Uzice Things to Do

Around one hour from Uzice by bus, Mokra Gora is definitely a place to see. First for the Sargan Eight Railway, a lovely little train that goes through the gorgeous mountains of western Serbia. Second for the ethno-village of serbian film-maker Emir Kusturica, just 10mn walking above the train station.

Unfortunately, there is one problem : if it's easy to go by bus from Uzice to Mokra Gora, it's much more complicated to go back. When I arrived there, without knowing if it would be possible to return by public transport, I've been told that maybe a bus would stop around 10pm to pick me up and took me back to Uzice. For sure it would have been a unique experience to wait in this tiny village for that mysterious bus, but I've been very lucky since one absolutely lovely person working in Mokra Gora accepted to drive me back to Uzice.

So, Mokra Gora is for sure a place to go, but from Uzice it's not that easy, unfortunately.

Uzice is placed in a valley, surrounded by hills of dark green vegetation. Is a nice place to take a walk, passing the old tunnels and bridges of the old locomotive railway. Is also a good place to visit by bike, and to practice some sport.

This big square, too large for a town of modest size, is the meeting pont for the young people at night. In summer the cafés put their chairs in the outside, and the square seem more animated, but in spite of this the square seems too large, and lacks of any focal point. When I saw this square at first I said: "it seems like it lacks something here".
Untill 1992, a giant statue of Tito presided the square, but they removed it along with the city's old name, Titovo Uzice.
The city center is testament of occasional success of modern urban planning.

This medieval fortress perches on a rock in the west of the city, above the river. It s first mentioned on documents on 1373, during the regn of Nikole Altomanovic. This fortress give an evdence to a strategic importance that has existed since Roman times.
Nowadays the fortress remains unexploited by Serbian tourist industry (like Uzice). It consists on the ruins of the old castle, with steep stone walls and terraces like an Inca ruin. It's not in the better conditions, cause have some graffitis and vegetation grows wildly and it doesn't allow you to visit the totality of the castle. But anyway, is free and there is an information's poster that explains you what is every zone.
Is worth to visit it specially for the good view you have of the city and the surroundings.

"Then the one who sits on the throne of our kingdom is killed. He will leave behind a widow and orphans. A relative of his will replace him on the throne, and he will try to rule justly and take good care of his cousin`s children. But people do not love him, and he is accused of being an unjust ruler. He is dethroned and imprisoned by his army. His life will be saved by England`s King and Queen. Then on the empty throne, our killed King's boy sits. But he will rule only for a few days. He will be taken by his soldiers over the seas because our kingdom is again invaded by a foreign, evil army. All of Europe is under the rule of the crooked anti-cross."

MITAR TARABIC, (1829-1899), an illiterate peasant, Serbian Nostradamus

HISTORICAL FACTS:

1934 - While visiting Marseilles (in France), King Alexandar Karadjeordjevic is killed by a Croatian nationalist. Prince Pavle Karadjeordjevic, his cousin, becomes the provisional ruler because the King`s son Petar II is still a minor. Because of his growing unpopularity, Pavle is ousted by his army and is exiled to England. Young Prince Petar becomes the King, but soon flees Yugoslavia before the invading Nazi hordes.

1941 - Yugoslavia is occupied by the Germans. The ominous shadow of the Nazi swastika covers most of Europe.

Link to some predictions

“An iron road would cross the Cigansko padaliste (The Gypsy Slope), with an iron fire cart which would always stop by itself at the place where the gypsy camp was located.”

“Many years will pass after which people will remember again the iron road and then they will rebuild it again. But then travellers will not use it for necessity or business, but for diversion and pleasure”.

MITAR TARABIC, a famous prophet of Kremna, Serbian Nostradamus

When you are visiting Ribasevina, and you are fisherman you just have to visit mountine Jelova Gora. On small rivers called Tatalija and Tmusa you will have wonderfull fishing expirience. These rivers are full of trouts. Trouts are not so big but it is great fishing with fly.

Jelova Gora is very good place for hunting as well. You just need hunting licence and rifle. In Jelova Gora you can find wolves, foxes, wild pigs and deers.
Wather in rivers Tmusa and Tatalija is very clear and you could drink it without boiling. Be carefull - wather is very cold!

1844. Placed in the same cobbled square that is popular hangout of the city's students population.
Grey-washed colour, with a basic architecture.