FRUSKA GORA (Beli majdan, Ledinacko lake, Kraljeva stolica 507 m)

This trail is the most beautiful trail at Fruska gora. And the most diverse. You will see one monastery, a former mine, a cave and a lake. There are a couple of beautiful lookouts, although you hike through the forest all the time.

The trail starts at  monastery Rakovac (15th century). From Belgrade, the road to Rakovac leads via Ruma, Irig and Vrdnik. The distance between Belgrade and Rakovac is about 95 km (an hour and a half by car).

Monastery Rakovac

If you come to the monastery by car, some 100 m before the monastery gate you will see a signpost “Beli majdan”. This is the beginning of this picturesque trail. From the monastery, Beli majdan (White mine) can be reached in a 10 minute walk (600 m). Beli Majdan is an old quarry, also known as Rakovacka cave.

Beli majdan

After you visit Rakovacka cave, return by the same way back, to this turn:

Continue by the path that leads uphill. Follow the triangular markings.

After half an hour (about 2 km), you will come to the hermitage of Isaiah Parivodski, from the 18th century.

Hermitage of Isaiah Parivodski

After 1 km from the hermitage, you will reach the asphalt road. As soon as you reach the asphalt road, you can see the bridge in Novi Sad. It is necessary to follow the asphalt road, which descends all the way to the village of Ledinci. You will exit at the church of St. Nicolas. Continue to the right, again by the asphalt road.

Church of St. Nicolas

At this junction, take the left road:

The markings will lead you onto a macadam road, which goes to the spring Zvecan. The spring is located on the left side of the road and it is very easy to spot it. From the hermitage, the spring is 3.5 km far, ie, about an hour of walk.

After the spring, it is necessary to enter the forest path, on the right side. From here, there are no more markings, at least I didn’t notice them. The maps.me application helped me, on which all Fruska Gora trails are marked. Without navigation, you will hardly find a way at this place. You should go up by the path, to the lookout above Ledinacko lake. One forest path leads to the shore of the lake and the other one to the lookout above it. You will easily spot the path that leads uphill, because it is quite steep. Distance between the spring Zvecan and the peak Ledinacki Crni cot (438 m) is about 1.5 km (half an hour). Ledinacki Crni cot is overgrown with forest and there is no viewpoint. A few hundred meters before this top lies the most beautiful viewpoint at this tour, with a fantastic view at Ledinacko lake.

Ledinacko lake

Some 10-15 minutes from Ledinacki Crni cot, the highest peak on this trail, Kraljeva stolica (Kings chair 507 m), is located.

Kings chair

From Kraljeva stolica, the forest path leads to the famous picnic area Zmajevac. There is also a mountain lodge of the same name, and a nice lookout, from which you can see the Vrdnik tower. The distance between Kraljeva stolica and Zmajevac is about 2.5 km (45 minutes of walk). From the King’s chair, a new signpost must be followed to Zmajevac, the “path of the heart”, instead of the triangle.

Zmajevac

Another hour of walk from Zmajevac and you will come to the beginning of the trail, near the monastery Rakovac. I went to the monastery by a frequent, asphalt road (4 km), but there is also a forest path, which passes again through Beli Majdan.

Very, very interesting trail. The only drawback is that navigation is needed, at some places. I would recommend everyone to walk this path. The tour is 16 km long, and the altitude difference is about 350 m. The path can be crossed in 5-6 hours. Really, the most beautiful trail at Fruska gora 🙂

May 2020.