Aleksandrovac - Culture

GALLERY

Many historic monasteries are located in the region, notably the remains of the 14th century Drenča Monastery, the 15th century Rudenice Monastery as well as the remains of the medieval settlement of Koznik, just 10km from Aleksandrovac.

Rudenica Monastery

The Rudenica Monastery is located between Trstenik and Aleksandrovac, south of Veluće. Its patron Vuk and his wife Vukosava built it during the rule of monarch Stevan, around 1410. The Morava styled monastery, which is similar to the Church of Lazarica in Kruševac, stood in ruins until 1938, when it underwent partial reconstruction. The monastery’s frescoes, which were interestingly dedicated to Despot Stevan instead of Jesus Christ, depict the Despot, his brother Vuk and the monastery’s patron couple. The frescoes were painted by Theodore, who signed his name on the wall in the altar section of the church.

Drenča Monastery

The village of Drenča, 3km north of Aleksandrovac, is home to the ruined church of “Dušmanica”, as it is called by the village’s elders. The monk Dorotej, with his son Danilo, built the monastery in 1382. With decoration similar to the monasteries of Veluće and Rudenica, the architectural style is of the Moravska School. The church has a three-leafed base combined with an encrypted cross, a cupola resting on four free pillars, and an eastern apse with specific sections for the vestry and deacons. Though lost to time, the church was once decorated with fresco paintings.

Župa Local Heritage Museum In Aleksandrovac

Aleksandrovac’s heritage museum is located in priest Marko’s house in the town’s center. Today, the museum holds a collection of almost 300 archeological, historic and ethnographic items as well as photographs. The most valuable items on display are four Neolithic statues from Vincan culture found at Vitkovačko Polje. The statues were made by the first farmers who lived in this region almost 6000 years ago.

The museum also contains several valuable exhibits from later periods, including a bronze ax and girdle worn by Roman warriors found at Ivkova Kuća.

Though not on permanent display, the museum is home to a rich collection of items from a typical 19th century Župa village household. These items are documented in a photographic exhibit that recounts the development of Župa from the end of the 19th century to modern times.

Museum Of Wines And Vineyards In Aleksandrovac

A museum dedicated to the history of wine and vineyards in Serbia is situated in an old cellar of the Agricultural School. The museum is tasked with documenting the history wines and vineyards in Serbia through scientific works and public records, while exhibiting preserving and presenting this history for and to the public.

Old Town Koznik

The remains of Župa’s medieval town, Koznik, are located on a cone-shaped mountain overlooking the fertile valley of the Rasina River, 8km west of Aleksandrovac. The 15th century town was known for its great commander, Radić Postupović. Most likely built on the foundation of another ancient settlement, Koznik has remains that include city walls with four huge square-shaped towers along with several smaller ones, plus traces of a lower city with the remains of a tower.

Traditional Wine Villages (Poljane)

There are 22 Župa Poljane, “settlements without people” in Župa. The name comes from the word poljane, or fields, because they were built in fields away from the villages and were exclusively devoted to winemaking. In the vineyards of Prizren, Podrimlje, around Velika Hoča and Orahovac they were called Vince, and in Negotinska Krajina Pivnice. After a phylloxera infestation, many local vineyards were devastated and many of these types of settlements disappeared, except for Župa. In order to prevent further decay of these ethno-models due to increased urbanization, a number of buildings and old cellars, especially in the field of Lukarevina, were restored and protected under the law. Their architecture is picturesque, especially the wine cellars constructed of stone, logs and slab. Each Poljane has its own features - these are unique settlements in Serbia, and at the same time they are an inherent part of the Župa vineyards landscape.