Svetog Ahilija 53, 31230 Arilje phone/fax: +381 (0)31 891 287 +381 (0)31 891 918 European Union Municipality of Arilje Municipality of Arilje e-mail: [email protected] www.arilje.org.rs GUIDE THROUGH ARILJE Wholeheartedly for Arilje www.arilje.org.rs Project funded by the European Union Užice -37km Čačak - 50 km Kragujevac - 96,5 km Požega -14km Ivanjica -28km Beograd -195 km Čajetina - 76,5 km Sirogojno - 40 km (preko Radoševa) Zlatibor -62km Mokra Gora -83km Užice -37km Čačak - 50 km Kragujevac - 96,5 km Požega -14km Ivanjica -28km Beograd -195 km Čajetina - 76,5 km Sirogojno - 40 km (preko Radoševa) Zlatibor -62km Mokra Gora -83km ARILJE I am Arilje, a small town in western Serbia. I cover an area of 349 km2 at an altitude of 330-1382 m. The geographical coordinates are 43 45' 07" - 20 05' 26" I am located among the river basins of Moravica, Veliki and Mali Rzav. Always on the right road. Close to large urban areas and attractive destinations. 2 3 ARILJE ARILJE ARILJE I am Arilje, a small town in western Serbia. I cover an area of 349 km2 at an altitude of 330-1382 m. The geographical coordinates are 43 45' 07" - 20 05' 26" I am located among the river basins of Moravica, Veliki and Mali Rzav. Always on the right road. Close to large urban areas and attractive destinations. 2 3 ARILJE ARILJE HISTORICAL MONUMENTS My best known structure is the church of St. Ahilije from the 13th century which bears testimony that I am a town with a long history. I am old but young at heart and full of life, especially in the summer period when thousands of people liven up the beaches of my river Rzav. I have 20,000 hard working entrepreneur citizens. We are renowned for growing raspberries so I am called the Red Gold Capital. Almost every household in Arilje grows raspberries. The 5,000 “small factories under open sky” produce over 20 million kilograms of raspberry annually. Our raspberries are not only delicious, but have healing characteristics as well. They contain plenty antioxidants, and according to doctors, a daily portion of 130 grams of raspberry considerably reduces cancer risks. My name is associated with the best quality textile. If you ask where our cotton plantations are located, we will say there aren't any but there are numerous small and large workshops with products bearing the brand „TheAriljetextile”. DIDYOU KNOW? Many popular St. Ahilije people wore the Arilje products. You could see the Evolution brand attire in the Flamingos spot, Extreme Intimo underwear on Nataša Bekvalac and Danilo Ikodinović, Novak Djoković wearing the garments made by Miteks, Garman creations on singerTijana Dapčević and the host Milan Kalinić wearing Exterra. 4 5 ARILJE ARILJE HISTORICAL MONUMENTS My best known structure is the church of St. Ahilije from the 13th century which bears testimony that I am a town with a long history. I am old but young at heart and full of life, especially in the summer period when thousands of people liven up the beaches of my river Rzav. I have 20,000 hard working entrepreneur citizens. We are renowned for growing raspberries so I am called the Red Gold Capital. Almost every household in Arilje grows raspberries. The 5,000 “small factories under open sky” produce over 20 million kilograms of raspberry annually. Our raspberries are not only delicious, but have healing characteristics as well. They contain plenty antioxidants, and according to doctors, a daily portion of 130 grams of raspberry considerably reduces cancer risks. My name is associated with the best quality textile. If you ask where our cotton plantations are located, we will say there aren't any but there are numerous small and large workshops with products bearing the brand „TheAriljetextile”. DIDYOU KNOW? Many popular St. Ahilije people wore the Arilje products. You could see the Evolution brand attire in the Flamingos spot, Extreme Intimo underwear on Nataša Bekvalac and Danilo Ikodinović, Novak Djoković wearing the garments made by Miteks, Garman creations on singerTijana Dapčević and the host Milan Kalinić wearing Exterra. 4 5 ARILJE ARILJE ST. AHILIJE CHURCH There are seven churches on the territory of Arilje and three of them are over 7 centuries old. My spiritual lighthouse is the church of St. Ahilije, founded by king Dragutin in the 13th century. It was constructed in the Raška style. It is said that a Byzantine temple once occupied this space when Saint Sava won independence for our church, with one of the 12 episcopates located at a plateau above the confluence of the Rzav into the Moravica. At that time, my name was Moravice. Later, in honor of St. Achillius, the bishop from Larissa, whose relics had been brought here by the people ofThessaly, my name changed into Arilje. The main street and secondary school are named St. Ahilije as well. The church of St. Ahilije has been designated as a monument of exceptional value. DON'T MISS: FRESCOS May 28, the church The church was fresco painted in 1296 and this decoration patron saint occupies the attention of many people. feast day If you wish to find out more about our church ant its fresco (Ariljevdan), one of the painting, please read the short novel “Ahilije” and the novel favorite town events, gathering spiritual and political “Brajan”, by the well known Serbian writer DobriloNenadić , also leaders and people in the from Arilje. churchyard. 