Walls and towers
Ringing the monastery like a castle.
MareNs93 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Laslovarga — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Laslovarga — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Laslovarga — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Laslovarga — CC BY-SA 3.0
Manasija Monastery, also known as Resava, is a fortified Serbian Orthodox monastery about 2 km northwest of Despotovac. It is one of the most significant monuments of medieval Serbian culture and looks from the road more like a huge castle than a monastery, with its high walls and stone towers. Despot Stefan Lazarević founded it between 1406 and 1418 as his mausoleum. Construction lasted about a decade and included a church, a large refectory, outbuildings, towers and trenches. It became the cultural centre of the Serbian Despotate, and its Resava School was known for manuscripts and translations in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was declared a monument of exceptional importance in 1979 and joined UNESCO's tentative list in 2010. The Church of the Holy Trinity stands in a green courtyard ringed by the walls, with its domes and pale stone, a major example of the Morava school. The tallest tower is the Despot's Tower, and you may find sections of wall and the big refectory under restoration. It is a living place of worship, so dress modestly, keep your voice down and ask before taking pictures inside. Resava Cave is 13 km away in a straight line, so the two fit one outing, and many operators run this same trip from Belgrade. Spring and autumn suit the walls and valley well.
Ringing the monastery like a castle.
A fine example of the Morava school.
The tallest of the towers.
Northwest of Despotovac, Resava valley
Its founder surrounded it with walls, towers and trenches to protect it in unsettled times.
Yes. They are 13 km apart in a straight line, and tours from Belgrade include both.