While we were driving to Valjevo, on a warm and sunny autumn day, we thought about what we could show someone who had never been to Valjevo.
We visited several locations, the city center, as well as a monastery, which I will write about another time, but also a famous picnic spot by the Gradac river.
The Gradac River rises at the foot of the Povlen mountain, and on its 22 km course, before flowing into Kolubara, it created a large canyon.
This time we were not equipped for hiking in the river canyon, where part of the route goes through the water course, treading water up to our knees, and we were definitely late for swimming because the temperature barely exceeded 15 °C.
But it was the perfect time for a tour of an ethnic household, as well as a walk by the river in that calm and flat part of the stream.
We descended from the parking lot where we left the car on a steep path, very carefully because the stone was slippery - at least it was slippery for my new sneakers.
When we got out to the clearing where the ethno household is located, we were disappointed because it didn't work.
The stream mill was not grinding flour, the tables and chairs were packed on the veranda, the windows were tinted and no smoke was coming out of the chimney. The only thing that could be heard was the meowing of some cats, and the murmur of water.
It doesn't matter, sitting in this restaurant was not our priority. We wanted a walk in nature.
The foothills of the surrounding mountains are very underwater and there are several springs along the Gradac river, two of which have drinkable spring water.
This river, due to the large amount of clean water, was declared one of the cleanest rivers in Europe, and as such, along with the entire area, it was declared a landscape of exceptional importance. On the course of the river, everything is prohibited except for camping in marked places. All in order to preserve the flora and fauna of this area.
Fishing is allowed, only if you are fly-fishing, and even then it is sport fishing, when the fishermen catch a fish, they immediately return it to the river, and do not hunt it.
Moving along the course of the river, we encountered a shepherdess tending a herd of goats, as well as streams that flowed into the river.
On one extension, due to the low water level, I was able to go down into the river bed and take some interesting photos. Beautiful nature, clean, fresh air, peace and quiet is what characterizes this place and I put it as a pin on my map in #worldmappin, so that I have a reminder that I have to come back here next summer (when I might bathe in clear mountain water).
And now I definitely wanted to avoid getting wet, so I carefully crossed the improvised bridge that led to the "Skok po skok" ethno household.
I will definitely come back here, and you, my dear Hivers, if you are ever in these parts in the warm part of the year, and you love nature, ask about organized hiking tours, maybe we will meet in the Gradac river canyon.