Dejan Petrović, pobednik Guče i majstor trube
Pečat Dragačeva - Zoran Hristić
Shake it, Guča - Matija Bećković
Grunula je truba, Branko V. Radičević
Čudo zvano Guča, Momo KAPOR
Day trip to Ovčarsko Kablar canyon
Serbian History of Trumpet Tradition
The capital of modern trumpeting - Guča, is relatively small, and the trumpet was first played as far ago as 1831. Before nearly two centuries Miloš Obrenović ordered the establishment of a "Principle's Serbian band" in Kragujevac, and that the first brass band be led by Josip Šlezinger (1794-1870), a man from Sombor, who in those times was the first musically literate expert in Serbia. "Oberlautar" Mustafa, a man who played the violin and "zurle" (zurna), was until then amusing the Serb ruler and his entourage "and was amusing also even foreigners who did not have much understanding for Turkish music". Immediately upon his arrival in Kragujevac he started to organize the band. Since he lacked in skilled musicians, he asked the Principle to arrange that young man from among the population be found, who have talent and will to do this job. Miloš promptly ordered that each county delegates five young men. And, so it started. Although it did not always run smoothly, they learned to play the new "golden" instruments, by playing the round-dances and songs which they knew and were familiar with them, but learning also everything that maestro J. Šlezinger was teaching them in the then Serbian capital Kragujevac.
Almost two centuries passed by, there were many outstanding military brass bands and band leaders from the regiments and divisions. However, only in the mid 19th century were the foreign musical and cultural influence getting stronger; they can be identified at the beginning of the new era in the folk music of Dragačevo and were particularly strong in regard to trumpet music and homophonic multi-part singing , i.e. in singing "na bas". How the brass bands were emerging we heard from spontaneous statements of modern Dragačevo musicians. It is known in Dljina that their oldest trumpeter "was a guy named Ćebić who was playing before World War I… And he himself inherited it from the past times. "In Goračići the first orchestra was founded by the Davidović brothers from Dragačica "probably sometimes about the times of World War I, and this band included only four musicians". Also, the story goes that "in Rti the band leader and first trumpet was Milisav Kostić–Tralja, and his today's heirs are trumpeters playing in the Srećko Obradović orchestra". And so we come also to the trumpeter Desimir Perišić from Goračići and the winning orchestra at the First Festival in Guča in 1961.
The songs are usually based of two-bar motives and melodies, mainly of two part structure consisting of 4 to 5 tones.
The vigorous folk round-dances from the western regions are characterized by occasional pauses of the leading trumpets, with the basses taking over the leading tune of the leading trumpets, highlighting the basic harmonies. Also, we will notice that southern folk dances are usually characterized by oriental music, in the so-called "aksak" rhythm. This is especially emphasized with the "performance" of the drummer, who expertly combines larger "čukan" (right hand) strokes with those of the thinner stick (left hand, on the edge of the drum, skillfully stressing the changes of double and triple meter in the specific rhythmical formulas and combinations (8/8; 7/8; 9/8 etc.), especially in the characteristic dances – songs called "chochek". Then, spontaneously and ravishingly, genuinely enjoying in the music, dance only those who truly know how to do it. In the eastern region a big number of folk dances of the "Batrna" (ancient dance) type and "Stara Vlajna", i.e. "Timočka Rumenka" or "Svrljiški laskavac", are preserving the genetic features of the Vallah or Serb Hora dancing, when the dancers are crossing their hands and holding each other by the belt. And all Serbian songs and dances have up to five tones, while Vallah melodies are more diversified and with an occasional alternation of the slow parts with the usually faster refrain. Singing with trumpet accompaniment is gaining in popularity nowadays here with us. Like the first folk trumpeters from the times of Miloš, contemporary ones are also mainly autodidacts having keen hearing, and are playing a huge repertoire of songs and dances by heart, and by the ear, improvising their interpretation spontaneously and from their soles and hearts. With the first orchestras, their members evolved as musicians and their number was invreasing. At the beginning the orchestras had five musicians, and the contemporary orchestras usually have up to ten musicians (three to four ''B'' trumpets, three bass flugelhorns, one bass trumpet – helicon or euphonium, and, finally, snare drum and large drum with cymbals. Three regions clearly identified themselves by the style of their music, and are today three famous centers with the best trumpeters in Serbia today. Although the trumpet is not as deeply rooted in our people like the vocal music tradition, the fact is that those active in the field of culture have four decades ago broke the ground for trumpet music in tiny Guča. Since then, like awakening from a dream, trumpet music grew very quickly in those areas of western, eastern and southern Serbia in which the trumpet seed probably had already been thrown and did exist, and it also woke up during so many decades in the center of Šumadija, where its seed was for the first time thrown in the far away year 1831.
