Within the DANUBE WOOD(s) ROUTE project, the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije visited the Zlatibor Regional Development Agency in Serbia on October 23 and 24, 2025, with the aim of exchanging experiences in using cultural and natural heritage for the development of sustainable rural tourism. The visit followed previous activities in Montenegro, which included touring katuns in the areas of Durmitor and Biogradska Gora National Parks, where the importance of preserving the traditional way of life, wooden architecture, and intangible cultural heritage as the foundation for developing authentic tourism products was emphasized.
During the stay in Serbia, the partners visited Tara National Park along with the Mokra Gora Nature Park, including Mitrovac and the Tara National Park Visitor Center, the Banjska Stena viewpoint, as well as Čarobni Breg, Drvengrad, Mećavnik, and the Šargan Eight tourism-museum complex, as well as the “Old Village” Open-Air Museum in Sirogojno. Tara National Park was highlighted as an area exceptionally rich in forest ecosystems and natural motifs that can be included in the development of thematic trails and educational routes based on the interpretation of nature and the traditional use of wood. In the “Old Village” Museum in Sirogojno, an example of preserving traditional architecture and everyday life was presented through authentic village houses, craft workshops, and original objects that depict the culture of that time. Drvengrad, designed as a cultural-tourism environment with modern facilities, shows how tradition can be creatively portrayed in a new context, while the Šargan Eight, as a museum railway attraction, provides an example of successful valuation of industrial and landscape heritage through travel.
In all locations, similarities and common opportunities for the development of tourism products connecting natural resources, wooden architecture, crafts, and traditional skills were observed. The need to improve the locations themselves, the way they are presented, and the guiding programs, visitor management, and presentation of intangible heritage was particularly emphasized.
The establishment of a joint cultural route within the DANUBE WOOD(s) ROUTE project represents a significant step in promoting local identity, preserving tradition, and strengthening sustainable rural tourism through interregional cooperation.
