Soko town
Old fortified town
Soko grad is a fortress in west Serbia, region which was for many centuries under foreign rule. The Turks handed it eventually to prince Mihajlo Obrenovic in 1867. Soko Grad is one of the last bastions of Turkish rule and their domination in Serbia and at the same time one of the most notorious places of torture of Orthodox population. It was called "Sultan's bride".
Nowadays, Soko Grad is in ruins. There are remains of walls and towers while a cross was built on a plato in the very fortress. There are ten chapels built of stone along the road from the monastery up to the platform with the cross. On the walls of each chapel is written one of the Ten Commandments.
At the foot of the town and near the spring of the Sokolska river, there is a monastery dedicated to St. Nicholas. Today it is the biggest monastery after Hilandar occupying surface area of 7000 m2 with a library, many hotel rooms according to monastic standards, waterfalls and a lake. The river is teeming with trout, therefore a fish pond, a watermill and a fountain with mountain spring water were built.
Besides sightseeing this historical site, visitors can enjoy hospitality of the local residents and traditional specialties such as Sljivovica, milk cream and cheese. Many sports activities are possible to be practised here, particularly trekking.
Marija Mukić
