HOMOLJE MOUNTAINS (Vrata 815 m, Kobilja glava 778 m)
This path is one of the most interesting at the beautiful Homolje mountains. And easy to walk and not too strenuous.
The beginning of the circular path is at Vitovnica monastery. The monastery was built by Serbian king Milutin, in the 13th century. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God.
The distance between Belgrade and Vitovnica monastery is 2.5 hours of drive (135 km). The road leads through Pozarevac and Petrovac na Mlavi. In Petrovac, look for a turn towards the village of Vitovnica.
Some 150 meters below the monastery is a spring of St. John the Baptist, at the river Vitovnica.
After you visit the monastery, return for some 200 m, to the yellow bridge. There is the first signpost, as well as a sign to the fish restaurant. Go in that direction.
After a few hundred meters, turn right, into the forest, in the direction of the signpost. The trail is marked very well. The markings are blue-yellow, very clear and visible. A macadam road leads through the forest, to the top of Vrata (The Door). Along the way, Vrata and Kobilja glava can also be seen.
Kobilja glava
The top Vrata was named after the beech forest.
After a 2-hour walk (7 km), from the Vitovnica monastery, you will reach the top of Vrata (815 m). This is certainly one of the most beautiful peaks at Homolje mountains. From Vrata, you can see Veliki Sumorovac (912 m), Veliki Vranj (884 m) and Stubej (940 m). The view is really beautiful.
A view at Stubej
A view at Veliki Vranj
Veliki Sumorovac
Half an hour from Vrata (about 2 km), there is a peak called Kobilja glava (Nags head, 778 m). The top is not marked and is located in the forest. It’s not that interesting, although you can see something from it.
Nags head
A view at Stubej from Kobilja glava
From Kobilja glava, the trail leads steeply downwards. Just follow the markings and you will descend to the river Vitovnica and then to the asphalt road, close to the fishpond and fish restaurant. From the fishpond, you will need a 45 minute of walk (2.5 km), to the monastery of Vitovnica. Distance between Kobilja glava and fishpond is about 4 km long and can be crossed in an hour.
Monastery Vitovnica
I enjoyed at this tour. I didn’t even feel the ascent of 600 m and 16 km of trail, because I really enjoyed in the beautiful landscapes of this part of Homolje. I strongly recommend to everyone a light walk to Vrata and Kobilja glava; that is the best way to feel all the charms of the Homolje mountains.
September 2020.