Rock’n’Roll auf Serbisch (Guča Festival)
Route of Royal Vineyards / Sumadija, Oplenac, Topola
Serbian Monasteries Nemanjić and Žiča
Nemanjic's Monasteries - The monastery of Zica, a foundation of King Stefan the First - Crowned from the beginning of 13 century. It used to be the seat of the first Serbian archbishopric and archbishop Sava Nemanjic. Here was crowned Stefan the First - Crowned, the first Serbian ruler "wreathed by the royal crown" in 1217.
Studenica monastery, a foundation of Stefan Nemanja which the creator of the Serbian state and church built at the peak of his power toward the end of 12 century was the seat of creation of first Serbian literary works and early Serbian fresco painting. The Church of the Virgin served also as the mausoleum of the dynasty and its founder.
Visit Serbian Monasteries
Day 1th: Arrival to Belgrade. Meeting of passengers and representatives of the agency at the airport Nikola Tesla - Belgrade. Transfer to the hotel. Spare time. Overnight.
Day 2nd: Breakfast. Route: Belgrade - Vrnjačka Banja [spa]
Sanctum places of Serbian capital [St. Petka Chapel and Church Ružica, Orthodox Church and Patriarch's residence, St. Sava's Temple, the biggest Orthodox Temple in the Balkans]. Departure to Vrnajčka banja. Visit to the Monasteries Pokajnica, Manasija, and Ravanica; lunch in the monastery. Arrival to Vrnajčka banja. Accommodation. Overnight.
Day 3rd: Breakfast. Route: Vrnajčka banja - Monasteries Žiča, Ljubostinja, Kalenić - Vrnjačka Banja. Lunch is planned in Monastery Kalenić. Visit to the open - air Museum "Kalenić" and familiarizing with the old Serbian crafts: weaving, spinning, knitting, basket weaving. Presentation of the national architecture and traditional usable objects.
Return to Vrnjačka Banja. Accommodation. Overnight.
Day 4th: Breakfast. Spare time. Route: Vrnjačka Banja - Monastery Studenica.
Visit to Monasteries Djurdjevi Stupovi, Sopoćani. Arrival to Monastery Studenica. Lunch. Accommodation in the Monastery's residential building and presence to the evening prayer. Overnight
Day 5th: Breakfast in the Monastery residential building. Route: Studenica - Ovčar banja [spa] - Ovčarsko - Kablarska Gorge - Valjevo
Visit to Monastery Gradac [long hiking tour] and St. Peter's Church on the way to Ovčar Banja. Arrival to Ovčar banja. Lunch in the national restaurant. Visit to the Monasteries of Ovčarsko - Kablarska Gorge: Vavedenje [Presentation of the Virgin], Vaznesenje [Resurrection], Sretenje [Meeting of Our Lord in the Temple], Svete Trojice Blagovestenje [Annunciation of Holy Trinity], Ilinje, Savinje, Nikolje, Jovanje i Uspenje [Dormition]. Departure to Valjevo. Accommodation. Overnight.
Day 6th: Breakfast. Route: Valjevo - village Sitarice - Valjevo.
Petnica cave, Research Center in Petnica. Visit to the old city center Tešnjar, Muselin's konak [hist. castle, palace], the monument of the greatest Serbian army commander Živojin Mišić, and the monument of poetess Desanka Maksimović]. Visit of the Monasteries Ćelije and Lelić in which are the relics of the Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović, the Orthodox theologian and writer from 20th century. Visit to the Monastery Pustinja from 14th century, built during the rule of the Nemanjić royal family.
Visit to the village Sitarice on the hillsides of Medvednik Mountain. This is the place with traditional, old Serbian houses, outbuildings, folklore, customs and traditional dishes of Serbian cuisine are preserved and cherished. In the yard of an old authentic village house, Serbian dining table brimming with national dishes and drinks, traditional Serbian host, songs and dancing typical for this part of Serbia, welcomes guests. Return to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 7th Breakfast. Route: Valjevo - Soko Grad - Monastery Tronoša - Tršić - Belgrade
Departure from Valjevo. Arrival to Soko Grad and visit to the Monastery Complex of "Soko Grad". Short break. Departure to Monastery Tronoša and Trsić. Visit to the Monastery Tronoša and monastery residential building. Visit to the Ethnographic Commemorative Park and Commemorative House dedicated to the father of Serbian literacy Vuk Stefanović Karadžić in Tršić. Lunch break and individual activities. Departure to Belgrade in the evening. Accommodation in the hotel. Overnight.
