WELCOME TO KRALJEVO From legends, via kings, to Maglič Kraljevo, a city with a rich history and culture, encompasses the territory on which the modern Serbian state was formed, which is why the monasteries of Žiča and Studenica are unavoidable tourist destinations Kraljevo is said to represent the heart of the Raška district, as the ad- ministrative centre of this region on the territory of the Serbian medieval state of the same name. That heart beats to the rhythm of the currents of the rivers Ibar, West Morava and Ribnica, while its right and left ventri- cles, the Kotlenik and Gledić moun- tains, were formed in juxtaposition to the harsher massifs of the Stari Vlah and Kopaonik mountain rang- es. Local children learn to ski on the gentle slopes of Mount Goč, while the steep slopes of Stolovo form the Ibar Gorge. The name of the city comes from the belief that as many as seven me- dieval Serbian rulers were crowned in the nearby Žiča Monastery, which was built in the early 13 th century, and that’s why the city’s coat of arms fea- tures seven crowns. However, that number of coronations falls under the category of legend, given that the monastery’s main church, which is devoted to the Ascension of Christ, provided the scene for the crowning of Stefan the First-Crowned and his sons Radoslav, Vladislav and Uroš I, as well as his grandson, Dragutin, all of whom belonged to the Nemanjić dynasty, according to Kraljevo Na-
tional Museum curator Ljubiša Si- mović. “The intention of the build- er, Stefan the First-Crowned, was for Žiča to become a royal church, which is why the colour of the façade is pur- ple,” explains Simović. There are also legends linked to the section of the Ibar Valley to the south of Kraljevo that’s known as the Valley of Lilacs, because King Uroš I purportedly planted this fragrant plant here in an effort to “compen- sate for the homeland” of his wife Helen of Anjou - France, where li- lacs bloomed in profusion during the 13 th century. This legend also led to the crea- tion of the Lilac Days event, which is today linked to the annual Maglič Fest. And Maglič is another partly legendary structure, given that it’s not known with certainty when the castle was erected atop a steep hill. “It is considered to have been built in the 11 th century, as a Byzantine fortification, while the earliest writ- ten records confirm that it was the seat of Archbishop Danilo II,” adds Si- mović. And this locale returns to the way it looked in bygone times every September, when a knights’ tourna- ments is held under the scope of this event dedicated to Maglič. Slightly further to the south stands Studenica Monastery, which owes its renown to the fact that it was used to promote a new style of architecture and construction, the Raška style, which was authentic and differed from the pre-existing Byzantine style. Studenica contains the relics of its founder, Stefan Ne-
manja, and those of Stefan the First- Crowned, while the monastery is al- so included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Every Kraljevo native will also recommend that guests visit the Vrn- jačka, Mataruška and Bogutovačka spas, where they are awaited by spa treatments in mineral waters with healing properties that have been known since Roman times. When it comes to the overall tourist offer, however, the standout event is the ‘Veliki spust’ [Great Descent], down- stream along the river Ibar from Maglič to Kraljevo. While you’re in the city itself, don’t miss out on the scene on Ser- bian Warriors Square, which is said to have been the personal brainchild of Prince Miloš. A recognisable ur- ban grid represents a veritable trade- mark of Kraljevo and distinguishes it from other Serbian cities, while there is also the Monument to Ser- bian Warriors, as a tribute to those who fell in the wars that raged from 1912 to 1918. Visit the Hotel Par- is, which was built around 1881 and represented the heart of Kraljevo’s cultural and political life in the pe- riod prior to World War II. There’s a lot of beauty for you to enjoy in and around this city, while testifying to the welcoming temper- ament of the people of Kraljevo is the motto on the city’s coat of arms: ‘Good for us, and harm for none’, which reflects the traditional hospi- tality of the city’s inhabitants, who are open to both those in need and newcomers seeking a good time.
Okamenjena šuma na brdu Lojanik svedoči o nekadašnjoj
vulkanskoj aktivnosti u području The petrified
forest on Lojanik hill testifies to the former volcanic activity of this area
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