Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
range, is the park's principal gateway and the only town within its boundaries. It's not
very big and neither is it attractive, but it has a supermarket, a post office, a bank, hotels
and restaurants, all gathered around the car park masquerading as the main square.
West of the park, the Tara forms the border with Bosnia and joins the Piva River near
Šćepan Polje.
PARK FEES
The road to Black Lake is blocked off just past the National Park Visitors Centre and an entry fee is charged (per
day €2, free for under-seven-year-olds). If you're planning on staying in the area for more than a few days, it's
worth purchasing a 10-day ticket (€7). Drivers will need to park outside the gates (€2) and walk the remaining
500m to the lake. Keep hold of your ticket in case you bump into a ranger.
Sights
Dobrilovina Monastery
Near the eastern boundary of the national park, 28km from Mojkovac, this monastery has
an idyllic setting in lush fields hemmed in by the mountains and Tara River. Don't be
fooled by the tranquillity; this complex has been destroyed and rebuilt several times since
it was founded (sometime before 1593, when it first appears in the written record).
If you knock at the accommodation wing, a black-robed nun will unlock the church but
only if she's satisfied that you're appropriately attired. Dedicated to St George (Sv
Ðorđe), the frescoes that remain inside the church are faded but very beautiful.
MONASTERY
Tara Bridge
The elegant spans of the 150m-high Tara Bridge were completed just as WWII was start-
ing. At the time it was the largest concrete arched vehicular bridge in Europe. Its 365m
length is carried on five sweeping arches, the largest of which is 116m wide.
In May 1942, with large numbers of Italian and German troops stationed in Žabljak,
the Partisan command gave the order to blow up the bridge. The honour went to one of
its engineers, Lazar Jauković, who planted the bomb that destroyed his beautiful creation.
Jauković was captured by the Italians and Četniks (Serb royalists) and executed on the
remains of his bridge. When it was rebuilt in 1946, Jauković's bravery was acknow-
ledged by a plaque that still stands by the bridge today.
BRIDGE