6 7 ARILJE ARILJE ST. AHILIJE CHURCH There are seven churches on the territory of Arilje and three of them are over 7 centuries old. My spiritual lighthouse is the church of St. Ahilije, founded by king Dragutin in the 13th century. It was constructed in the Raška style. It is said that a Byzantine temple once occupied this space when Saint Sava won independence for our church, with one of the 12 episcopates located at a plateau above the confluence of the Rzav into the Moravica. At that time, my name was Moravice. Later, in honor of St. Achillius, the bishop from Larissa, whose relics had been brought here by the people ofThessaly, my name changed into Arilje. The main street and secondary school are named St. Ahilije as well. The church of St. Ahilije has been designated as a monument of exceptional value. DON'T MISS: FRESCOS May 28, the church The church was fresco painted in 1296 and this decoration patron saint occupies the attention of many people. feast day If you wish to find out more about our church ant its fresco (Ariljevdan), one of the painting, please read the short novel “Ahilije” and the novel favorite town events, gathering spiritual and political “Brajan”, by the well known Serbian writer DobriloNenadić , also leaders and people in the from Arilje. churchyard. 6 7 ARILJE ARILJE “Whodid not see thee, he does not know himself, Whohas notseen thee, he shall not Arrive anywhere, For endless is theroad …” (The Angel of Arilje by Branko Miljkovic) Freska Sv. Arhangela Gavrila 8 9 ARILJE St. Ahilije Church Plavi anđeo ARILJE “Whodid not see thee, he does not know himself, Whohas notseen thee, he shall not Arrive anywhere, For endless is theroad …” (The Angel of Arilje by Branko Miljkovic) Freska Sv. Arhangela Gavrila 8 9 ARILJE St. Ahilije Church Plavi anđeo ARILJE THE KLISURA MONASTERY The Klisura (gorge) Monastery is located 13 km from Arilje. It was built in the 13th century modeled as the St. Ahilije church, in the Raška style. According to legend, one good man, a companion of St. Sava was in charge of building it, so its original name was Dobrače (good man) just like the village it is built in. It was demolished and burned several times. The Turks burned it in 1688. It was reconstructed, but not for long. The Austrians demolished it in 1915 as retribution against the priest Veljko Frescosyoumustsee: Tankosić, the parishioner of this monastery, who was the organizer of the uprising against the occupier. The Blue Angel, a fresco depicting Today, the Klisura Monastery is a women's monastery. St. Archangel Gabriel. It has been named as one of the masterpieces Interestingfacts: of Serbian fresco painting, ranking The monastery was named after the geographical locality, which is with the White Angel from the thegorgeoftheriverMoravica. monastery Mileševa. Events: July 26, Saint Archangel Gabriel's Day, the church patron saintfeastday(slava). The Miraculous fresco of Jesus Christ, which was awarded as the most beautiful for its visual identity at the exhibition in Paris in 1970. The Founder's composition, with a unique solution depicting the Son of God, Jesus Christ, reduced in size, in a medallion among the heads of the rulingNemanjić brothers. Frescos of the whole Nemanjić dynasty, important because this is the first Nemanjić dynasty church 10 depicting all theNemanjić rulers up 11 ARILJE ARILJE to King Dragutin. THE KLISURA MONASTERY The Klisura (gorge) Monastery is located 13 km from Arilje. It was built in the 13th century modeled as the St. Ahilije church, in the Raška style. According to legend, one good man, a companion of St. Sava was in charge of building it, so its original name was Dobrače (good man) just like the village it is built in. It was demolished and burned several times. The Turks burned it in 1688. It was reconstructed, but not for long. The Austrians demolished it in 1915 as retribution against the priest Veljko Frescosyoumustsee: Tankosić, the parishioner of this monastery, who was the organizer of the uprising against the occupier. The Blue Angel, a fresco depicting Today, the Klisura Monastery is a women's monastery.