Despotovac: Discover Monastery History and Nature

Manasija, also known by the older name Resava, lies on the right bank of the Resava River, not far from Despotovac. Nearby are Resava Cave and the 25-metre-high Lisina waterfall, also called Veliki Buk. Despotovačka Banja is on the eastern edge of the town; Senjski Rudnik represents the industrial history of the wider area.

Manasija Monastery offers several historical points of reference. A founder’s tomb containing the mortal remains of Despot Stefan Lazarević was discovered there. In the first half of the 15th century, the Resava School flourished at Manasija, focusing on orthography, copying manuscripts and translation. The older name Resava also recalls the monastery’s connection with the river of the same name.

Despotovac itself also commemorates Stefan Lazarević: a four-metre-high monument to the despot was unveiled in a town square. Two distinct historical perspectives thus sit side by side—the history of the monastery and a monument in the town. If you are interested in medieval history, you can consider these topics separately when planning your trip, without conflating them with the later industrial history.

Maketa Park is at the exit from Despotovac towards Resava Cave, on the left side of the regional road. This description locates the park along the road; it does not say that the individual sights are connected to one another. For orientation, the stated direction from the town exit is especially helpful.

Resava Cave lies in the limestone hill of Babina glava in eastern Serbia; its age is estimated at around 80 million years. A well-maintained path leads through all eight chambers on the upper and lower levels. The Crystal Hall contains white, yellow and red crystal formations. This brings both the cave’s geological setting and its described chambers into focus.

Lisina, also called Veliki Buk, is a 25-metre-high waterfall. Dense forests and the limestone cliffs of the Beljanica Mountains surround it; Veliki Buk lies at the foot of the mountains in the municipality of Despotovac. The landscape is therefore quite different from the underground chambers of Resava Cave: here, the waterfall, forest and limestone cliffs define the natural scenery.

A report from March 2025 describes a wooden platform in front of the waterfall, where visitors wait to get a good photo. As its condition may change, check before visiting whether it is usable.

In the wider area of Despotovac, Senjski Rudnik was founded in 1853. It is considered Serbia’s oldest still-active lignite mine and its oldest preserved industrial heritage site. The Mining Museum is a technical museum of coal mining and presents the social history of the place as well as its collections of objects.

The museum’s steam engines and hoist are among its specific technical exhibits: both date from 1874 and are still in operation. Senjski Rudnik thus offers a different way of exploring history from Manasija—through mining, technology and the social history of the place rather than through a monastery and manuscripts.

The Despot Stefan Lazarević Knights’ Festival has been held below the walls of Manasija Monastery since 2015. The festival features representations of the knights’ tradition by members of numerous associations from around twenty countries, in an improvised medieval village near the monastery. If you are planning your trip specifically around the festival, check the dates for your travel period.

Despotovačka Banja is a balneological centre on the eastern edge of Despotovac. If you plan to include the facility in your itinerary, check in advance which facilities are currently available.

Discover more destinations: Svilajnac, Strmosten, Jagodina, Dvorište, Dobroselica, Opština Ćuprija, Paraćin and Izvor.

What is the connection between Manasija and Despotovac?

Manasija lies not far from Despotovac on the right bank of the Resava. The monastery is where the founder’s tomb containing the mortal remains of Stefan Lazarević was discovered; the Resava School also flourished there in the first half of the 15th century.

What is Resava Cave like inside?

A well-maintained path leads through eight chambers on an upper and a lower level. The Crystal Hall contains white, yellow and red crystal formations.

What landscape surrounds Veliki Buk?

The 25-metre-high waterfall is surrounded by dense forests and the limestone cliffs of the Beljanica Mountains. It lies at the foot of the mountains in the municipality of Despotovac.

What is the Knights’ Festival like?

The festival presents the knights’ tradition in an improvised medieval village near Manasija, with members of numerous associations from around twenty countries taking part. Check the current event dates for your travel period.

For the broader travel overview: Pomoravlje District.