Valjevo – Culture, History and Nature

In Brankovina stands the Church of the Holy Archangels, built in 1830 as a foundation of Prota Mateja Nenadović.

Tešnjar developed at the beginning of the 19th century as the commercial district of the city of Valjevo. Traditional craft workshops produce candles and carry out saddlery, pottery, weaving and coppersmithing, among other activities. This focus makes the district particularly interesting for travellers who want to understand historic trades and traditional working methods not only through buildings, but also through specific craft-related themes.

Another notable historic site is the Church of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, considered the oldest religious building in Valjevo. The monument to the fighters of the Revolution was unveiled in 1960; the surrounding grounds are designed as a memorial park.

The permanent exhibition of the National Museum Valjevo is entitled “Treća dimenzija prošlosti – pogled iz budućnosti”. It uses scenographic and multimedia elements as well as spatial reconstructions. As a result, the focus is not exclusively on individual objects, but also on the spatial representation of the past.

The permanent exhibition of Moderna galerija Valjevo includes works by the academic painter Ljuba Popović. Together with the National Museum and the historic buildings, this creates a cultural spectrum ranging from regional history to modern painting.

The park on the Jadar marks the beginning of a longer walking route. It continues along a path through Pećina Forest Park. The route is therefore described as a continuous trail, without any specific walking time or level of difficulty being inferred from this.

The Gradac River is considered one of the cleanest rivers in Serbia. Another special feature is Petnička Cave: it contains chambers, passages, an underground cave river, a lake, as well as various stalactite and stalagmite formations and other cave formations. It also contains finds of Ice Age fauna and traces of human presence from the distant past. When selecting your excursions, you can therefore distinguish between a route through the forest, a river-focused destination and a cave with natural and prehistoric aspects.

For a broader comparison, Slavkovica, Ćelije, Popadić, Gornja Toplica, Vrelo, Mionica, Osečina and Rakari are also available.

How can Valjevo be reached by train?

Valjevo can be reached via the railway line running from Belgrade to the Adriatic port of Bar.

What is historically notable about Muselimov Konak?

Muselimov Konak was built in the 18th century and is the oldest surviving building in Valjevo. At the beginning of 1804, the princes Aleksa Nenadović and Ilija Birčanin were held captive in its cellar before being taken to their execution in the event known as “Seča knezova”.

What is the history of Nenadović Tower?

Nenadović Tower was built by Jakov Nenadović and his son Jevrem in the spring of 1813 to store ammunition for the insurgents. Today, it houses a museum exhibition.

When does Tešnjarske večeri take place?

Tešnjarske večeri traditionally takes place at the beginning of August and lasts six days. The programme includes educational and creative workshops.

To the overarching travel overview: Kolubara District.