Discover Serbia: The Tara National Park

House on the Drina River / Kućica na steni / Stenčica / Serbia 
by Irene Becker

The Tara National Park in the mountainous region of western Serbia was designated a national park in 1981. The 19,200-hectare park, with administrative offices in Bajina Basta, is spread out over a group of mountain peaks in the Tara, Crni vrh, Stolac and Zvezda ranges,  the Canyon of Drina with Perucac  and outskirts of Bajina Basta. National park covers a large bend in the Drina River bordering Bosnia.

Zaovine Lake / Заовинско језеро / Tara National Park / Serbia
by Irene Becker 

The mistique and powefull name for the beautiful mountain Tara (from 1000 to 1,500 metres a.s.l.) one of the most beautiful mountains in Serbia, clad in dense forests with numerous clearings and meadows, cliffs, ravines and caves...

Gorge /Vrelo / Tara National Park /Serbia
by Jovan Jaric 

The area of this national park is about 22,000 hectares and consists of a gruop of mountain peaks and areas with deep gorges, the most striking of which is the Drina Gorge. The Drina Gorge, which is an an integral part of park, can be toured by boat. This is a special attraction and memorable experience. 

Drina River Canyon / Tara National Park
by Irene Becker   

Forests account for three quarters of this national park's area and some of them are best preserved and of highest quality in Europe. Tara also boasts a rare endemic Tertiary species, the Pancic spruce. 

The greatest value of Mt. Tara and of entire Europe is the conifer species Pancicts spruce ( Picea omorica Panc.), which has, since its discovecy in 1876, provoked grest interest in scientific cincles. The spruce is a relict species originating in the Tertiary when it was broadcast across extensive ranges in Europe and parts of Asia 


Issues which have still not been clarified in connoction with this species are the question of its origin and the reasons of its confinement to such a saall range , as well as whether it is becoming biologically extinct or is receding under the influence of external factors and man. Conifers related to this spruce which appear in North America and Eastern Asia belong to other species. This spruce is considered the most beautiful conifer of Europe. 

Jagoštica / Tara National Park /  Serbia    
by Irene Becker

Mountain of Tara is very rich with animals. There are 53 sorts of mammals and 153 sorts of birds. Tara could praises, which is a rare example that in her hunting grounds there is a lot of bears, chamois and other sorts. According to so expert and rich care, the bears and chamois are growing up in their reservations (canyons, caves and hollows), human care which they have enables them to surpass all the results in the Europe and in the world.

Man from Jagoštica, Tara National Park, Serbia

Although the man has been present on the mountain of Tara for centuries, the nature is conserved here on the whole. One couldn't only builds here, but has to leave to the nature that what belong to her. Forest is restored, their qualities are conserved and in nowadays are giving us after all good condition for healthy life, healthy water, and the air that is clear.

Forest Creek / Tara National Park 

The Rača monastery
The monastery was built by Stefan Dragutin (1276-1282). In 1826 it was reconstructed due to being burned down several times while Serbia was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
Nestled in the hills of Tara, the monastery was once a center for transcribing liturgical books. The Raca School of transcription is lauded as the guardian of Serbia’s national identity.

Rača monastery /Манастир Рача by Irene Becker

There are three tourist facilities with accommodation in The Park ... Welcome 

Drina Regatta [every year]

Rafting Club Drina Tara - Rafting Centre and World Rafting Championship 2009