RADOCELO (Krivaca 1643 m)

Radocelo is a mountain that rises above one of the Serbian most famous and most visited monasteries, Studenica. Monastery can be reached by the Ibar highway, via Cacak, Pozega, Ivanjica or via Kraljevo and the town Usce, where is the turnoff to Studenica. Distance between Belgrade and Studenica, via Kraljevo, is about 230 km.

Monastery Studenica (482 m) was founded by Stefan Nemanja, in 1190. year. Stefan Nemanja was a founder of the modern Serbian state.

Monastery Studenica

The path for Radocelo starts from the guest house which is located behind the monastery. There are markings, but they are quite faded. After 200 meters, asphalt road turns into the gravel road.

Radocelo-beginning of the path

Follow the markings and stick to the main macadam road. Probably someone will take you by car, so you will surely save a 3 hours of walking. At this point, you will leave the macadam road an turn toward Radocelo:

From this table to the top, it takes about 2.5 hours. There is a well on this path. 

Soon you will come to a crossroad. Go right. Left road leads to the village Rudno. 

When you turn right, after 50 meters you will see a path that turns left and leads into the woods. Enter the forest, the road is wide and soon you will exit on a meadow.

Go forward for a couple of meters and then turn left. At 30 meters from the left is a macadam road which you can not see from the meadow. Continue straight down that road and, after 20 meters, you will see a fresh markings on the stone:

The path leads on the right and into the forest. On the left is a path to Rudno. Markings are excellent and there will be no problem!

The forest was a little creepy to me, I did not feel comfortable because I could see the left and the right side of the forest, as far as the eye can see. The forest is not dense and it creates an uneasy feeling, something that I had experienced on the mountain Vujan.

When you get out of the woods, you will enter onto an opening with houses. Marked path leads you to the well below the peak.

Just a little more climbing and you are on top! Krivaca (1643 m) is ok, but more interesting is the house at the top which, is built from the parts of an old washing machine!

Krivaca

I did not recognize any mountain from the top of Radocelo, except Cemerno. Anyway, the view from Krivaca is very nice.

A view at Cemerno from Radocelo

Climb to Krivaca is not easy, it takes about 5.5 hours with an altitude difference of over 1000 m. I do not recommend this tour for those with poor condition and beginners. There is a second, lighter version of the ascent to Radocelo, and that is from Rudno (1057 m). You must pass the monastery Studenica and drive toward Usce and then to Rudno. An excellent marked trail leads from Rudno to the top of Radocelo. You can come back by the other path, to the monastery Studenica. The path from Rudno is much easier, the height difference is twice lower and has more beautiful landscapes. I recommend to climb Krivaca from Rudno, and then to come down to Studenica, by another path. At the descent, you can make a nice photo of the monastery.

Studenica

Trail from Rudno

While you’re at Rudno, visit the waterfalls of the river Izubra:

River Izubra waterfalls

July 2013.