Magical Charm of Mokra Gora

We drove down to Mokra Gora from Sofia. The landscape and views throughout the route are just mind-blowing. You will come across mountains, rivers, gorges, and beautiful rolling meadows throughout the entire stretch. Serbia has great Nature, like any true Balkan country. Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of western Serbia between the mountains Tara and Zlatibor, Mokra Gora is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. This charming village, known for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, offers travelers a unique and unforgettable experience. As you venture into Mokra Gora, you'll be greeted by rolling hills, lush green forests, and pristine rivers, creating a mesmerizing backdrop for your journey. The village exudes a tranquil atmosphere, perfect for those seeking a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. We have already been to Mokra Gora twice, and I would not hesitate to go there again and again. The beauty of this place is out of the world.  

Our place of stay was as beautiful as this place is. Located in the nature park of Mokra Gora, on the slopes of Tara Mountain, Neva Apartments offers a unique stay option, with a heavenly 360 degree view, traditionally designed rooms with rustic interiors, kitchenette for preparing basic stuff, a seasonal outdoor pool and a more than wonderful host.   We had a very comfortable and memorable stay here. We would spend our mornings leisurely, gazing at this beauty with our hot coffees. We chose this place specifically because it was just a next door neighbour of one of the attractions of Mokra Gora, a man made traditional village, Drvengrad.   Most of the places in this region do not provide food, but you can get food in the restaurants around the place. Not to miss the warm hospitality and friendliness of our host. He was a loving and warm person, who went all out to send my personal belonging that I had left behind, back to me in Sofia. I really can never forget his kindness.

There are a few places to eat inside Drvengrad  but after trying a couple of them, highly suggested is only Viskonti. We had our meals and breakfast mostly here, it was a 2 minutes’ walk from our place of stay. Breakfast is on a chargeable basis but they provide a good spread, mostly traditional Serbian breakfast.   There is a wonderful café on the upper floor of Visconti. Take some time to relax with a hot or cold drink in this cozy, beautifully ambient spot. The artistic vibe is clearly visible, giving the impression that Kusturica himself has imbued the place with his vision and creativity.   Rest of the time walk around the mountain paths around the place, I assure you of some breathtaking views and a deep connection with Nature.

After a hearty lunch, now time to explore Drvengrad. The restaurant is inside the premises of Drvengrad.   Küstendorf or Drvengrad which means 'Timber Town' is a traditional village that the Serbian film director Emir Kusturica built for his film “Life Is a Miracle” from 2003 to 2004. It is located near the village of Mokra Gora in western Serbia, in the administrative area of Užice.   Emir Kusturica considers Drvengrad as his home, after he lost his own home in Sarajevo during the cruel Bosnian war. The director wanted to create a place of cultural diversity, where art would be present in form of seminars, movie screenings, art exhibitions, etc. Drvengrad hosts the famous Küstendorf Film and Music Festival   For this development, Kusturica received the "Philippe Rotthier European Architecture Award" from the "Brussels Foundation for Architecture".   This charming village features quaint wooden houses, cobblestone streets, and a vibrant cultural scene, offering visitors a glimpse into traditional Serbian life.   It will not take a lot of time to walk around Kusturica’s traditional Serbian village. But you will still end up spending a lot of time clicking pictures and gazing at the overall beauty including the majestic views.

Check out Mokra Gora Station, its museum and take the historic train ride.   Mokra Gora has become popular after 2003 reconstruction of a narrow gauge railway called Šargan Eight which is unique in the world. Its route viewed from the sky, looks like the number eight.   The Šargan Eight is a narrow-gauge heritage railway in Serbia, running from the village of Mokra Gora to Šargan Vitasi station. "Museum-Tourism Complex Šargan Eight" within the Serbian Railways, which administers the railway, is seated in Mokra Gora. In 2021, Mokra Gora was declared one of the best tourism villages in the world by the United Nations World Tourism Organization.   As of 2017, the train popularly named "Ćira" but officially called "Nostalgia", still runs only on the route Mokra Gora-Šargan Vitasi-Mokra Gora, with occasionally running to Višegrad.    The two-way ride takes close to 2 hours. The entire route is extremely picturesque, with 22 tunnels and 5 bridges along the way. Suggestion is to pre-book the tickets online. The chances of getting the tickets on the same day is very bleak.   There is also a small museum created in the premises of Mokra Gora station. It shares the history of this railway line, quite interesting. You can explore the museum and walk around the station after lunch.  

There is a restaurant right at the station, a pretty place alright for lunch. Food quality is just ok, but you can kill some time there with beautiful views around.  

Do a day trip to explore the rest of Tara National Park. Tara is a mountain in western Serbia on which Mokra Gora lies, it is part of the Dinaric Alps.

Manastir Rača, built in the 13th century, is located near Bajina Bašta. It is a captivating Serbian Orthodox monastery with rich historical and cultural significance. The monastery became a place where Serbian rulers, nobles, and church dignitaries were buried.

Kućica na Drini is a wooden, cabin-like house on the rock in the middle of the Drina river, near the town of Bajina Bašta in western Serbia. The original object was built in 1968 by a group of swimmers who needed a shelter.   The house became one of the most photographed objects in Serbia. A photo of it was chosen as one of the Photos of the Month of ‘’National Geographic’’ in August 2012. ‘’Business Insider’’ named it among 16 “wackiest” houses, while numerous world magazines wrote stories about it.   A good spot for some great pictures.  

You can keep driving southwards, to check  Lake Perućac. It is an artificial lake on the Drina River, on the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, with beautiful floating cottages on its banks

Super Café overlooks  Perućac lake,  is an artificial lake on the Drina River, on the border between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia.   Though Restoran Vrelo may be a good choice if you want to eat with the view of a waterfall, but from food point of view, the suggestion is Super Café, it also has a good view of the lak.

Keep the next day for exploring the rest of Mokra Gora. There are many roads that branch out from the main highway road. We entered some of them to explore and wander around.   We ended up discovering an open-air old engine museum, a small church, a stream flowing by and boundless beauty all around. We parked our car here and there and just walked around, spending time casually with lot of relaxed pauses to absorb all the beauty.

Do a day trip to Zaovine lake, it will take 1 hour from Drvengrad.  Zaovine itself is a little mountain heaven on Tara mountains. This beautiful lake is surrounded by green hills, meadows full of flowers and fascinating landscapes. The place also boasts interesting flora and fauna.   Spend some time there sitting by the lake, and also hike around a bit.  

Have a traditional lunch at this restaurant very close to the lake.

Mitrovac is a small village very near to Zaovine lake. You may just drive down to have a glimpse of this beautiful Tara mountain village if you wish. There are many places to stay in Mitrovac too.

Relax more on the last day and walk around to soak in the beauty of the surroundings, to take the memories back with you.   Start the day slow, sip on some hot coffee while admiring the beautiful view.   Have a hearty breakfast. Then go for a short walk and explore the mountain paths one last time. Take a pause now and then to gaze at the wonders of Nature. I assure you of some breathtaking views and a deep connection with Nature.   Spend some lazy hours over lunch, relax and by the evening get ready to bid adieu to this magical place.