Framed by the forested peaks of Mount Rajac and Mount Rudnik, Ljig is a small town south of Belgrade. While it was settled as recently as 1911 when a railroad was built between Gornji Milanovac and Lajkovac, the surrounding countryside is dotted with medieval monasteries and ruins dating back centuries.
Things to do in Ljig
A short drive south of Ljig is Mount Rajac, which has been designated as a “Landscape of Exceptional Features”. Hiking trails traverse its slopes through forests of beech, birch and ash, as well as meadows where medicinal plants grow. It’s a popular setting for paragliding and hosts the annual Mowing on Rajac that sees competitors cut the grass using traditional scythes.
Also located on Mount Rajac is a monument memorialising the Battle of Kolubara, which took place nearby during World War I. Fought between Austria-Hungary and a heavily outnumbered Serbian army, it saw the locals victorious, albeit with significant casualties on both sides. The “Monument to 1300 Corporals” honours the young officers who joined as reinforcements and lost their lives.
A number of Serbian Orthodox monasteries dot the landscape surrounding Ljig, including the Vavedenje Monastery that has served as a spiritual centre since the 14th century. Not to miss is the maroon and yellow-striped Eglise Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul of the Ribnica Monastery, which has been rebuilt many times over the years. In addition to meeting the monks and attending a service, you can visit the monastery’s sacred cave.
Getting around Ljig
Ljig is around an hour’s drive from Belgrade and Nikola Tesla Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and the Middle East. Buses travel to Ljig and the town is compact enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of exploring the surrounding attractions.