Donji Milanovac

Donji Milanovac is located at the edge of Porečka valley which devides Djerdap on Upper and Lower gorge. This part has convenient sailing conditions, what means while docking to gates made out of an old barge, you have to take care on the wind strokes. In case of strong wind you should moor between the barge and the bank, while for longer stay in this zone, the best is to enter port into still waters of Porečka River confluence at 988,2 km. For fuel supplying the best location is a small arranged beach, next to Kapetan Miša building. Donji Milanovac, previously called Poreč, is the settlement that was in its history three times completely moved. The first time, after the First Serbian Rising, when escaping from the Turkish invasion, inhabitants moved to Poreč Island. Their village on the bank was burned by the Turks. Because of communication problems Prince Miloš Obrenović moved them to the right river bank and the settlement got name according to his son Milan - Milanovac. From there, because of the construction of dam and rising water-level it was replaced and moved to today’s location. In Donji Milanovac there is building dedicated to Captain Miša Anastasijević, one of the richest Serbs in the 19th century, who owned over 100 ships with 1000 sailors. He had a monopoly in salt trade. This building is nowadays the national restaurant in ethnic style with rooms for overnight stay. A bust of this famous Danube captain is in the yard. (The building in Belgrade, being his foundation is the seat of Belgrade University Head Office). In Donji Milanovac there is one of the largest hotels

in Serbia – Lepenski vir. Hotel is on the hill with beautiful view on the Danube. Green market in Donji Milanovac is opened every day, while the bakery works up to the late evening hours.

Putting ashore by boat on the location of Lepenski vir, for the moment is only possible along the bank at 1004.2 km. The owners of yachts with larger ford, if they want to put ashore the best would be to use the auxiliary boat. From this location the path leads to ethno village and later to the locality where the archeological finding was transferred, in order to avoid to be overflow with raise of the Danube water level after the construction of the dam.

Lepenski vir belongs to the most important archeological localities in Europe. The settlement from the neolith era, dates 8 500 years ago (6 500 B.C.). The settlement has four developing phases, and the transformation from the community of hunters and collectors into the first agriculturer and carpenters is visible. The main feature of the settlement is its persistence, while other European peoples were nomads. The remains of house with trapezoid base and stone fireplace were found, along with many other facilities. Archeologist found 54 stone sculptures, styled heads in shape of fish decorated with ornaments. The sculptures presented gods and goddesses, some sort of idols – totems. Definitely this is the oldest testimony with regard to life of one prehistoric community of fishermen and hunters existing along the Danube. The settlement was abandoned about 4500 B.C. when the inhabitants lived Neolithic technological revolution, tamed the animals and being able to cultivate soil. They migrated to the terrain with larger lots.

The Headquarter of the National Park Djerdap is in Donji Milanovac. National park Djerdap extends over the surface of 63.608 ha, and has app. 100 km long Right River bank between Golubac and Kladovo. Basic morphologic features are: steep gorge rocks, intersected by transversal gorges of the Danube tributaries and karts relief shapes. Sheltered by gorges with convenient Djerdap climate, enable a survival of flora species that have disappeared on the North of Europe during glacial period. Within the park area there are 1100 sorts of plants, and among them as the most important: hazel (Corulus colurna), walnut (Juglans regia), lilac (Suringa vulgaris), yew (Taxus Baccata), linden (Tilia argentea). Among modern type of woods, the dominating sorts are: oak, cerris existing on silicates and limestones. Out of over 150 species of birds specially interesting are: golden eagle (Aquilla Schrysaetos), Eagle osprey (Circaetus gallicus), white-tail eagle (Haliaetus albicillia), owl. The rare mammalian species are: stone marten (Martes fiona), pine marten (Martes martes), otter (Lutra lutra), bears (Ursus arctos), dormouse (Lynx lunx), wolfs (Canis lupus), Doe roe fawn (Capreolus capreolus), chamois (Rupicara rupicara), and boar pigs (Sus crofa). People here believe in vampires and that is most probably due to existance of bats in this region. Trayan board, at 964.7 km, can be seen only when observed from water. After the contstruction of the dam, it has been elevated to a new higher location in order to preserve it from sinking. It testifies glory and power of the Emperor Trayan who, in 103, built the road through this Djerdap region.

Source: www.wikipedia.org