A spring in the village centre, a dispersed settlement on the slopes of Smiljevac and historic traces spanning several centuries give Kneževac a distinctive character. When deciding where to travel, it is worth considering the village itself separately from destinations in the wider region: this helps you determine whether you are mainly interested in the village, its history or the landscapes of the broader region.
Location and orientation in Kneževac
Kneževac lies on the eastern slopes of Smiljevac, at an elevation of between 1,120 and 1,180 metres. As a dispersed settlement, it is not clustered around a single centre. It also lies along the slopes of the Vapa Valley. These location features describe different aspects of the surrounding area: the elevation on Smiljevac and the setting within the river valley.
The road network also provides a practical point of reference. Kneževac lies on both sides of the main road from Sjenica via Duga Poljana to Novi Pazar. A paved road connects the village to Sjenica. The Vrelo spring is in the centre of Kneževac. It is a local landmark, while the main road helps make the settlement’s wider layout clear.
River, meadows and rural character
The Knežica flows through the territory of Kneževac and is also known locally as the Klešnica. The meadows known as Ševari also belong to Kneževac. Together with the village’s position on the slopes and in the valley, these landscape features shape its rural character. The two river names refer to the same river: Knežica is one name, and Klešnica is another name used locally.
Livestock farming and, to a lesser extent, crop farming are part of the local economy.
Historic traces and churches
The historical landmarks range from archaeological sites dating to the 14th and 15th centuries to written records from 1455. In the Ottoman census of 1455, Kneževac is listed as a village with 17 households. The two sources offer different insights: the archaeological sites point to earlier settlement, while the census records a specific snapshot of the village and its households.
Two churches are also linked to the village’s history. Crkva Vaznesenja Hristovog in Kneževac is associated with traces of a large fortification complex. Hanovi in Kneževac is associated with the remains of a han. The Church of Sv. Spasenja was built starting in 1873. These landmarks represent different aspects of the historical record: archaeological traces, a historical building complex and the construction of a church in the 19th century.
Landscapes in the wider region
Beyond Kneževac, the wider region offers its own natural attractions. Peštersko polje is designated as a Special Nature Reserve and includes wetland, marsh and peatland habitats. These varied habitats give the reserve a different focus from the village’s settlement and history.
Sjeničko jezero is also located within the Uvac Special Nature Reserve, where boat trips are offered to visitors. These nature and boating activities are part of the wider region around Kneževac. When choosing your destination, it is therefore helpful to distinguish between them: Kneževac is known for its dispersed settlement, river, spring and historic traces, while Peštersko polje and Sjeničko jezero expand the focus to nature destinations across the wider region.
Which focus suits your trip?
If you are interested in village history, the archaeological sites, the 1455 census and the churches offer different points of reference across time. If you prefer landscapes, explore the elevation on Smiljevac, the Vapa Valley and the Knežica River. For nature destinations beyond the village, consider Peštersko polje and Sjeničko jezero in the wider region. When choosing where to stay, you can first decide whether Kneževac itself or the broader nature region should be your main focus.
Discover more destinations: Mačkat, Perućac, Kamenica, Rosići, Brdo, Semegnjevo, Šljivovica, Rakovica
For the broader travel overview: Zlatibor District.