Day 8th: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport; departure.
Gledičke Mountains
Description: In the hearth of Šumadija, on the slopes of the Gledičke Mountains, there is one of the most pleasant parts of Central Serbia, hilly landscape full of clear springs, rivers, gorges, medical herbs, game... It is a grove decorated with picturesque natural attractions, better known as Levac. It can also be recognized by the Kalenić Monastery, spiritual and cultural center, of which protected area we care. Open - air Museum "Kalenić" acquaints visitors with authentic experience and tradition, customs, history and culture of Levac, national kitchen, correlates with domestic and wild animals in nature. Youngest devotees of nature and healthy life can express their creativity and research spirit within the educational workshops in healthy and attractive natural environment:
Leaving Belgrade at 7:00 AM Arrival at Kalenic at 11:00 AM from 11:00h until 17:00h
- familiarizing with the old handycrafts and participating in making toys and souvenirs of natural materials [weaving, spinning, knitting, basket weaving…],
- visit to the Monastery; a lesson about Despot Stefan Lazarević,
- presentation of the folk architecture and traditional usable things [visit to the households],
- participating in the workshop of fine arts [presentation of Janko Baršić naïve art school],
- recreation in nature, learning old children's games, familiarizing with natural lair of animals, plants, bird watching…
- familiarizing with domestic animals and ways of cultivating land, planting and growing, cereals, fruits and vegetables,
- enjoying honey and its products,
- visit to a watermill and manifestation of grinding wheat,
- participating in the production of homemade dishes and products [bred baking, curdling, making jam, drying fruit, making soaps…].
Workshops are adjusted to juvenile; a lot of games, songs and careless socializing in pure nature.
Arrival at Belgrade around 09:00 PM
Bogdan Dundjerski
Central Serbia
Tour highlights: Visit to Mt. Kopaonik. Most visited mountain is Serbia and the largest skiing center.Rafting on River Ibar. A wild, but safe adventure. Visit to Mitrovo Polje and a bath in mineral springs. Visit to monasteries Studenica, Ljubostinja and Vraćevišnica. Visit to Vrnjačka and Bukovička Banja spas.
Reside on Goc, a mountian rich with forests and one of the most scenic places in Serbia:
- Visit to ethno village Kostunici and the plant for treatment and packing of forest fruits.
- Visit to historic monuments of the 1st and 2nd Rebelion Against the Turks.
- Visit to the hometown and residence of the serbian leader Karadjordje.
- Visit to the church and mausoleum of the Karadjordjevic Dinasty. Including the visit to royal wine cellars.
- Visit to Belgrade with sightseeing and an unforgetable night on one of the rafts.
Day 1: Friday
Arrival at Belgrade Airport. Transfer to Mt. Kopaonik. Dinner and rest.
Day 2: Saturday
Breakfast. Departure for Usce. From there a rafting trip downstream of River Ibar, 25km long. Visit to Monastery Studenica from 12th century. Lucnh in the monastery. Return to Kopanik. Dinner and rest.
Day 3: Sunday
Breakfast. Sightseeing of the ski resort [option is a hike to Pancicev Vrh 2, 016m]. Ride to Mitrovo Polje witha bath in the Mineral Springs. Quick stop for a visit to Monastery Ljubostinja from 14th century. Degustation of the famous wine at the monastery and brandy. Lunch and sightseeing in Vrnjačka Banja Spa. Departure for Mt. Goc. Accommodation in cottages, hotel Piramida. Dinner and rest.
Day 4: Monday
Breakfast. Hiking on the slopes of Mt. Goc to the Velike Livade and Kavgalija Peaks. On the return an outdoor lunch [roast lamb] in the nature. Afternoon rest and use of the sport facilities. Diner and rest.
Day 5: Tuesday
Breakfast. Departure for ethno - village Kostunici. Stop for a visit to Monastery Vracevsnica and Takovo along the way. Ethnil lunch in Savinac village. Arrival at Kostunici. Accommodation, dinner and rest.
Day 6: Wedresday
Breakfast. Visit to the plant for packaging of forrest fruit and shopping. Continuing to Topola over Mt. Rudnik. Visit to the monument from the First Rebellion Against the Turks in 1804. and a visit to Oplenac. Visit to St. George's church and mausoleum of the Karadjordjevic Dinasty. Lunch in Oplenac with wine degustation from the royal cellars. Continuing to Bukovicka Banja Spa and a visit to the famous mineral springs in Arandjelovac. Accommodation, dinner and rest.
