Ovčar-Kablar Gorge
The Ovčar-Kablar Gorge (
In 2001, the area was declared a natural monument, and protected as the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge landscape of outstanding features.[3]
Location and geography
The Ovčar-Kablar Gorge is in western part of central Serbia, halfway between the towns of Čačak (17 kilometers on the east) and Požega on the west, some 155 kilometers south-west of the capital Belgrade.
The gorge is a narrow of the West Morava's composite valley, a continuation of the Požega Depression on the west, while itself continuous into the Čačak-Kraljevo Depression on the east. The gorge is carved between the 985 meters high mountain of
Economy
The spa of Ovčar Banja is located in the gorge, at an altitude of 278 meters. It has a hot, sulfuric water (37,5 Celsius), which is helpful for the treatment of rheumatism, nerve and skin diseases.[6]
In 1954, the West Morava was dammed in the gorge when two
Monasteries
First churches were built in the early 14th century, after the mercenaries from the
- "Dormition of the Holy Mother of God" (Uspenje), the main monastery in the group, is on the north slopes of the Kablar mountain. It is dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. Originally it was the site of the Jovanjska tower with a powerful bells ("Kulina bell tower") which could be heard in the town of Čačak, 16 kilometers away.[1] A new monastery was built in the 1939[7] on the ruins of the old tower, as a replica of the "Church of the Saint Constantine the Great and Saint Helena" in Ohrid. It is a female monastery, renovated in 2001.
- Presentation of Mary (Vavedenje) is on the right bank, in the ending section of the gorge. Though legend says it was built by the Serbian great župan Stefan Nemanja and his son Saint Sava Nemanjić in the 12th century, the monastery was mentioned for the first time in 1452; it was renovated in 1797. The monastery keeps some rare old books, including the Belgrade quasi-gospel from 1552.[7]
- "Saint John the Baptist" (Jovanje) is on the peninsula in the West Morava's meander, on the Čačak-Ovčar Banja road. Located on the left bank, six kilometers upstream from Vavedenje, the monastery is surrounded by the waters of the river from three sides. It was mentioned for the first time in 1536.[7] It used to be lavra, the main administrative center for all monasteries in the gorge.[1] The old monastery was inundated when the artificial Međuvršje Dam was built in 1954 (it was finally flooded by the reservoir in 1959). It is known for its iconof the Mother of God Brzopomoćnica. It is a women's monastery.
- "
- Christ, part of the surviving section of the iconostasis from the period of the monastery's original foundation,[2] and the best known icon of the gorge, the Holy Abraham. Due to the negligence, the monastery was in a very bad shape, so in the early 20th century the iconostasis was transferred to Belgrade. When Blagoveštenje was reconstructed in the early 1990s, the iconostasis was returned.[1]
- Ascension of Jesus (Vaznesenje) sits a few hundred meters from Jovanje, across the river, on the southern slopes of the Ovčar mountain. It was restored on the ruins of the older monastery which was supposed to be from the 16th century, because of the several ornaments surviving in the ruins, including two marble rosettes and floral ornaments in the parish and the central section. Quadri-gospel from 1570 has been preserved in the monastery.[7]
- Transfiguration of Jesus (Preobraženje), formerly 2 km (1.2 mi) upstream of Nikolje on the left bank, today it is on the right bank, across from its own old location. The original monastery was officially mentioned for the first time in 1528, but it is believed to be older, dating from c. 1400, when the group of Sinait monks settled in the area. The monastery was demolished in 1911 because of the railroad construction. A new monastery was built in 1938. It has a strict missionary and spiritual role, and it is internally administered by the rules of the Mount Athos, including the renouncing of all material wealth. Since July 2020, the partial relics of Saint Justin Popović are resting in the monastery, with the remaining relics staying in the Ćelije Monastery.[7][8]
- It was re-painted in 1844.
- Holy Trinity (Sveta Trojica), a secluded monastery on the hill across Blagoveštenje. It was mentioned for the first time in the Ottoman documents from 1572. Architectonically, Sveta Trojica is considered to be the most beautiful of all the Ovčar-Kablar monasteries.[7]
- Ilinje, a church dedicated to Elijah, located on the hill above the Blagoveštenje tunnel, near Ovčar Banja. It was built in 1938 on the remains of an old monastery. It has many manuscripts in its vault and a konak built by prince Miloš Obrenović.[7]
- Savinje, a church dedicated to Saint Sava. It was built in 1938, near the spring which is actually a geological phenomenon. Water springs out of the rocks, but remains in the hollow niche and doesn't flow out of it. No matter how much water is taken from it, it always fills up to have 2-3 liters of water, which is why people considered it to be miraculous (the holy water of Saint Sava).[7]
- Hadži Prodanova buna), people found refuge in the cave. Turks discovered their hiding place and using straw and wood set it on fire, suffocating everyone inside. This incident gave the name to the cave. In 1940 the remains were retrieved, fully cremated and buried in two stone sarcophaguses. They were placed in the cave's church altar apse, under the representation of the Jesus' crucifixion.[7]
Protection
The landscape of outstanding features Ovčar-Kablar Gorge was declared in 2001, when the gorge was placed under protection as the natural monument. The protected area covers 25 square kilometres (9.7 sq mi). Main basis for the protection include "West Morava's break through the massifs of the Ovčar and Kablar mountains, cutting a unique gorge". Principal characteristics of the gorge are prominent bends of the river bed, which form three "pinched meanders". Forests, wild life and monasteries are credited, with geographic features, for creating area's distinctive memorial and spiritual heritage. In April 2021 plans were announced for enlarging the protected zone, doubling its size.[3]
In September 2023 plans were announced for the construction of a glass,
Local administration in Čačak replied that this would "revitalize this part of Serbia", that they didn't expect anyone would be "against the better future" for the residents, and that plans were made already in 2017. Mayor of Čačak, Milun Todorović, said that similar skywalk on the Biokovo mountain in Croatia "pours millions of euros" into local budgets.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Srpska Sveta Gora". Politika (in Serbian). 2006-09-01.
- ^ a b c d sr:Ovčarsko-kablarski manastiri
- ^ a b Slavica Stuparušić (27 April 2021). "Nove granice zaštićenih predela" [New borders of protected areas]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 30.
- ^ ISBN 86-01-02651-6.
- ^ Gvozden Otašević (January 2012), "Ovčar Banja dobila zvanje", Politika (in Serbian)
- ^ ISBN 86-07-00001-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Monasteries and churches". turizamcacak.org.yu. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
- ^ Gvozden Otašević (1 August 2020). Мошти Светог Јустина пренете у Преображење [Relics of Saint Justin transferred to Transfiguration]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 11.
- ^ a b Gordana Anđelić (28 September 2023). "Srbija dobija prvi skajvok" [Serbia will get its first skywalk]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 21.
External links
Media related to Ovčar-Kablar Gorge at Wikimedia Commons