Home of the Blue Angel and the Cleanest River in Serbia – Welcome to Arilje

Almost without exception, Arilje and Ivanjica are associated with the raspberry-growing area of Serbia. We hear about them before each harvesting season. The purchasing price is calculated, people are watching the weather, checking how good the harvest is, listening to the positions of the farmers and the owners of cooling plants, and associations are saying what they have to as well. Then, come autumn and winter, these towns and their “red gold” are waiting for a new season.

However, this area is much more than home to raspberries and blackberries. Did you know that Arilje is home to brands such as Extreme Intimo or Feedback? Do you know what the river of this area is known for? Which angel found its home here?

– We are good, but Ivanjica is even richer, they have a forest – says our host, who serves us mushroom pie, freshly baked trout, baked beans, potato salad and chili peppers by the Rzav river. It’s the fasting season, and the welcoming citizens of Arilje will serve you such food if you are fasting, but also direct you to the places where the best barbecue is made if you’re not. They can also tell you about the best bakeries and which ones to avoid.

What’s surprising, though, is that, although this is a rich fruit-growing area, people are leaving Arilje. A large number of young people have found jobs in Belgrade. Some work as cooks, others as construction workers, whereas some deliver food. On a sample of four young men we’ve had coffee with, three no longer live in their home area.

However, that’s a story for another time. This one aims to direct you at the area where you can have a fresh squeezed-raspberry juice and eat a pancake with a raspberry-based filling. Here, people are truly welcoming, from cashiers to random passers-by.

In Arilje, you can take a stroll down the wide promenade, featuring tree lanes, stores and cafes, where there are those who come for their first coffee at the break of dawn. You can also spend time at one of the parks, take a photograph by the monument to a female raspberry-farmer, refresh yourself by the fountain, but also visit a memorial to fallen heroes.

The true pearl of this town, however, is the Church of St. Achillius, located on a hill, from which the ringing of the bells invites the faithful each Sunday morning at eight. It happens again. Light, bathed in sunlight, surrounded by greenery and roses, it welcomes its visitors.

This legacy of King Stefan Dragutin Nemanjic from the 13th century to this date vibrates with the religious chanting from each corner. Traditional Serbian frescoes are partially preserved, the most prominent of which is the one showing the king, his wife, Catherine of Hungary, and sons Vladislav and Urosica. Inside the church are the tombs of St. Achillius and Urosica, who took monastic vows with the name Stefan and whose relics streamed myrrh, according to the legend.



When you enter the naos from the narthex and look up, to the left of the altar is the famous fresco Blue Angel, mentioned in a poem by Branko Miljkovic. It shows the archangel Gabriel and gives this church a special place in the world of Orthodox Christianity. Of course, the beauty of this church and everything it offers also attracts those who are not religious at all, but who appreciate the beauty of the architecture and the power of painting, which have been the legacy of its people for centuries now.

Full of impressions, you can then go to the most logical place in the summer – the banks of the Rzava river, the cleanest river in Serbia, where you can absorb everything that nature has to offer. The greenery of the trees is reflected in the cold water, which gives you a pleasant chill. Don’t be surprised to see a pack of fish swimming past you. There are many of them and they are used to the presence of people.

There are many beaches, more than 15. Some are smaller, known only to the local populace, and some are very popular, such as Bosa Noga. This is not a place for swimmers, because the water is very shallow, but it should definitely be visited. You can find beach mattresses, a café, a sunbathing spot on the pebble beach and a place to relax in the shade.

The Zuta Stena beach is for those who love beach volleyball and a deeper water. There are wooden tables by the river, where you can relax with your favorite drink.



Arilje is not far from Belgrade. It is easily accessible by highway to Preljina, so maybe the upcoming weekend is the right time to explore this part of western Serbia. Of course, whichever part of Serbia you come from, you can find something to enjoy here. There are enough accessible accommodation capacities, and you can choose between modern apartments or staying at households. Have a nice trip!

Aleksandra Kekic

Jasmil d.o.o. Arilje

EKOTEX ARILJE

Extreme Intimo

Feedback

Rzav

Church of Saint Achillius

King Dragutin

Catherine of Hungary

Vladislav

Urošica

Arilje Blue Angel

Bosa noga beach

Žuta stena beach

monument to a female raspberry farmer