Day 7: Thursday
Breakfast. Departure for Belgrade by minibus. Lunch in Belgrade. Sightseeing tour of the city and NATO bombing ruins. Accommodation in hotel. Goodbye Party with dinner and music on one of the famous rafts in Belgrade. Rest.
Day 8: Friday
Early breakfast. Transfer to Belgrade Airport
What else:
- Eat healthy ethnic food and take kajmak from Kopaonik and forest fruits from Kostunici as souvenirs with you.
- Spend time in the fresh mountain air, beneficial for people with respiratory problems.
- Relax and enjoy nature the ancient way.
- Receive a surprise gift.
Tour details:
- 7 half boards
- 6 lunches
- A number of transfers
- Guide Service: 2 + 1
- Tickets for all locations.
Hotel Lav, Zemun - Belgrade / Serbia
Hotel Lav offers You 55 beds in 31 contemporarily equipped rooms [WAN, telephone, TV, mini-bar], an aperitif bar, a restaurant, a summer restaurant, a hairdryer, an internet club [all rooms are air-conditioned], an own parking and a top-level service.



Hotel has 10 single rooms, 18 double rooms, 2 triple rooms, a Suite all with air-conditioning, SAT-TV, WC and shower, hairdryers, direct dialing telephone lines, WAN [Wireless Area Network].
It is located near highway cross, 10 km from center of Belgrade and well linked with other City parts by local transport.
The Lav hotel restaurant serve breakfast from 7.30 a.m. until 10.00 a.m. Breakfast is served the buffet style. Aperitif-bar is open 24 hours, offering local and foreign drinks and refreshments. "Gurman kod Bore” is grill restaurant context hotel with lot of grill specials. Open every day from 11.00 am until 1.00 pm.
HOTEL RESERVATION
+ 381.64.555.85.81
Hotel Balkan, Belgrade / Serbia
Hotel Balkan is located in the heart of Belgrade within walking distance of shopping and business area as well as near to all famous local attractions. Hotel Balkan is built in the year 1936 and latest renovated in 1989. This budget hotel provides a total of 70 rooms including 5 suites and semi suites. The rooms are classified in 2 categories of Comfort and Standard. The comfort rooms are much more preferable in comparison to the standard ones. All rooms are equipped with TV, telephone and private bathroom.
Continental style of breakfast is served in the hotel's restaurant where you may also find local and international dishes in the evenings. Also available are a café and poolroom with a bar at the hotel. The good location of the hotel provides you very easy reach to the restaurants nearby in the city center. Hotel's additional facilities include room service and a parking area.
HOTEL RESERVATION
+ 381.64.555.85.81
Hotel Beograd, Belgrade / Serbia
Hotel Belgrade is situated in the center of the town, near the railway station, and has a great connections with all other parts of the town. It is a part of the Serbian Railways.
The hotel has 40 single and 25 double rooms, with modern equipment, with bathrooms, telephone, and all other comfort necessary for the guests. There are 4 more apartments on guests' disposal, banquet hall, and a restaurant with 120 seats, open all year long. One special, separated part of the restaurant is very convenient for the organization of business lunches and dinners, cocktails, and private ceremonies. In this quiet and fine atmosphere of the restaurant, you can taste all kinds of national and international specialties, as well as quality drinks.
Hotel is located 16km far from the airport.
HOTEL RESERVATION
+ 381.64.555.85.81
Hotel Bristol, Belgrade / Serbia



It is located in wide centre of Belgrade very close to the main railway and bus station. Very close to the hotel, there are the Sava marine, the Kalemegdan Park, a faculty of economy and the Manakova Kuca museum. The hotel has great traffic connections with all parts of Belgrade and it is 20km far from the airport. The hotel has a café bar and a restaurant with all kinds of domestic and international cuisine and a conference hall.
HOTEL RESERVATION
+ 381.64.555.85.81
Hotel Trim, Belgrade / Serbia



It is located in the most beautiful part of Belgrade so called Kosutnjak only 11, 5km far from trading and business center of the city and 26km far from the airport. The hotel is situated in environment of forest park and its architecture fits very well in it. There are the Kosutnjak sport and recreation center, the Films town, the Ada Ciganlija Island with the Sava Lake, the Topcider Park, and the Belgrade fair close to the hotel.
The Trim hotel is consisted of one suite, 12 double-bedded and 13 single-bedded rooms, a restaurant, open-air café, a car park and a conference hall. It is important to say that almost all of the rooms have their balcony.
HOTEL RESERVATION
+381.64.555.85.81






