RIVER MILESEVKA CANYON

The town of Prijepolje is 300 km away from Belgrade and 6 km from Prijepolje monastery Mileseva is located. Mileseva is known worldwide for its unique fresco of White Angel. Prijepolje is a part of the old Roman trade route that led from Dubrovnik to Constantinople. In the Turkish period, this trail was also in use, many Turkish caravans passed through it. The old caravan trail is located behind the monastery Mileseva. This trail represents the canyon of Milesevka river. If you follow this trail, you will go down to the riverbed.

Asphalt road goes behind the monastery and leads to the right and down to the restaurant “Kanjon” (“Canyon”). From the restaurant, path leads to the fort Milesevac and to the mosque in the village Hisardzik. Also, it leads to the caves where Saint Sava lived. That part is better to visit on your way back from the canyon.

If you want to exlore the canyon, do not go right toward restaurant, just continue forward by the macadam road. Now you are at the old caravan trail. The trail is marked very well. Lots of tunnels exists on this road.

From the road, you will see St. Sava’s caves.

After 20 minutes of walk, you will pass one of the tunnels. Pay attention, at the end of this tunnel is an arrow that points down into the canyon.

Soon, by a narrow trail, you are in the riverbed of Milesevka.

I walked for some 500 meters. Further hike requires serious climb over rocks. But, this half kilometers was more than enough to taste all the charm of Milesevka.

I spent about an hour in the canyon and then slowly walked back to the restaurant “Kanjon”. At the restaurant, which is really nice and tastefully decorated, is a map with marked trails that leads to the fortress and St. Savas caves.

The paths to the fortress and hermitages are marked well. In a half an hour, or less, you will reach St. Savas caves. Also, fortress Milesevac can be reached relatively quickly, in 20 minutes.

One part of the path to the caves is secured by chains, but it is not so dangerous! In Sava’s hermitage is a small hole. If you put your hand inside and grab some water, that means that you are not a sinner. Of course, my hand stayed dry!

I went back on a trail that leads to the fortress and followed the markings. Soon I come to the mosque where I made this interesting photo. The path to the fortress is at the right of the mosque.

Fortres Milesevac once was used to monitor the old caravan road and had a defensive purpose. You can see the canyon of Milesevka and a part of Prijepolje from its top.

This is a very interesting tour. It combines passing through the canyon with local touristic attractions. I recommend it to the mountaineers-beginners, I’m sure that, after this tour, hiking will enter into their blood.

On the way back to Belgrade, you can visit the monastery of St. Trinity in the village of Bistrica, known for its three miraculous icons!

July 2013.