KOSMAJ (Kosutica 463 m, Monument 576 m)

Kosmaj is 60 km far from Belgrade. The beginning of this circular path is at  monastery Pavlovac, in the village Koracica. The monastery can be reached by the Belgrade-Nis highway. Exit toward Mladenovac and Arandjelovac. When you arrive in Mladenovac, follow the signs to the monastery.

Pavlovac Monastery was founded by despot Stefan Lazarevic, in 1425. It is dedicated to St. Nicholas. Just above the monastery is a marked trail. After 200 m, bypass the green gate on the left.

The trail leads into the bushes, right in front of you. Pay attention, markings are pale at this spot.

So, go into the bushes and follow the faded markings. After 10 minutes, you will come out of the woods, at the brown fence. But first, bypass the abandoned cottage (with mark) on the left.

When you exit the forest, do not turn right, just continue straight (brown fence remains on your right), by the gravel road. Cross the asphalt road and continue along the macadam road. The signpost says “Monastery Kasteljan”; walk in that direction. Pass the white house and you will see a vineyard on your left. At your right side is Kosutica (463 m). On the left, you will see the top of Kosmaj.

Across the vineyard is an old wooden toilet. Behind this toilet is also a trail, which leads to the top of Kosutica. The path to the top is well marked.

In 20 minutes, you will be at the top of the hill. The view is really beautiful. I recognized mountains Avala, Bukulja and Rudnik, with Ostrvica peak. From the Pavlovac monastery, to the top of Kosutica, it takes one and a half hour of walking, with 200 meters altitude.

Come down by the same path. At the entrance to the vineyard you will see a white, macadam road. There are also some modern huts under construction. Follow the white gravel road.

After 150 meters, pass through the green gate.

Continue along the marked forest path. The trail leads you to the stream. Cross it. You must descend by the wooden steps, cross the bridge and climb the other wooden steps. Then, take the right marked path.

The right path leads you to the ruins of monastery Kasteljan. You will reach it in 10 minutes. The monastery is from the 14th century and it is dedicated to St. George.

From the monastery Kasteljan leads a white, marked macadam path, towards the village Nemenikuce. About 100 meters before this white house (container), turn left onto the forest path:

After 20 meters, you will see faded markings on the left. You’ll reach the meadow very soon. Go by the left side of the meadow, there are markings. You can see mountain Avala.

From the meadow, you will enter the forest. Then you will exit at White stone (546 m), a monument to Serbian soldiers from WWI.

This is where one of the decisive battles in the Great War took place. The Serbian army sacrificed Belgrade and left it to the Austrians. At the end of 1914, Pocorek’s army planned to strike a final blow to the Serbian army and get behind them. So, they headed across Kosmaj. After three days of battle, the Serbs won. The bones of Serbian heroes still lies in the ossuary at the White stone. A counter-offensive by the Serbian army followed, and a brilliant victory at Kolubara river.

The path from White stone is well marked and leads to the asphalt road, with the lookout and repeater.

Hiking by the asphalt road, you will quickly reach the intersection of roads to Mladenovac, Sopot and the Monument (576 m). For the Monument, take the right, asphalt road. There is no signpost to the Monument. In 10 minutes, you will come to the 30 meters high monument to fallen soldiers in World War II. The summit of Kosmaj (626 m) is not far from here, but the army is on the top. It takes about two hours of walk, from Kosutica to the Monument, and 200 m of ascend.

Turn back to the intersection of roads. Behind this brown signpost is a marked forest path. This trail leads to the 10 minutes far monastery Tresije.

Monastery Tresije was founded in 1309. It is dedicated to the Holy Archangels.

Return to the intersection of roads once again. Take the asphalt road which leads to Mladenovac. After 45 minutes of walk, you will come to the intersection for Kosutica and monastery Pavlovac. From this place, in less than a half an hour, you will reach the starting point, at Pavlovac monastery. If you decide to hike this tour, you will walk about 18-20 km, with 400 meters of ascend.

August 2019.