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There was once a
narrow gauge train, affectionately known as the Ćira (Chira). It used to
cut its path through astonishing landscapes of Serbia and Bosnia on its way from
Belgrade to Sarajevo. The Cira did everything: it took holidaymakers,
farmers, salesmen and school children, as well as mail, milk, livestock and
other freight. Both travellers and people who lived by the railway line loved it
and enjoyed it - although it was slow and poured out steam and smoke. For
children in villages along the line passing trains were a daily joy and they
waved to them cheerfully. So for many generations this train became part of the
sweet memories of childhood. Then in the mid-seventies the good old Cira
was abandoned and banished as history.
In 1999, people decided to reconstruct the most attractive part of the former
narrow gauge railway. They have done a great job. They re-laid the tracks; they
renovated or rebuilt all the railway stations of the Sargan Eight. Today's
travelers may not have such strong feelings, but their childhood memories may
well stir suddenly awake. For many of us the journey on that great little train
will be more than just a charming travel experience, it will be a flashback to
our own childhood days, to the bygone days we sometimes miss, to the sights and
sounds that won our hearts long ago and remain with us for ever.
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Tour #
15
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The
'Šargan 8' Tour |
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2 days/1 night, by car or minivan, with a ride by 'Sargan
Eight' train
Highlights:
Šargan (Shargan) Eight,
the line which was famous for a curve in the shape of the
number 8, that made it possible to climb the steep slopes of
the mountains Sargan and Mokra Gora, where rocky gorges and
high passages are to be found all around. On this 13.5
kilometer section of track were 20 tunnels, 10 bridges and a
few tiny railway stations. The voyage through this remote
wilderness was slow. Impatient with the low speed or fond of
the surrounding country, some passengers used to jump from the
moving train, carry on their journey on foot, and wait at the
next railway station for the same train to arrive. Others who
stayed on the train may have been puzzled by the winding
track: what way was the train going, and what way was it going
to go?
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Day 1
BELGRADE-OVCAR & KABLAR GORGE -UZICE-SIROGOJNO-MT
ZLATIBOR
Departure at 8.30 a.m. We arrive in the
region of Mounts Ovcar and Kablar, where a number of old monasteries were built
in Turkish times, when fervent adherents of the Orthodox Church withdrew to
mountainous, inaccessible and isolated parts of the country, and visit the
Nikolje monastery (dedicated to St. Nicolas) on the left bank of the Morava
river. Its church is an example of the simple, rectangular form of traditional
village churches with barrel vaulting and still has frescoes from the 17th
century. Then on to the town of Uzice, situated in a small valley
surrounded by hills and mountains and crowned with the ruins of an old medieval
fortification. A short stop in town before we leave for Mount Zlatibor, after
Kopaonik the second most popular winter tourism and ski resort in Serbia. Visit
to the ethno village Sirogojno, with its open-air museum of traditional
architecture and an exhibition of handicrafts and world famous hand-knitted
clothes (some time to shop for souvenirs). Accommodation at a Zlatibor hotel.
Dinner, overnight.
Day 2
MT
ZLATIBOR-MOKRA GORA (SHARGAN 8 & 'KUSTURICA'S VILLAGE')-BELGRADE
After breakfast we drive to
Mokra Gora, where we board the famous dinky train for a ride along
the most exciting section of this narrow gauge line, once connecting
Belgrade with Sarajevo (departure at 10:30, return at 13:00). During the
ride, the train makes a few stops, one of 20 minutes to let you
take some fabulous photographs, enjoy the views, or have a refreshment
in the cafe of a tiny and charming 'railway station'. You will also
visit the ethno village 'Wooden City' built as a setting for
'Life is a Miracle', the latest film of Emir Kusturica. The amazing
village was until recently just a couple of salvaged traditional wooden
houses on a bluff above a spectacularly beautiful valley, but has been
transformed into the modern equivalent of the medieval great monastery
or university, equipped with a library, Serbia's most advanced cinema
and an underground basketball arena. Return to Belgrade in the evening.
Dinner
on first day.
Breakfast on second day.
Accommodation 3*/4*/5*.
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The 'Sargan Eight' Tour
Prices
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Please note:
 Departures on request only. The tour by car (up
to 3 persons) is with a driver-guide, and by minivan (up to 6 persons) with a
professional driver and the guide.
Your stay in Belgrade can be arranged. The tour
can be combined with our Belgrade tour packages.
Entrance to Churches and Monasteries on our
tours requires appropriate attire. Please remember to be
properly dressed: no shorts, no uncovered shoulders.
Other multi-day tours:
Monastery Tour (2 days)
Vojvodina Tour (2 days)
The 'Sargan's 8' Train: Regular Departures 2006
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MOKRA GORA
Departures
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ŠARGAN
VITASI
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MOKRA GORA
Arrivals
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*08:00
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08:41
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10:00
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10:30
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11:11
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13:00
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*13:25
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14:06
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15:45
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*16:10
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16:52
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18:30
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* Optional departures in case of the chartered train
Stops on route:
ŠARGAN VITASI -
GORNJE JATARE -
VIDIKOVAC 1 -
JATARE (20 minutes) -
RAVANICA/GOLUBIĆI -
VIDIKOVAC 3 |
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Official
Web site (in Serbian)
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If you have
accessed this page outside a frame, please follow these links to the frames
version:
Belgrade Sightseeing
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