Step into the past od Serbia and get to know the history of the royal Karadjordjevic family and the First Serbian Uprising, discover the hidden secrets of royal wines, explore the cave and enjoy the Sumadija’s specialties.

Activities:

Visiting Topola (Karadjordje fortress and the mausoleum church)
Visiting the Church of St George on the Oplenac Hill
Visiting the Royal Complex
Wine tasting at the Royal Winery
Visiting the cave of Risovača
Lunch in a traditional restaurant
Visiting Maricevica Jaruga and the Memorial Complex in Orašac

Tour description:

The tour starts from Novi Sad at 8 AM from the parking lot in front of Hotel Saja. The passengers from Belgrade will join us at 9.30 PM.

Upon arrival at the town of Topola, we’ll first visit the Karadjordjev fortress where the museum and the modest old church are situated. Here we’ll learn about the importance that this city played in Serbian history and see the remains from the time of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottomans (1804-13). In the church, we’ll see the splendid iconostasis with its amazing carvings.

Atop the forested Oplenac hill sits one of the nicest sights in the whole of Serbia – the mausoleum church of the Karadjordjević royal house. From the outside, you’ll be amazed by the five-domed church covered in shiny white marble. After stepping into the church, you’ll admire hundreds of scenes done in mosaics, all of them copies from medieval Serbian monasteries. In its crypt, we’ll see more mosaics as well as tombstones of 25 members of the Karadjordjević dynasty.

Next door is the house of king Petar I, today a part of the museum with royal portraits and interesting historical items.

After that, we’ll take you to the Royal Winery for wine tasting. The equipment from the royal time became part of the museum setting. A special museum attraction is the oldest barrels from this cellar, personal gifts to King Petar from 1906 and barrels from 1922, wedding gifts to King Aleksandar I and Queen Marija. In the museum, the setting is the oldest Serbian wine cellar with a quantity of preserved archive wines, in the original package in three sizes (with a recessed bottom and royal coat of arms) from 1931 to 1957.

After wine tasting, we’ll visit the cave of Risovaca. Long years of research in the Risovaca cave revealed a large number of fossilized bones and teeth of numerous animal species that during the last ice age lived on the steps around Risovaca.

After this, we head for our lunch. Karadjordjev Vajat is an authentic restaurant located in the historic village of Orašac, where the 1804 insurrection started. Standing at 380m above sea level, the wood and brick complex enjoys beautiful views of Sumadija’s rolling hills. After our lunch, we will visit Karadjordje’s monument, see the memorial village school as well as the Marićevićа Jaruga gully where the insurrectionists gathered.

We’ll return to Belgrade and then to Novi Sad in the evening hours.

Conditions for free cancellation

Free cancelation minimum 7 days before the tour starts. In case of changes in the monetary market or a smaller number of passengers the organizer reserves the right to change the price, change the program or cancel the trip at the latest 3 days before the departure.

Guide language

English, other languages on a request

Notes for transport

The tour is organized with 30 seat buses with minimum of 25 persons in the group. The tour can be done as a private tour, on a request. Supplement for departure from Novi Sad – 8€ per person.

What’s included:

Transfer according to the program
A licensed tourist guide
Royal complex entrance fee 4€
Wine tasting at Royal winery 2,5€
Entrance fee to the cave of Risovaca 2€
Entrance fee to Orašac 1,5€
Travel agency organization fees

What’s excluded:

Lunch in traditional restaurant 8€
Drinks during lunch
Individual costs

Notes about children

Children younger than 7 travel for free if they are accompanied by two adults. Children aged 7 to 12 need to pay 25 EUR.

Notes on benefits

The promotional price is valid up to 10 days prior to departure. The minimal number of passengers needed is 25.

Terms of payment

Advanced payment of 30% of the total amount while booking, the rest no longer than 7 days before the departure.