The mountains of Valjevo are a continuation of the Old Wallachia heights that extend to the west of the city of Valjevo towards the expanse of Mačva. The chain of mountains begins with Maljen, the mountain that connects with Povlen, Jablanik, then Bobija and Medvednik, Sokolska Mountain, Jagodnja, Boranja and Gučevo, which drops precipitously towards the city of Loznica. The mountains are not too high – the highest peak of the range, Mali Povlen (Little Povlen), reaches 1,347 m – but they are difficult to cross.
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Dense forests and deep river canyons have unwillingly let narrow and snaking roads connect scattered hamlets that are nested on steep mountain slopes or tucked into accessible and welcoming valleys.
This is perhaps why the griffon vulture chooses to hatch in the tranquility of the Trešnjica River canyon, under Mt. Povlen, which is the only safe refuge in the region aside from the Uvac River canyon. |
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This convivial and picturesque landscape has been a fruit growing area since ancient times and the plums that grow in Valjevska Podgorina have always been known for their quality. The region's relative isolation has preserved many plum sorts from plum fever, a dangerous disease that devastated untold numbers of plum trees in Europe. As a reminder, Serbia has until recently been the biggest plum producer in the world.
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Even now, around forty million fruit-producing plum trees grow in Serbia and close to four hundred thousand ton of the fruit are picked, which is less than the yield of other world producers. The reason is the age of the trees, a low fruit rate of the plum sorts and extinction of villages, i.e. the lack of labour force. Probably, the most significant plum region in Serbia is a part of Podgorina with its centre at the place of Osečina. On the slopes of the Sokolske Mountains and Vlašić grow over a million plum trees out of which four hundred thousand trees belong to the Požegača and Madžarka sorts. Podgorina's residents rejuvenate plum nursery plants with both new and old sorts, which give good yield and tasteful fruits. A part of the campaign is the plum tree fair which is organised in Osečina under the slogan "The Treasure of Serbia" in early September. |
The plum tree fair in Osečina, held in late August this year, is one of the ways to improve plum-growing in our country and facilitate producers in placing their product. Within the fair a bourse was also organised this year where one hundred and eighty tonnes of fresh plums and fifty tons of dried fruits were sold. Visitors had the opportunity to see long forgotten sorts of plum trees in addition to new and high-yield sorts.
| In the hall, as well as next to it, fresh and dried plums were on display, as were preserves, marmalade, jam and a plum cake – known as "šljivko", an already forgotten product which, owing to its highly nutritious ingredients, used to be consumed by the army. At the Folklore Gathering by Lampek, locals distilled brandy, cooked marmalade, sang songs and passed on wisdom as people did before the days of television. The fair ran three days, during which, in addition to presentations of plum sorts and plum products and a rich cultural programme, a round table was organised covering themes such as the "Current Technology of Plum Processing and Packaging" and "A Plum Market and Plum Products". In the end recognitions were handed out - Aleksa Lukić from Osečina was recognized for the best nursery plant whereas the most delicious cake was made by Žarko Janičić from Lopatanj. |
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The decision on the best plum brandy was the most delicate of awards, so the jury handed recognitions to Milan Kolaković from Stapar, Milorad Marković from Bratačić and Stojan Milovanović from Ostružanj.
Also, Osečina's residents took advantage of the fair "The Treasure of Serbia" to present the tourism potential of their region, which is certainly noteworthy. The oldest bus in Serbia, along with the good ol' horse and carriage, took visitors for a ride to an old church, a nearby belvedere, a monument dedicated to Milenko Pavlović and a mineral water spring at Gornje Crniljevo. The Sokolska mountain, with its new monastery built at the foot of the famous Soko Grad's remnants, is also nearby.
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The church dedicated to St. Nicholas and a comfortable monastic dormitory are a favourite destination among religious tourists, whereas a summer gathering of emigrant children, titled "Moba" (Mass Harvest), has become traditional. Between Medvednik and Jablanik lies the medieval monastery of Pustinja (Desert) with its unusually beautiful fresco paintings. Next to the monastery, on the Jablanica River, nests the hamlet of Bebića Luka which protected as a cultural monument of special significance. |
Several kilometers downstream from the village, a huge dam is under construction so that a new lake will soon become yet another regional attraction. On the mountains of Jablanik, Medvednik and Boranj one can find mountain bungalows as well as accommodation at the vacation area of Mačkov Kamen. |
