Stećci u Rastištu

Stecci in Rastiste - the most important information

In the Balkans, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, western Serbia, Croatia, Dalmatia and in the north of Montenegro in the late Middle Ages, the tradition of making tombstones was cultivated, which are a special expression of sacral art. The stecak tombstones were created with the aim of forever having a monument to the deceased. In the area of Bajina Basta is the largest number of necropolises with stecak tombstones in Serbia recorded by UNESCO. This specific group of monuments is an important tourist component of this part of Serbia.

History of the Stecci in Rastiste
With their appearance and purpose, the stecak tombstones represent a combination of language and script, customs and religion, chronology and history, culture, art and aesthetics. In the area of Bajina Basta are the localities of Mramorje, which consist of potes Urosevine and potes Gajevi. These sites in Rastiste contain two necropolises with stecak tombstones from the 14th and 15th centuries. UNESCO lists these necropolises as one locality, they are located at a distance of 500 meters from each other. The Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments from Belgrade has taken over the conservation work, but no archaeological research has been carried out.

At 300 meters from the church on Sedaljka is a medieval cemetery with 33 stecak tombstones. Some of the monuments are decorated with motifs of circles, bows, arrows and swords. At 500 meters from this site on the stretch Gajevi, there is a medieval cemetery with 35 stećak tombstones. . This necropolis is also arranged in 3-4 elongated rows, while the stecak tombstones are uneven in size and treatment. Among them, 3 monuments decorated with a relief representation of a crescent moon on the upper surface stand out.

Significance of the Stecci in Rastiste

The stecak tombstones in Rastiste are part of the UNESCO World Heritage list
With their specific design and time of origin, they provide a historical context and supplement the already existing knowledge of medieval history, so it is important to continue conservation, archaeological works and tourism promotion

How to get to the Stecci in Rastiste?
It is best to get from Tara National Park to Rastiste by car. This ride takes 50 minutes and follows the state road 403 and the Road to Rastiste.

By car: North to and through Sekulici all the way to the Tara National Park Visitor Center where you join the state road 403. On your way you will pass through Krnja Jela and Mitrovac na Tara from where you continue straight to Kozja stena and Perucac lookout point where near Villa Sarac you turn left. Along the Drina, you continue on the Road to Rastiste, which takes you to the site.