Among other thing, Homolje is famous for its numerous gorges: Gornjacka, Ribarska, gorges of Velika and Mala Tisnica, gorge of the Osanicka river and gorge of the river Do. The most famous is Gornjacka gorge, 16 kilometres long, that consists of four big bends. On a plateau formed by one of them, on the right coast of the Mlava, there is Gornjak monastery, named after the wind that blows through the Gorge. Remains of a number of old Roman-era fortifications can be seen in the gorge. At the entrance there are ruined watchtowers that were once used for defending the roman military highway (Via militaris) that passed through this area going to Nis. Remains of an medieval church can also be seen in Gornjacka gorge.
Gornjak monastery is located in Gornjacka gorge, between Zagubica and Petrovac Na Mlavi. Construction of the monastery was finished in 1380, and the founder was king Lazar. Since the monastery was built, the monastic life went on uninterrupted up to this day. The oldest preserved structures are a church dedicated to Ascension and the small cave chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas. Gornjak monastery belongs to the Moravska architectural school. The Vavedenjska Church has a trefoil basis with a dome. The bell tower and the parvis were added later. The most interesting frescoes are the ones in the St. Nicholas chapel.
Gornjak monastery is easily reachable by bus, since it is near the road that connects Petrovac Na Mlavi with Zagubica. Zagubica itself is 27 kilometres away from the monastery, and there are a couple of daily buses connecting Zagubica and Petrovac.
Petrovac is best reached using the regular bus line from Pozarevac. The bus from Belgrade to Pozarevac goes three times a day, leaving Belgrade at 03.10 pm, 04.00pm and 09.00 pm.
Thanks to its specific location, the area of Homolje is a bit off the main roads, so the old Balkans culture, folk customs, old crafts and traditional architecture is best preserved in these parts. Lower parts of the mountains are covered with oak forests, mid altitudes are covered with oak and beech forests, while the highest altitudes are mostly covered with pastures and fields. There you can see a number of old-fashioned shepherds’ shelters that are used even today. During the summer you can meet a number of shepherds there, grazing their sheep from whose milk the famous cheese of Homolje is made.
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