Zuce: Hiking, Nature and Local History

Zuce can be viewed through specific local features by travelers who want to include hiking, nature and local history in their travel plans. The slopes and streams, two routes with different characteristics, and historical references to the area offer different points of reference for planning a trip.

Forests, species and slopes of Avala

Avala is predominantly forested in the vicinity of Zuce. Oak forests are the most common; montane beech forests cover a smaller area. Avala is home to around 600 plant species. In the immediate vicinity of Zuce, 67 bird species are regularly observed on Avala, including 21 protected species. The two species counts refer to different things: an approximate total number of plants on Avala and regular bird observations in its surroundings. A historical ethnographic description of the area, reproduced in 2013, describes Zuce as having long slopes toward Avala, with streams running between them. It names Gleđevac, Vranovac and Konopljište as significant streams.

Hiking two different routes

The Avala Trail 3 hiking route starts at the “Put za Zuce” bus stop and ends at the Monument to the Unknown Hero on the summit of Avala, which is 506 m high. The monument is listed as a notable site along the hiking route. There are three drinking fountains along the way. As facilities may be temporarily changed or unavailable, and trail conditions vary seasonally, check their status and the route before setting out.

The ST403 Avala–Gročka route passes through Zuce along local roads and paths through a landscape of orchards, fields and scattered woodland. ST403 is a stage of section ST4 of the Sultan’s Trail, an international long-distance hiking route from Vienna to Istanbul. Check the current trail markers before setting out. This gives you a clear distinction when choosing a route: Trail 3 has the summit monument as a specific destination, while ST403 is characterized by its route through Zuce and its place within the long-distance trail.

Getting there by bus

Bus line 403 stops in Zuce at, among others, the “Zuce / Centar” and “Zuce / Crkva” stops. As stop names and service patterns may change, check the timetable before departure.

Local history and specialty

A 1996 ethnographic account identifies an Ottoman census from 1528, in which the place appears as “Torkol (Zuce),” as the oldest written mention of Zuce. The Serbian Orthodox Church of “Hram Nerukotvorenog Lika Gospodnjeg” is located in Zuce; it was consecrated on August 11, 2002. An episcopal liturgy was celebrated in the church for the feast of Ognjena Marija on July 30.

A local product is also described in terms of a specific preparation method: the cream is not skimmed off young Zučki cheese. In 2013, the newspaper Politika called it Zuce’s best-known local product.

Discover more destinations: Vinča, Železnik, Jakovo, Sopot, Sremčica, Pinosava, Lazarevac, Mala Ivanča

For the broader travel overview: Belgrade.