth beech forest and has been designated a natural asset of exceptional importance since 1957. Resavska Cave offers a geological rarity: it is the only cave in Serbia where red breccia can be seen.
The Grza excursion area includes two artificial lakes and the 385-metre-long cave at Vrelo Grze. The Vrelo Grze natural monument, in the municipality of Paraćin, is designated a Category III protected area. A hiking trail begins in the Vrelo Grze area and leads towards 927-metre-high Javorak and other peaks in this section of the South Kučaj mountains. The natural attractions described here range from caves and waterways to a specifically named summit destination.
Roman Traces, Monasteries and Industrial History
The Roman city of Horreum Margi was founded in the area of Ćuprija, at the confluence of the Ravanica and the Velika Morava; it was established at the beginning of the 2nd century. In the centre of Ćuprija, the northeast tower of the Horreum Margi fortress is located within the “Horreum Margi – Ravno” Museum. The museum has participated in the “Museums for 10” programme since 2017.
The industrial heritage of Senjski Rudnik tells a different story. The complex comprises four buildings and a machinery park; both the complex and the steam engine are protected as cultural monuments of great importance to the Republic of Serbia. The Coal Mining Museum presents objects and the history of Senjski Rudnik and other underground coal mines, from antiquity to the present day.
Manasija was home to the renowned Resava School of manuscript copying, where religious books were transcribed. The frescoes in the Morava School style depict monumental images of the monastery’s founder and holy warriors. Ravanica offers a different architectural accent: the 14th-century endowment of Prince Lazar features five distinctive domes and geometric and floral relief decorations.
Namasija is a former Orthodox monastery dating from the Middle Ages. Its remains lie in the gorge of the Crnica River near the village of Zabrege, northeast of Paraćin. They are protected by the Republic of Serbia as a cultural monument of great importance and are part of the protected Petruška oblast monument zone.
Museums, Literature and Regional Craft Traditions
Jagodina offers a variety of museum topics. The Wax Museum has 34 exhibits spanning history, religion, politics, science, culture and sport. The Local History Museum holds more than 50,000 natural history, archaeological, historical, ethnological and art-related objects. The Museum of Naive and Marginal Art is considered the only museum of its kind in the Balkans.
The Natural History Centre in Svilajnac has nine permanent exhibitions. Their topics range from the formation of the Earth, dinosaurs and the evolution of hominids to African animals and Serbia’s biodiversity. The centre also has a dinosaur park with a walk-through volcano. Exhibition details may change; check the current topics before visiting.
The traditional literary event “Matićevi dani” is dedicated to Dušan Matić (1898–1980), a Serbian writer, surrealist, essayist, academician and diplomat. It takes place in his hometown of Ćuprija. In the wider region, baking pans known as “Ražanske crepulje” are made. They come in three sizes, each with or without a central opening: bread and pogača are baked in the pans with an opening, while various dishes are prepared in those without one.
Getting There and Planning Your Stay
A motorway and the Belgrade–Niš–Skopje and Sofia railway lines run through the Morava Valley. If you include rail connections in your travel plans, check the timetable for your chosen service.
Discover more destinations: Jagodina, Paraćin, Dobroselica, Dvorište, Municipality of Ćuprija, Despotovac, Strmosten, Svilajnac, Izvor.
For the wider travel overview: Central Serbia.
