Užice | Top 10 in Cities of Serbia

Užice Old Town

On the hill above today's Užice, at the place where the Đetinja River emerges from the canyon-like part of the valley, there is a medieval fortress, known as the Užice Old Town. An excellent strategic position, from which the road between Serbia and Bosnia could be controlled, contributed to the city's development and the construction of a large fortress. The fortress walls followed the terrain and due to the presence of steep cliffs, the fortress was difficult to conquer. The oldest records of the fortress date back to the 14th century, and it is believed that it was built by nobles Vojislav and Altoman Vojinović. The fortress periodically served military purposes until the expulsion of the Turks from these areas in 1863. According to the agreement between Serbia and Turkey, the fortress was blown up and largely destroyed. In the 1980s, the collapse and further destruction of the structures were stopped, and currently, it is undergoing reconstruction that will restore its authentic appearance and possibly make it the greatest tourist attraction of Užice.

Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Đetinja River (HE "Pod gradom")

The oldest hydroelectric power plant in Serbia, which generated alternating current over 120 years ago, is located at the foot of the Old Town. It was put into operation in 1900, only four years after Tesla's power plant at Niagara Falls. True, three months before it, a hydroelectric power plant started operating on the Gradac River near Valjevo, but it produced direct current. The original idea was to build a large watermill at that location, but an electricity plant was eventually built with the aim of powering textile machinery in a nearby factory. The famous Đorđe Stanojević, a professor at the Great School, was responsible for this turn of events, as he initiated the construction of a power plant whose electricity could also be used for lighting Užice. The power plant ceased operation in 1973, but after reconstruction, it resumed operation in 2000. Not far from the HE "Pod gradom," there is also the HE Turica, which was put into operation in 1929.

Užice National Museum

National Museum of Užice was established in 1946, and at that time it included the Homeland and the Uprising Museum. Under this name, it has been active again since 2002. The museum possesses archaeological, ethnological, historical, artistic, and numismatic collections, comprising several thousand exhibits. The permanent exhibitions include "Užice - Origins and Development," "Užice Republic in 1941," "Partisan Weapons and Ammunition Factory," "History of Defense Production in Užice from 1928 to the Present," as well as the Legacy of the painter Mihailo Milovanović and the Lapidiary of ancient monuments. The museum also operates a Homeland Department of the Museum in Nova Varoš.

Jokanović House

One of the oldest buildings in Užice was built in the second half of the 19th century. Jokanović House belonged to one of the wealthiest families in Užice at the time, and today it is one of the rare representative houses of that period in Serbia and a kind of monument of history and culture of the Užice region. Older residents of Užice also call it Pecara. The house was reconstructed in 1992 and transformed into a museum space housing a permanent exhibition titled "City House in Užice in the 19th and early 20th century." Through three different interiors (Oriental Room, Maiden's Room, and Salon), different styles of urban life are presented.

Kadinjača Memorial Site

Not far from Užice, about 14 km towards Bajina Bašta, there is an impressive Memorial Site from World War II - Kadinjača. It was erected in honor of the fallen fighters of the Užice Partisan Detachment's Workers' Battalion, who resisted German occupation forces at that location. The complex consists of three parts (Užice Republic Amphitheater, Workers' Battalion Alley, and Freedom Plateau), which were built between 1952 and 1979. The museum exhibition in the Memorial House comprises hundreds of items and documents related to the Workers' Battalion.

Zlakusa Pottery Village

In the valley of the Đetinja River, not far from the main road Požega – Užice, there is a unique "craft" village called Zlakusa. Namely, this village has about 650 inhabitants, and most of them still engage in the pottery craft. For three centuries, traditional kitchen vessels made of clay, known even beyond the borders of Serbia, have been produced in Zlakusa. The village is also home to "Terzića Avlija", a picturesque ethno-park with an authentic building from the early 20th century and an interesting museum exhibition that represents the history of the Užice region from the Roman period to the present day.

Potpećka Cave

In the vicinity of Zlakusa, in the area of the village of Potpeće, about 15 kilometers from Užice, there is one of the most interesting tourist-developed caves in Serbia. It is known for its grandiose entrance, reached by a long flight of stairs, as well as its diverse cave formations. One of the largest cave openings in the Balkans reaches a height of over 50 meters and can be seen long before reaching the cave itself. It was arranged for tourist visits in 1984, and the walking trail is about 500 meters long, although the total length of Potpeće Cave is estimated to be 8-10 km. The cave attracted the attention of our greatest scientists of the 19th century, such as geologists Jovan Žujović and geographer Jovan Cvijić and Radenko Lazarević. A half-hour walk through this beautiful cave can be enjoyed at a price of 300 dinars for adults and 200 dinars for children.

Šargan Eight

In the municipality of Užice, there is one of the largest and most beautiful tourist attractions in Serbia. It is visited by tourists from all over the world and is the only attraction of its kind in this area. The Šargan Eight is the name of the narrow-gauge railway section that used to connect Belgrade with Zelenika. This section stretches for about 15 km between the former stations of Mokra Gora and Šargan-Vitasi. This section was one of the most challenging to overcome on the entire railway line between Belgrade and Dubrovnik. It was put into operation in 1925 and ceased operation in 1974. Today, it is owned by the Railway Museum of Serbia and, after reconstruction in 2003, it was transformed into a tourist attraction. The tourist train passes through as many as 22 tunnels and 5 bridges twice a day, overcoming a height difference of about 300 meters. It stops at four stations with restaurants and five lookout points that offer unique views of Mokra Gora and the surrounding area. Riding the Šargan Eight is considered one of the most beautiful experiences a tourist can have in Serbia.

Kremna Prophets' Memorial Home

While Zlakusa is known as the village of potters, Kremna is considered the "village of prophets." This small mountain village on the slopes of Tara, on the road between Užice and Bajina Bašta, was made famous by the Tarabić brothers, Miloš and Mitar Tarabić, locals who successfully predicted the fate of individuals as well as the fate of Serbia as a state in the 19th century. The memorial home dedicated to the prophetic brothers is built in an ethno style and houses a large number of relics and antiques. According to legend, even the Nemanjić dynasty had their houses in beautiful Kremna. As the village is relatively close to the Šargan Eight, Zlatibor, and Tara, it is an essential place to visit for tourists.

Zabučje Viewpoint

The Zabučje Viewpoint, also known as Krst (Cross) by the locals, is located above Užice, on the southern side of the hill of the same name, opposite the Old Town. From this spot, you can enjoy the most beautiful panorama of the Užice valley and the course of the Đetinja River. A wooden platform and a telescope for observing the surroundings were installed at the top several years ago.