Stari Ras

Old Ras - the most important information

Stari Ras is the name of the Serbian medieval town (fortress) and the capital of the Serbian medieval state of Raska. The remains of the former fortress are located at the Gradina site, which is 11 km away from Novi Pazar. This site with the Old Square, as well as with the Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and the monasteries of Sopoćani and Đurđevi stupovi, represented the historical core of Raška, which was named after the fortress of Ras.

History and significance of the Old Race
The name Ras most probably comes from the name of the ancient fortress Arsa, which is mentioned by the Byzantine historian Procopius in the 6th century. However, the fortress of Ras is first mentioned in the works of the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, who writes about it while describing the battles between Serbs and Bulgarians at the end of the 9th century. From the end of the 12th and during the 13th century, Ras represented the political and cultural center of the Serbian state and the capital of the first rulers from the Nemanjić dynasty. Due to the development of trade, this city gained economic importance in the first half of the 15th century, when its inhabitants became rich. The Ottomans conquered this city in 1455. The oldest preserved works of Serbian art were created here, such as the miniatures of Vukan's Gospel from 1202, which are kept in Russia today. The great monuments of architecture and painting - the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, St. George's Pillars, Sopoćani - are witnesses to the greatness and significance of the cultural activity that existed in Ras.

The most important archeological sites of Stari Ras
Extensive archaeological research of the Race began in 1971, while the last serious systematic excavations date back to 1990. In the following text, we have singled out the most important archeological sites of the medieval Ras:

Gradina fortification with its suburbs - it is located on the top of a mountain ridge and has the shape of an irregular quadrangle. In the interior of Gradina was a castle, leaning on the largest tower. This city was entered through 2 gates - on the west and on the south side.
Staro Trgovište (Pazarište) - 64 medieval houses and extensive archeological material were found at this site: kitchen and table ceramics, metal objects, pantries of silver jewelry, as well as bone objects.
Gradina Fortress in Postenje - is located above the road Novi Pazar - Raska. It is a multi-layered site, where 3 churches were found.
Reljina gradina - this site represents the remains of the monastery of St. Barbara, which was founded in the 15th century.
Naprelje - is located between Novi Pazar and Novi Pazar spas. This site consists of a church and a necropolis.
Fasting - is located near the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The church in question was built in the first half of the 14th century, which, unfortunately, was demolished in the same century.

How to get to Stari Ras?
From Belgrade to this important historical site you can reach by car in 4 hours (by highway A2 and via Route 22).
If you start from Novi Pazar, you will travel to Stari Ras in about half an hour (across Dubrovačka Street). We recommend that you call the taxi service: Euro radio taxi (063 710 1600), Cash taxi (036 662 076) or Mega taxi (020313 882).