Old Crafts Trail

GALLERY

Start from Trstenik: city square - King Dušan Street – Osaonica – Dublje – Popina – Brezovica – Rogovi - Petkovica church – Čairi – crossing over the freeway at Petoletka – Vuk Karadžić Street – city square

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Outline of the trail: The crafts trail is located in the western part of the Trstenik, touching the borders of Vrnjačka Banja, and spreading over the hilltops of Goč Mountain. The trail starts through the settlements of Trstenik city, where the starting point is, and then continues through Osaonica, Popina, Dublje, Brezovica and Čairi.
Profile: hiking and bicycle trail
Length: 25 km
Time needed to complete the tour: 8 hours for hikers, 4 hours for bikers from Trstenik, as well as from Vrnjačka Banja;
Lowest point: Trstenik (172 m. above sea level)
Highest point: Rogovi (513 m. above sea level)
Hiking conditions: safe in any weather, from spring till autumn; bikers are recommended to go through the Rogovica area by foot; hikers and bikers are recommended to take extreme caution on the part of the trail that goes through Osaonica, due to traffic.
Level of fitness: recreational, people that maintain regular exercises

Activities: walking, mountain climbing, bike ride, bird watching, hunting, fishing, herbalist, picking mushrooms and forest fruit, taking snap shots, learning old crafts, trying homemade food and drink.

It is possible to get to the trail by car or bus, both from Pojate-Kraljevo freeway and from the local Brezovica road.

Itinerary: the trail is circular. The start is in Trstenik, which was known during the 19th and first half of 20th century as the town of trade, crafts and fine wine. Records show that in 1911, Trstenik had 60 merchants and 50 craftsmen. Many of the buildings owned by wealthy and known citizens of Trstenik are now protected as national heritage. They can be seen in King Dušan Street that leads from Trstenik town toward the Village of Osaonica, the 19th century center of Trstenik.

An ancient Roman cestrum was located in the Stražba area, and a beautiful bronze mask belonging to a Roman soldier was found in the late 19th century.

Popina Village, 7 km outside Trstenik, is known for its abundance in quartz and its processing. A stone carving workshop in Popina (y.1935), found its inspiration in decorative stone ornaments of the Moravska School. Rosettes, pillars, fountains and stone water taps made in this workshop, likened to those in Ljubostinja, Lazarica and Veluće, decorate several town squares in Serbia.

At the local market you can buy home made products, sweets, fruit preserves, juices, famous ajvar (roasted paprika paste) made to “Grandma’s” recipe, or freshly picked forest fruit.

Halfway between the villages of Popina and Brezovica, if you turn left and cross the river Popinska, you will find the Krstić family house, the oldest house in the village (over 250 years). The artists and craftsmen association “Riznica” seeks to revive old crafts (weaving, woodcarving, pottery, etc.) with the aim of producing usable objects and authentic souvenirs. This is an opportunity for an unforgettable active holiday for all those who wish to learn a handicraft while resting in a healthy environment.

Visitors can stay at the local bed and breakfast in the Štulac village, where they can enjoy specialties of the local kitchen prepared in wood ovens and beautiful local wine.

The legend says that the name of the village Dublja comes from the large rocks surrounding the area (“dubovi”). “Dubljan rock”, coming from the stone mines at Bela Stena, Bučje etc. is known all over the world. Several family workshops in Dublje village have remained faithful to the millstone carving tradition. The oldest stone-carving workshop was founded in 1875, during the so-called golden age of stonemasons, when almost every stream had a watermill. The owner at the time, Rajica Topalović, in the year 1921, won the first prize for his stone carvings on the Parisian Fair, which opened the doors of the European market to his company. His descendants to this day treasure licenses from the Novi Sad captains’ office, which states that the Topalović family is allowed to export watermill stones to Germany. Only one millstone stayed undelivered since those days. It is 1.8 meters in diameter and you can see it as it decorates the garden of the Topalović family home. Eco-mills made in this workshop are still present on the world market.

From the hilltop near the school you can enjoy a beautiful view overlooking Vrnjačka Banja and the mountain tops of Goč, Željin and Kopaonik. Experienced hunters can discover the wonders of the designated hunting grounds in Dublja.

The village of Brezovica is located on the Brezovica River, 13 km southwest of Trstenik, and the same distance from Vrnjačka Banja. Legend says it got its name from the birch tree forests “that could be seen only in Russia… “. From the mountain top Rogovi (513m) you can experience amazing views overlooking forests, fields and rivers with waterfalls. Once upon a time, Brezovica had 18 watermills, on the Bršljanica and Brezovačka rivers, built during first half of 20th century.

Brezovica is also known for its limestone production. The Brezova and Popina rivers are rich in marble, which produces high quality lime.

Visitors can stay in the beautiful period country house with an adjacent restaurant that serves local specialties. In summer months there is the spring water pool to enjoy. Here you can buy locally handmade sweaters and socks or you can pick or buy bags of healing herbs with instructions on how to make tea or lotion, or gather fruits for home-made jams. St. Petka Church in Brezovica, dating back since 1931, was built on the grounds of the older wooden church (1874.)

You can also return to Trstenik across Rogovi, or rest at the Petkovića Orthodox Church of Saint John.