River Gradac

The river Gradac is the emerald pearl of western Serbia, which with its shades of green proves its clarity and purity. Although it has been declared the cleanest river in Serbia, it is considered to be one of the cleanest rivers in Europe. The river Gradac is the pearl of this region because of its beauty, beautiful canyon and even more beautiful nature, and on the other hand is the life of this region, because it gives it the purest drinking water. Here you will feel as if you are a part of nature, and the roar of the river is something that will make you always come back here.

The river Gradac is about 5 km away from Valjevo, and from Belgrade to Valjevo, if you travel on the Ibar highway, it is 100 km. Here you have the opportunity to see the monastery of Celija, the endowment of King Dragutin Nemanjić, from the 13th century. Also, this monastery was the home of the famous clergyman, sage and healer, Avi Justin Popović, to whom a large number of people still come to visit the relics. On the other hand, the Lelic Monastery is no less valuable, and it is also inevitable during the walk. It is located some 11 kilometers from Valjevo, in the village of the same name. It is the endowment of the famous clergyman, Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović. It is a beautiful church built in the Moravian style, combining stone, brick and whitewash, which especially contributes to its charm.

Gradac is in itself a very specific river, because it behaves differently from its source and through its flow. It springs at the foot of the mountain Povlen, the largest in a series of Valjevo mountains, only to sink after a few kilometers and erupt again. It originates at the place where the Bukovska river and Zabava meet, and from there, all the way to the confluence with the Kolubara river, it flows through a gorge landscape in the length of 28 km. The canyon of Gradac itself, which has been cut through the centuries, is 22.7 km long and represents a real adventure. Particularly interesting are the springs of this river, which flow along its entire course.

The canyon of the river Gradac is an imposing masterpiece of nature, which is proven by the surroundings. There are over seventy caves here that are reliably known, which is really amazing for such a small river. And even much bigger rivers can’t be proud of that. From that, you will have the opportunity to see the Degurić Cave, which stands out in relation to others in the length of its corridors, the size, and especially the beauty of the cave jewelry. Near the cave is the village of the same name, and near the village is a dam which, in addition to its purpose, is also a favorite beach of Valjevo.

It is believed that this area has been home to man since ancient times, and the traces found here lead us all the way to the Paleolithic. In addition, there was a population in ancient times, as well as in the Middle Ages, and many cells were discovered.