Zlakusa

A day in Zlakusa

Everything worth seeing in Zlakusa fits into one day, though not into one afternoon. The village is about 13 km from Uzice and about 35 km from Zlatibor, and the workshops, the Terzica Avlija, Potpec Cave and Dreznicka Gradina are in the village itself or in neighbouring Potpece. Half a day covers a workshop, the avlija and the cave; a whole day adds the Gradina or the circular trail.

An order that makes sense

The stops fall in an order in which each explains the next, not just one on the map. It runs like this:

  1. A workshop in Zlakusa

    Start with the craft. Once you have seen a vessel shaped on the wheel, everything else has its context. The workshops receive visitors year-round, but they are family households, not museums — get in touch beforehand. The list and contacts are on the makers page.

  2. The Terzica Avlija

    A few minutes on, in the same village. The workshop showed how a vessel is made, and the avlija shows the house it lived in. More on it in the text on the Terzica Avlija.

  3. Potpec Cave

    In the neighbouring village of Potpece, on the road that runs through Zlakusa. About 555 metres of path are laid out, and the entrance is 50 metres high. The cave is open seasonally and with a guide, and it is cold inside even in summer. What is inside is described on the page about Potpec Cave.

  4. Dreznicka Gradina, if you have the strength and the time

    A peak of 931 metres above the village. The climb is a mountain walk, with no laid-out facilities at the top, so bring footwear and water from the village. The reward is a view towards Zlatibor; more on the page about Dreznicka Gradina.

Three ways to arrange the day

  • Half a day, by car — a workshop, the avlija and the cave, all in the village and its neighbourhood
  • A whole day, by car — the same, with the climb of the Gradina
  • A day on foot — the circular trail joins the fish ponds, the old watermills and the waterfalls on the Petnica, the Terzica Avlija, the cave and the summit of the Gradina itself; of about 60 km of marked trails, this one is enough for a day of walking

What depends on the season

The workshops work year-round, while the cave is open seasonally. If you are planning the trip around a festival there are three dates: the folk gathering "Zlakusa in Song and Dance" in early July at the Terzica Avlija, the International Art Ceramics Colony from 1 to 11 August, and Loncarijada in autumn. Dates and programmes are in the events calendar.

Opening hours and prices for the cave and the avlija change by season, so the portal does not print them lest they go out of date — check with the host or operator before you set out.

Getting there

Zlakusa lies on the Uzice—Pozega road, close to the turning for Bajina Basta and Tara. It is easiest to reach by car, and the workshops are signposted in the village. There is also a railway connection to Uzice, from where you continue by local transport or taxi. More about the village and its surroundings is on the page about Zlakusa.

What to bring

  • Something warm for the cave — it is cold inside even in summer
  • Sturdy footwear and water for the Gradina — the trails are marked but not paved
  • If you mean to buy a vessel: knowing how a genuine piece is recognised, because a real piece is pressed with three stamps

What does not fit

All four stops will not fit into one afternoon. The cave with a guide and the climb of the Gradina each ask for their own time, and the workshop most of all if you want to see work on the wheel. It is better to leave out one stop than to rush through all of them.

If you have more days

From Zlakusa, Mokra Gora with Drvengrad is about 55 km and Tara about 60 km, so the trip extends easily into a day or two in this part of Serbia.

From Uzice
about 13 km
From Zlatibor
about 35 km
Potpec Cave
about 555 m of laid-out path, entrance 50 m high
Dreznicka Gradina
931 m, a mountain walk
Marked trails
about 60 km
Workshops
receive visitors year-round, by arrangement

Frequently asked questions

How long does Zlakusa take?

Half a day is enough for a workshop, the Terzica Avlija and Potpec Cave. A whole day allows the climb of Dreznicka Gradina or the circular trail to be added.

Can Zlakusa be done in one day from Zlatibor?

It can. Zlatibor is about 35 km from the village, so the trip is planned as a day trip: a workshop, the avlija and the cave, with the Gradina if time remains.

Do the workshops receive visitors?

Yes, year-round, but they are family households, not museums — a visit should be arranged in advance.

What should I wear for the cave and the Gradina?

Something warm for the cave, since it is cold inside even in summer. Sturdy footwear and water for the Gradina, since the climb is a mountain walk and the trails are not paved.