Zaskovci: Nature Park, Waterfalls and Trails

The entire cadastral municipality of Zaskovci belongs to Stara planina Nature Park. Within this nature park, the Level II protection regime covers the Sveti Nikola-Jabučko ravnište-Srebrna glava area, which covers 12,235 hectares; the cadastral municipality of Zaskovci is also part of this area. The Zaskovački vodopadi are a particularly specific natural attraction: the complex consists of four waterfalls and is located approximately 4.5 kilometres from the village centre along the route towards Jabučko ravnište.

Gavran kamen rises northeast of Zaskovci, a distinctive rocky ridge with an elevation of 1,090 metres. The water network also shapes orientation around the village. The road to Zaskovci follows the right bank of the Zaskovačka reka for its entire length. Three of the four Zaskovački waterfalls are located on the Terzijska reka and are known as Skok. The waterfalls therefore form a separate landscape focal point in the nature park, while the four falls belong together as a single complex.

The HIGHLANDER Stara Planina route passes through Zaskovci. This connects the village with a route identified as a regional route, while the Zaskovački vodopadi form a specific destination within the cadastral area of Zaskovci in the municipality of Pirot. For orientation, the distance of approximately 4.5 kilometres from the village centre to the waterfall complex is particularly useful. It describes the route towards Jabučko ravnište and should not be confused with the separately described footpath from the turn-off from the paved road to the entrance to the village; this takes slightly more than half an hour.

For the journey there, note that the unpaved road from the bridge to Zaskovci is passable only by off-road vehicles or vehicles with greater ground clearance. When choosing accommodation in Zaskovci, the specific access-road description is therefore one of the details you should check particularly carefully before your trip. For further comparison in the travel overview, you can also consider Pirot, Dimitrovgrad, Vrandol and Izvor.

Zaskovci is also the associated area of the intangible cultural heritage element “Pirot-style storytelling”. This cultural connection complements the nature-focused orientation with an inherited storytelling tradition. If you want to consider not only the landscape and routes but also regional culture when planning your trip, this entry is part of Zaskovci’s distinct characterisation.

For the higher-level travel overview: Pirot District.

Where is the viewpoint near the village located?

From the plateau near the village cemetery of Zaskovci, there is a view of the northern part of the village and into the valley of the Terzijska reka.

What does “Pirot-style storytelling” mean?

“Pirot-style storytelling” is an intangible cultural heritage element associated with Zaskovci. It therefore denotes a cultural connection of the village alongside its natural and route-related features.

Which vehicles are suitable for the unpaved road to Zaskovci?

The unpaved road from the bridge to Zaskovci is passable only by off-road vehicles or vehicles with greater ground clearance.