Must see and feel - Petnica

by Ivan Beljic

One of the most interesting sights in Valjevo

There are many monuments in and around Valjevo, but the most interesting one is Petnica. What's more, it is far away from the city's noise and crowd. Citizens go there when they want to escape from everyday obligations and meet with some friends.

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Petnica cave

It has some of the oldest traces of the life of people near Valjevo. The first research was performed by a famous botanist, Josif Pančić and a geographer, Jovan Cvijić. This cave has not just the archaeological value, but also the speleological one because some explorers use rocks above it to practise climbing. The cave consists of a 600-metre-long tunnel divided into two parts - upper and lower cave. The upper one has a chamber called Concert Hall, which has natural lighting from two holes in the ceiling so the sun can come in. All this provided suitable conditions for the first people to find shelter.

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Petnica lake

It's perfect for swimmers and fishermen. You can enjoy beautiful countryside and breathe clean air. It is the best place to have a rest from everyday obligations and have a picnic with friends. The average depth of the lake is 4 m, and maximum depth is 11 m. On the shores of the lake there are migratory birds and waterfowl, which have already formed their habitat, and this area has become a favorite fish-catching ground for fishermen . Access to the lake is regulated, and nearby there are: sports and recreation center "Petnica", Petnica Science Center and Petnica cave.

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Petnica Science Centre

Petnica Science Center is an organization for informal science education. Petnica has been organizing many programs (seminars, workshops, research camps…) in 15 disciplines of science, technology and humanities. This centre features various types of classrooms, laboratories, a big and multifunctional library, and a restaurant. What's interesting is the fact that anyone can apply for those courses. I took part in such a course in primary school, so I would recommend everyone to visit it, and I guarantee you will be happy with your results and progress.

More about history of PETNICA

Petnica is a small village, 5 km away from Valjevo. It was founded at the beginning of the 15th century. The oldest known written document is Petnica Psalms from 1488, where its monastery and school there were first mentioned. The Turks burned the monastery in the 18th century, but the church, last renovated in 1864, is still standing. When digging foundations for the centre facilities, excavators uncovered the remains of the old cemetery in Petnica ("Bobija") that were transferred to today's church. Today, in the back yard of the large Petnica Science Centre, there are still two of the three school buildings raised in 1925.