ISTN - Travel destinations

WHAT DOES THE NATIONAL PARK DJERDAP INCLUDE

Three gorges: Golubačka, Gospodjin Vir and the Large and the Small Caldron Canyon

Three valleys: Ljupkovska, Donjomilanovačka and Oršavska

Ten nature reservations: Lepenski Vir, the Large and Small Štrbac with the Trajan Board, Golubački Town, Bosman - Sokolac, Čoka Njalta with Pesača, Bojana, The Tatar Height, Šomrda, The Gypsy's Creek, The Boljetinska River Canyon - The Cliff

In the northeast part of Serbia, just at the border to Romania, there is a unique European nature reservation, The National Park Djerdap, a place of permeating the land and water worlds. Its area is about 63,000 hectares and it stretches along the 100 km of the right bank of the Danube, from Golubac to Karataš near Kladovo. Since a considerable part of the Djerdap is formed by the Danube, this whole complex is called The River National Park and the magnificent Djerdap Gorge itself, the longest and largest penetration gorge in Europe, a the 'Botanical Garden Growing Wild'. The whole region provides excellent conditions for all tourism types. Like in any other first grade protected reservations, visitors may go to the highest point, from which the view 'bursts' everywhere, only followed by the guide.

WHAT TO VISIT

GOLUBAC
Golubac was constructed in the 1st century by the Romans, the Emperor Diocletian lived in it, it was destroyed by the Huns, reconstructed by the Emperor Justinian. A dominating position on the inaccessible rock is taken by the Golubački Town. Near Golubac, there is the Monastery Tumane.

LEPENSKI VIR
According to a legend, Lepenski Vir was founded after the Deluge by one of the Noia sons. This settlement, more than 8,000 years old, includes the house remnants with stone fire places and 54 sculptures of piscine heads, belonging to one of the oldest civilizations in Europe.

DONJI MILANOVAC
At the place where the Danube is the widest (even 2 kilometers), Donji Milanovac 'anchored', the geographic center of the Djerdap Gorge and the National Park under the same name and a nature reservation. Through its history, the town was removed three times. Near it, there is Majdanpek with Ore Head, a mine made 5,000 years BC. the place where Europe stepped from the Stone Age into the Metal one, 7,000 years ago.

THE LARGE AND SMALL CALDRON
The 150 meters wide passage - the Large Caldron, in which the Danube is the deepest (90 m) and the Small Caldron (300 meters wide) are a special attraction. In this part, opposite to the Trajan's Board, the Romanians engraved in the rocks the figure of the Dacian King Decabel, who had heavy fights with Trajan.

THE TRAJAN BOARD
The Trajan Board at the exit section of the Caldron testifies of the human efforts in overcoming the wildness of the Djerdap canyon.The Emperor Trajan installed it in AD 103 and the engraved text in Latin language says: "Emperor Caesar, a son of the divine Nerva, Nerva Trajan, Augustus Germanic, the top priest, representative of the people for the 4th time, father of the fatherland, Consul for the 4th time, constructed this road, having overcome the mountain and the Danube rocks".

THE DJERDAP I HYDRO POWER STATION
Downstream, near the Djerdap I Hydro Power Station (the fifth large in the world), there are the remnants of the Diana Fortress, constructed by Trajan, reconstructed by the Early Byzant rulers, partially burned by the Goths, renewed by the Emperor Justinian and destroyed by the Avaric/ Slavic tribes.

KLADOVO
Many Diocletian's castrums were found near Kladovo, connected by the roads used up to date. The fortress Fetislam (Islam Protection) dominates in the town and the Djerdap Museum has got a copy of the relief from the Trajan's Column, showing the most imposing architectural work of that time - the Trajan's Bridge.

FLORA AND FAUNA

More than 1,100 plant varieties survive in the Park, having the expressively relict character, among which there are the hazel (Corylus colurna), the nettle, nut, lilac, Silver Linden and other plants.

The fauna has got also the characteristics of the relicts. Thus, in this region, one may find the bear, lynx, wolf, jackal, gray eagle, short-eared owl, black stork and many other species. Whirlpools are convenient for many fish sorts, especially the catfish, reaching the weight up to 100 kg.

About 180 bird species have been recorded so far. 120 of them build a nest there.

TOURIST OFFER

Visits to many cultural/historical monuments, the archaeological locality Lepenski Vir, the nature reservations, the caves Rajkova, Gradašnica, Dubočka, Ceremošnja and Ravništarka, nature monuments Vratnjanske Gates and Valja Prerast, the Djerdap Hunting Ground, a school in the nature, bicycle and health paths, a photo safari, ship excursions, visits to the Djerdap Hydro Power Station and other attractions.

The National Park Djerdap

+ 381 30 590788, Fax +381 30 590877

office@npdjerdap.org
www.npdjerdap.org