Knjaževac | Top 10 in Cities of Serbia

City on three rivers

Knjaževac is crossed by three Timok rivers - Trgovište, Svrljig, and White Timok. Trgovište Timok originates from Stara Planina, below Babin Zub, and is a right tributary of Beli Timok. In the upper part of the basin, it represents a turbulent and torrential mountain river that often causes problems for the local population. Along its course, it changes its name several times, which is typical for rivers in this region.

Svrljig Timok comes from the direction of Svrljig. It is one of the most picturesque rivers in Serbia as it flows through the narrow Svrljig klisura (gorge). The best way to enjoy the landscapes of Svrljg Timok is to travel by train from Knjaževac to Svrljig and Niš. Nineteen tunnels and around ten bridges in the gorge, as well as beautiful landscapes, will undoubtedly provide you with an unforgettable experience. Next to Svrljiški Timok, the most beautiful part of the city extends - Stara čaršija (Old Bazaar), which is inevitable on all postcards from Knjaževac. Numerous houses from the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries are the oldest preserved part of the city and certainly a great place to enjoy.

White Timok is formed by the confluence of Trgovište and Svrljig Timok near the city. After about fifty kilometers, near Zaječar, it merges with Black Timok and from there flows under the name Timok.

This wealth of rivers and city bridges has earned Knjaževac the informal nickname "Serbian Venice."

Baranica

Baranica is a picnic spot near Knjaževac on the way to Pirot. The large meander of Trgovište Timok, dominated by high cliffs, is an ideal place for summer vacation and swimming, which the people of Knjaževac largely take advantage of. There used to be a restaurant with a beautiful garden above the river, which offered the most beautiful view of Baranica. Unfortunately, the restaurant has been in ruins for many years.

Stara Planina

Stara Planina is a mountain range and a natural border with Bulgaria, stretching from Vrška Čuka near Zaječar to the Black Sea in Bulgaria. In Serbia, it covers an area from Zaječar to Dimitrovgrad. Knjaževac, along with Pirot, Zaječar, and Dimitrovgrad, is one of the municipalities where this mountain range extends for the most part. There are numerous natural features that characterize the mountain in the municipality of Knjaževac, but the most interesting ones are located on the highest peaks of the mountain - Babin zub, Jabučko ravnište, and Midžor.

Midžor is the highest peak of Stara Planina and Central Serbia. It is located on the border between Bulgaria and Serbia at an altitude of 2169m. It is easily accessible for nature lovers and does not require much preparation to reach it. From Babin zub to its base, there is an old dirt road measuring about 9km, and with a little fitness and willingness, you can reach the roof of Serbia in a couple of hours. The view from Midžor is worth every effort. From there, you can easily see Suva planina, Tresibaba, Tupižnica, Rtanj, Svrljig mountains, and on a clear day, even Kopaonik.

Babin zub is one of the many peaks of Stara Planina, and at its foot, you can find the eponymous hotel and mountaineering lodge. The development of ski tourism in recent years has led to an increased number of tourists, especially during the winter months. During the summer months, this destination is ideal for escaping into nature and hiking through the meadows and peaks of Stara Planina. At the starting point for the ascent to Midžor and Babin zub, there is a café called Plaža, an unreal place to enjoy the most beautiful view of the peaks of Stara Planina. Babin zub is 56km away from Knjaževac, and there is an asphalt road leading to it.

On the way to Babin zub, it is worth visiting a few more places. In the village of Balta Berilovac, there is one of the oldest schools in the municipality of Knjaževac. The first school in the village dates back to 1860, and the current building is from 1880. Unfortunately, there are no students today. In Balta Berilovac, you can also visit Vila Babin zub and try some of the best traditional dishes from Stara Planina (belmuž, various pies, homemade brandies made from various fruits...).

Until last year, it was possible to visit the Bobuk waterfall on the Golema river, but unfortunately, it was destroyed due to the construction of a mini hydroelectric power plant.

