We stayed overnight below Gradina hill near the city of Novi Pazar. In the morning we walked the steep trail (950 m) to the Stari Ras, a 12th-century fortress. It was built there to defend the capital city of the first Serbian state on the accession of the Nemanjić dynasty in 1159. The monastic compound includes three archaeological sites; the fortress on Gradina, the cave with Holy Archangel’s Monastery, and the settlement of Pazarište (also known as Trgovište). Stari Ras fortress, together with the medieval monasteries of Sopoćani and Đurđevi Stupovi and Saint Peter’s church, has been listed in UNESCO.
Parking location – Pazarište: 43.131118N 20.421246E (🚻)