Plizio Visual Lab

Rača Monastery

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

church

Weather…

Rača Monastery is beautifully situated on the banks of the Drina River, near the town of Bajina Bašta at the foot of Mount Tara. Founded in the late 13th century, around 1276, by King Stefan Dragutin, the monastery played a pivotal role in Serbian history as a major center for literacy and book production. It is most famous for the 'Rača Copyist School,' where monks diligently transcribed and illuminated religious texts, ensuring the survival of Serbian culture and language during the centuries of Ottoman rule. In the 17th century, the monastery was a bustling community with over 300 monks living within its walls. Following its destruction by Ottoman forces in 1690, the monastery remained in ruins until its reconstruction in the early 19th century. During World War II, the monastery served as a secret hiding place for the Miroslav Gospel, the oldest and most precious Serbian manuscript, protecting it from destruction. Today, Rača is a significant pilgrimage site and a cultural treasury, housing a museum that displays valuable icons, liturgical items, and historical documents from its long and storied past.

Location: Serbia
Nearby: Zaovine Lake (6 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	-2	0	4	9	14	17	20	20	15	10	5	0
Rain mm	61	62	70	67	98	108	76	65	74	69	70	69

📋 Practical info

🚪

Visiting

The Rača Monastery near Bajina Bašta is an active monastery and open for visits. Access to the church and museum section is usually possible.

🕒

Typical hours

The monastery is typically open from morning until early evening. The museum often has separate, shorter opening hours.

📷

Photography

Photography is allowed in the monastery yard and museum, in the church only without flash. The frescoes and library are especially noteworthy.

⏱️

Time needed

Allow about one hour for visiting the monastery and museum. Those wanting to learn more about the scriptorium need one and a half hours.

➕

Combine with

Combine your visit with the Drina Valley and the town of Bajina Bašta. The house on the rock (Kućica na Drini) is a famous photo spot.

🧭

Getting there

The monastery is a few kilometers from Bajina Bašta and reachable by car. Parking is available directly in front.

💡

Insider tip

Visit the small museum about the history of Serbian script - it is very informative. Ask about the old manuscripts.

Geography

Coordinates

43.89940, 19.45560

Facts

The monastery was established around 1276 by the Serbian King Stefan Dragutin.
It was the home of the Rača Copyist School, which preserved Serbian literature for centuries.
The monastery was razed by Ottoman forces in 1690 during the Great Serbian Migration.
Reconstruction of the current church was completed between 1826 and 1835.
It successfully hid the 12th-century Miroslav Gospel from Nazi forces during World War II.
The monastery site is located within the scenic boundaries of the Tara National Park.