Abandoned Villages of Stara Planina

The municipality of Knjaževac is one of the demographically oldest municipalities in Serbia. In recent decades, it has shown a pronounced depopulation character, meaning that the number of inhabitants is rapidly decreasing. This has led to several border villages in Stara Planina being left without residents. Repušnica was the first village in Serbia to lose its inhabitants in 2002. It is located near the border with Bulgaria, in a very inaccessible part of the mountain. In addition to Repušnica, villages such as Gabrovnica, Papratna, Aldina reka... have also been left without residents or with only a few residents. Numerous empty houses bear witness to once vibrant and large villages.

Gabrovnica is located not far from Kalna. It is known for having the only cave drawing in Serbia, which unfortunately is not marked as a tourist attraction and is not easily accessible. After World War II, the village was also home to the only uranium mine in Yugoslavia. Today, the village has no permanent residents except for a few weekenders.

Religious Buildings

In the town itself, there is the Church of St. George from 1883, featuring a prominent baroque bell tower.

The Church of the Holy Mother of God in Donja Kamenica is one of the oldest churches in Eastern Serbia. It is located in a small village 12km away from Knjaževac. It is believed to have been built in the first half of the 14th century, but the identity of the ktitor (founder) is not known with certainty. Despite its modest dimensions, the interesting architecture with two bell towers on the facade gives the impression of a large and spacious church. The church is under state protection, and today it is cared for by the residents of the village.

Just two kilometers away, not far from the village of Gornja Kamenica, there is another old religious building - Sveta Trojica Monastery from the mid-15th century. It is believed to be the endowment of Despot Lazar, the youngest son of Đurđe Branković. Unfortunately, over time, the iconography has been destroyed, and only a few fragments of frescoes from the early 20th century are visible.

Banjica

Banjica is a picnic area not far from the town, in the Svrljiški Timok Valley. As the name suggests, there are several sources of hot water, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 37°C. The spring was known even during the period when the Romans inhabited these areas, as evidenced by archaeological remains of the former Roman bathhouse. Banjica was also written about by Feliks Kanic, a famous travel writer who visited Serbia in the early 19th century. The hot water is used to supply the sports and recreational complex of the same name, where numerous champions such as Nađa Higl and Milorad Čavić have trained.

Knjaževac Homeland Museum

The Knjaževac Homeland Museum is the center of the city's cultural life. It is located not far from the city center in the Sibinović family house, the former owners of the "Dobra sreća" mine, which is now a cultural monument. The museum possesses, among other things, a collection of traditional knitted socks, a characteristic element of the local folk costume. Within the Knjaževac Homeland Museum, there are also the City Museum located in the house of Alekse Ace Stanojević, the Timacum Minus archaeological site, and the Ravna Archeo-Ethno Park. The Ravna Park includes the Wine Museum, Lapidarium, a traditional pottery workshop, and several typical Serbian houses from the 19th century.

Bigreni Waterfall on Stanjinac River

One of the few waterfalls in the municipality is located next to the road from Knjaževac to Pirot, in the village of Stanjinac. It is definitely a place worth visiting. Above the waterfall, there is the Monastery of St. Onfurius. Above the waterfall, there are shallow travertine pools, which can be reached by a narrow path alongside the waterfall.

Famous People from Knjaževac

Aca Stanojević (1852 - 1947) was a politician and one of the founders of the People's Radical Party in 1881. He actively participated in the Timok Rebellion and, besides being the godfather of Nikola Pašić, he was one of the most prominent politicians of that time.

Neda Arnerić, a renowned Yugoslav and Serbian actress, was born in 1953 in Knjaževac. She is one of the most famous personalities from Knjaževac.

Tihomir Đorđević (1868 - 1944) was one of the most prolific ethnologists, historians, professors at the University of Belgrade, and an academic. He graduated from the Great School in Belgrade and then studied in Vienna and Munich, where he obtained his doctorate.

Stevan Jakovljević (1890 - 1962) was a botanist, writer, regular professor, and rector of the University of Belgrade, as well as an academician. As a writer, he is known for works such as "Srpska trilogija," "Smena generacija," "Velika zabuna," and "Likovi u senci."