Manastir Gradac

Gradac Monastery - the most important information

If you are moving along the Ibar road, take a few moments to visit the Gradac monastery, which is important for Serbian history in many ways. It is located only 12.5 kilometers from the Ibar, and you can reach it by a road that separates from the highway near Brvenik and leads to the valley of the river Brvenica. There, the small village of Gradac will greet you with its healing environment. Near the river Gradacka river and the spa Gradacka Banja, where healing water springs, the peaceful Gradac monastery lies.

History of the monastery
Founded in the 13th century, this monastery of the Raska district imitates the style of the Raska school itself, with elements of Gothic and Serbian-Byzantine style. Gradac was built at the request of Helen of Anjou, a French princess, and Serbian queen. She indebted the Serbian people in many ways, as a ruler, and as an educator. The French noblewoman arrived in the Ibar Valley as the future wife of King Stefan Uros I, where he welcomed her with rows of fragrant lilac. Since then, the place on which these trees still grow has been called Dolina jorgovana (the Lilac Valley).
Although hidden on the wooded slope of Golija, the Gradac monastery did not remain intact during Turkish rule. At that time, monks were abandoning the monastery, and the roof covering got removed from its top. The roof was re-installed in 1910, and in the period from 1963 to 1975, the monastery got reconstructed completely.

Significance of the monastery
As such, the Gradac monastery is a true witness to the rise and fall of Serbian lands throughout history. Apart from remaining as a legacy of one of the favorite Serbian queens, he keeps memories of the first blooming of literacy and education of the Serbian people. Built in a mixture of Gothic and Serbian-Byzantine style, Gradac stands out among other monasteries of the Raska building school. Thus, it attracts the attention of architectural and construction experts, as well as all lovers of art and aesthetics.

What to see

The tomb of Helen of Anjou - the Gradac monastery nurtures the memory of the Serbian queen and preserves her earthly remains.
Sculptures and decorations - elements made of marble in the Romanesque-Greek style.
Three-part altar space - here you can still see fragments of still magnificent frescoes.
Original iconostasis - made of stone and dates from the time of the construction of the monastery.
New icons- valuable works of art painted by nuns in the atelier of the monastery.

The monastery is also one of the hosts of the "Dani kraljice Jelene" (Days of Queen Helen) event.

How to get to the monastery
You can reach this monastery by the Ibar highway.

By car: on the road to Raska, there is an exit for the village of Brvenik, from where an asphalt road leads to the monastery Gradac. The distance between Brvenik and the monastery is 12 km.

Best time to visit
The monastery receives believers, but also tourists who are interested in history, art, and architecture. You can visit Gradac in the periods: