Sutjeska: Raw, Wondrous, Wild

The famous monument of the Battle of Sutjeska and a museum dedicated to it are also situated here. The valley itself is strikingly beautiful, with the clear Sutjeska River flowing through it. At the edge of the forest stands Hotel Mladost, while across the river you’ll find sports fields and a large swimming pool. Tjentište serves as the main base for visitors exploring the park.

Perućica is one of the last remaining primeval forests in Europe (some say, alongside northern European forest complexes, the only one of its kind). It is a strictly protected area within Sutjeska National Park, covering 14.34 square kilometers - a raw, breathtaking, wild, and untouched natural whole.

Its symbol is Skakavac, a waterfall over 70 meters high, located deep in the forest.

In Perućica, trees are born, live, and die on their own - along with all life around them. Some beech and conifer trees are over 200 years old, while the forest itself is believed to be around 20,000 years old. The tallest trees exceed 50 meters in height. In 1952, Perućica was declared a strictly protected natural area used exclusively for scientific and educational purposes, and in 1954, it was placed under state protection as a nature reserve. Visiting Perućica alone is not allowed - hiring a local guide is mandatory.

Zelengora lies “across from Maglić and Perućica,” and if you ask hikers, many will say it’s the most beautiful mountain in the country (its name alone suggests that). Zelengora is a lush, green mountain filled with glacial lakes - often called “mountain eyes” - large and small, each more beautiful than the last.

When it comes to natural beauty, nothing was spared here. And not just on Zelengora, but across the entire Sutjeska National Park.

• Photo: Vladimir Tadić