3-Day Mount Kopaonik Trek from Belgrade with Markov Kamen

Kopaonik and Pančić Top - Since ancient times, Kopaonik has been known for its mines and natural resources, and hence its name, which means "to dig out from," but it was also called "Montania de Argento" ili "Gimiš dag" - silver mountain. The mining industry on Kopaonik is mentioned in historical tales and national poems and stories from the Kopaonik area. Once, the "Kopaonik mining area" was rich in several metal ores - iron, lead, silver, zink, and gold - as well as rare metals. Kopaonik boasts the most widespread forest-grassland zone in central Serbia. Its higher parts are covered in spruce and fir arbutus woods, while its slopes are covered in beech and oak woods. Kopaonik owes its attraction to the exceptional dynamics of its terrain. Broad mountain pastures with thick arbutus and mixed forests, along with mountain peaks from which Šar Planina, Stara Planina, and other surrounding mountains can be seen, remain forever in the memory of all who visit this beautiful mountain. Pančić Top was named after a great Serbian doctor and botanist. The famous Serbian botanist is considered a pioneer of mountaineering in Serbia, and during his lifetime, he made an unsurpassed contribution to natural science and was known as a great man among his fellow citizens. Pančić's Top was named in his honour, along with other floral species that serve as living monuments. There is Pančić's mausoleum on Pančić's Top, where Josif Pančić, as he wished, was buried with his wife in a box made of spruce that he discovered. This note stands on the mausoleum: "We make Pančić's vow come true. We take him here to rest in eternity. We pass his message to Serbian youth - that only with an in-depth exploration of the nature of our country will they show how much they love and respect their home country."