Raška District: Kopaonik, Monasteries and Thermal Springs

Kopaonik is a mountain range 80 kilometres long and the largest mountain range in Serbia. Kopaonik is home to 90 plant species that occur exclusively in this area. Part of the Kopaonik mountain range was declared Kopaonik National Park in 1981.

Kopaonik offers ski slopes for beginners and experienced skiers, as well as snowboarding and a special form of skiing combined with paragliding. Visitors to Kopaonik have access to 24 cable cars and numerous ski lifts, as well as 12 kilometres of cross-country ski trails. Kopaonik Bike Park features 5-kilometre-long mountain bike trails in three difficulty levels, including a trail for beginners and children.

Kopaonik National Park organises guided hikes with expert accompaniment, tailored to tourists' wishes. The Jelovarnik Waterfall in Kopaonik National Park consists of three cascades. The Mala Greda viewpoint is located at the tenth kilometre of the regional road between Kopaonik and Jošanička Banja.

The Mala Greda viewpoint offers panoramic views of the Kozje stene nature reserve. Kozje stene is a sharp mountain ridge in northern Jadovnik, whose northeastern side descends into the valley of the Samokovska River. Lake Urvine near Čomage is approximately 60 by 35 metres in size and lies at the foot of the Borjak pine forest, a reserve of Kopaonik National Park; the lake is suitable for excursions and relaxation.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stari Ras and Sopoćani comprises Sopoćani Monastery, Đurđevi Stupovi Monastery, the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and the archaeological site of the medieval city of Ras. Stari Ras became the first capital of the independent Serbian state in 1159; the archaeological site includes, among other things, the Gradina hilltop fortress and the lower town of Trgovište.

The frescoes in the church of Sopoćani Monastery, dating from around 1270 to 1276, are considered among the most significant works of Byzantine and Serbian medieval art. Studenica Monastery was founded in 1186 as the memorial and burial church of the Serbian Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja, the first ruler of the Nemanjić dynasty.

Gradac Monastery is located on the Transromanica cultural route, the Romanesque Route of European Heritage. Gradac Monastery was founded by Helen of Anjou and is thought to have been completed by 1276. The interior of the Church of the Virgin Mary at Gradac Monastery is considered one of the finest examples of Serbian medieval architecture. The Old Bath in Jošanička Banja is an 18th-century Turkish bath whose original use has been preserved to this day.

The thermal water of Jošanička Banja reaches 77 °C and is considered to have potential for balneological tourism and for treatments of diseases, athlete preparation, recuperation and leisure activities. The Rimski Izvor spa centre combines traditional mineral water treatments with wellness, massage, medical-aesthetic, peloid and balneotherapy services.

Around 200 Roman coins dating from the time of Augustus to Valentinian were found at the hot spring of the Roman Spring in Vrnjačka Banja. In Vrnjačka Banja, the cultural offering includes a cinema and theatre hall as well as the Cultural Castle with gallery and museum spaces; programmes in literature, theatre, film, television, music, art, publishing and museology also take place in Vrnjačka Banja throughout the year. In the town of Raška, there is a stone bridge over the Ibar River that was built from 1893 to 1895.

Other places in Raška District include Stanišinci, Metikoš, Plešin, Bogutovac, Gradac, Goč, Jošanička Banja, Tutin, Lopatnica, Rudno, Mataruška Banja, Rast, Kopaonik, Vrnjačka Banja, Vrba, Novi Pazar, Kraljevo and Raška.

To the higher-level travel overview: Central Serbia.