Djerdap National Park, Iron Gate of the Danube in Serbia

Djerdap Gorge has the most beautiful Danube area in Serbia. Come to Djerdap National park and feel the scent of history washed in one of the most beautiful sceneries in Serbia and the Balkans.

If you head to the east from Belgrade – a Serbian capital – after a couple of hours of driving, you will finally reach the entrance of Djerdap Gorge. The whole experience will be even more special if you replace the car with a boat. But hear me out! Not any boat! An authentic, large wooden flat-bottomed boat that people use for fishing for a long time. You will sail from the Lepenski Vir and Golubac fortress, Donji Milanovac, and Kazan to Kladovo in a natural setting. You will dive into the magical historical world full of nature and history. Also, Djerdap national park from Belgrad is just 130 kilometres, so that equals 2 hours – more or less!

Djerdap National Park will surely amaze you with its rich flora, fauna, and many unusual sights and beauties. It consists of four gorges and three valleys that are habitats for over 150 species of birds! Prepare for a one-of-a-kind experience in Northeast Serbia, on the Romanian border. Prepare for captivating sinkholes and caves. Get ready to see many historical monuments from the Paleolithic period and Ancient Rome to the present day. Sites like Vlasac, Konopište, Padina, Alibeg Lepenski Vir, and other places make this area the cradle of European civilization. There are many Djerdap national park tours and some of the best ones are with Svood outdoor adventures!

Nevertheless, the most captivating representatives of both past times are – people. The destiny of people linked to the Danube river and their survival skills. You will see how this area represents the true power of the river and the importance of the river in human life. It all started in this place. This is the place where Europe was born. Its majesty – Djerdap National Park.

The Iron Gate of the Danube begins at the Babakaj rock right on the Romanian side and the medieval fortress Golubac on the Serbian side. The Danube is the widest here – six kilometres wide, and the whole gorge is approximately 100 km long. The water area is much more reminiscent of the sea than the river. If you take the boat, you will bounce here and there off jagged rocks and muddy banks. On the scenic shores, you can see some rare settlements inhabited by the descendants of miners, cattle breeders, and shipowners. Some of them are Boljetin, Brnjica, mining Dobra, etc.

There are many interesting historical sites scattered around the Danube river in Djerdap Gorge. Thus, here are some you should not miss, perfect for romantic getaways or family bonding trips!

“Lepenski Vir” is a museum in the canyon of the Boljetinska river. This locality is proof that man lived in this area even eight thousand years ago! Serbian academician Dragoslav Srejović discovered this unique culture. This discovery shook the previous theories about the civilizations on the Danube. The discovery happened in the sixties of the last century. Today, it represents the proof of the most complex and most important cultures of all time.

Below the museum, on the shore, archaeologists found fisherman’s boats, roofs, nets, poles, etc. But there was something else quite interesting in this area. You see, on the Romanian coast across the road rises a huge trapezoidal rock. The name is the Treskavac because it rises powerfully no matter thunder and storms. Archaeologists assumed that the ancient inhabitants of Lepenski Vir built their homes – houses in the shape of that trapezoid rock – Treskavac and it rises proudly at Djerdap Gorge.

This rock is proof of how the ancient civilization created distinctive architectural styles and sculptures. All the houses have the shape of the rock above them. As a result, Lepenski Vir is of exceptional artistic value. Even the Lepenski tombs were also trapezoidal, the same as that rock. Archaeologists also assume that the geometric shape of houses and tombs, symbols, and everyday rituals were significant for those ancient people. Whoever comes to Djerdap National Park immediately notices the imposing rock above. Indeed, it looks majestic, powerful, and mystical.

So who knows what the ancient men thought about the rock? Did they see something we did not see? Did they witness something happening? Are we missing out on something that is in Djerdap Gorge? Most likely, we may never come up with the answer. But one thing is for sure – this civilization has chosen Djerdap Gorge long before we were born. The area of Djerdap and the Danube was powerful once as it is today with its water vortices and cliffs, a perfect blend of water and rocks. It is a great area for hiking.

While driving next to the shores of the Danube, you will see a Golubac Fortress – one of the largest and most famous medieval fortresses on the Danube. This imposing fortress is a legally protected reserve. But also the most beautiful and best-preserved fortress in Serbia. Unfortunately, we do not know its origin, and we do not know who built it. But we know it was first mentioned in Hungarian sources in 1335. Was it older than 1335? Guess we will never know.
Luckily, you can explore the mysterious Golubac in its three parts and admire its ten towers. What makes Golubac unique is the inaccessible terrain where it was built. The Guardian of the Danube – as people call it thanks to its importance that controls and navigates the Danube passengers and sailing boats. Enjoy in the Danube cruising adventure and experience the power of this majestic river!

– Climb to Velika Čuka to see the beautiful Danube and Romania from above.

– Go to lockouts Ploce – the most beautiful ones – Strbac, Kovilovo, and Sokolovac. From here, you can take terrific photos of the Iron Gate.

– If you are very adventurous and seeking adrenaline adventures, go to the Romanian side. See the Babakaj rock and climb to the top of Treskavac rock -the opposite of the Lepenski Vir. Then, see the monastery of Mrkonj and the famous figure of the last ruler of Dacian – Decebalus, who was carved into the rock. Try some other thrilling adventures in the Balkan area.

– Have some quality boots or tighter sneakers on, a raincoat or a windbreaker or raincoat in case the weather changes, a backpack full of food and enough water, and a passport if you decide to explore the area from a Romanian side.

National park Djerdap is indeed one of the most beautiful locations in Serbia and the Balkans in general. There is something here for everyone: nature lovers, history lovers, architecture lovers, and adventure lovers. Be prepared to be amazed by one of the largest gorges in Europe and the historical secrets it hides. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the place where our ancestors sleep. Come and explore your history and enjoy the Derdap national park hike with Djerdap national park tours!