Mokra Gora is a small mountain village in western Serbia, on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, known for two main attractions: the historic narrow-gauge railway Šargan Eight and Kusturica Drvengrad (Mećavnik).
🚂 Šargan Eight
Historic narrow-gauge railway (760 mm wide, normal is 1435 mm), built in 1925 for traffic between Belgrade and Sarajevo via the Šargan mountain pass. Due to the large altitude difference (300 m over a short section) the track was made in the shape of a figure 8 — hence the name „eight".
The line was abandoned in 1974, but in 1999 restored as a tourist attraction. Trains with steam locomotive from May to October. Ticket: 1500 dinars (adult), 750 dinars (children). Length: 8 km. Time: 2.5 hours return.
🚂 Trains
- 4 departures daily in season (10:30, 13:00, 16:00, 18:30).
- Steam locomotive on certain dates (Friday–Sunday). Otherwise diesel.
- Stops: Golubići, Jatare, Šargan. At Šargan — 1 hour for tour.
- Reservations: online via sarganskaosmica.com.
🎬 Kusturica Drvengrad (Mećavnik)
Ethno-village built by Emir Kusturica on Mećavnik hill above Mokra Gora, for the film „Life Is a Miracle" (2004).
- Architecture: traditional Serbian wooden houses relocated from various parts of Serbia.
- Attractions: St Sava Church, library, „Megaplex" cinema (60 seats), art gallery, „Lotika" restaurant.
- Küstendorf Film Festival — January every year, small but prestigious.
- Entry: 250 dinars.
🌲 Tara National Park
15 km from Mokra Gora. Wild nature park — Pančić spruce forests, Bačilo, Kaluđerske Bare, Drina viewpoint (view of the Drina meander from 250 m).
🏨 Accommodation in Mokra Gora
- Hotel Mećavnik (Kusturica) — in Drvengrad, premium.
- Guesthouses in Mokra Gora — 1500–3000 dinars/night, traditional.
- Camp Mokra Gora — for campers.
- Alternative: Zlatibor (30 km) or Užice (40 km).
🚗 How to get there
From Belgrade — 220 km, 4 hours by car. From Sarajevo — 200 km. From Zlatibor — 30 km, 30 min.