Men's downhill from Midzor - Stara Planina awaits construction of ski and tourist resort Golema Reka

Apart from Kopaonik, Stara planina has been considered to be one of the biggest winter tourism jokers of Serbia. After the Falkensteiner hotel opening, the Jabucko ravniste resort has been developing so new investors who should build suites and condotels, are waiting for us this year.

The Golema reka and the ski resort with the Mirica tourist point, with planned 3.500 beds, 40 kilometers of Alpine paths and cable cars which would go even above 2.000 meters above the sea level would rank Stara planina among the most important ski resorts in the region.

The Institute for Architecture and Urbanism of Serbia developed the Detailed regulation plan draft of the Golema reka tourist center with the Mirica tourist point. As Djordje Cirkovacki says for eKapiju from Knjazevac-based Department for town planning, the Proposal of the plan is now waiting for the Ministry of town planning commission which is essential before the document is adopted.

In the meantime, eKapija is presenting you what Golema reka could offer, i.e. what the plan documentation comprises.

Development of this part of Serbia has been defined firstly with the Master plan of Stara planina development and then with the Plan of the special purpose area, Dimitrovgrad-Pirot-Knjazevac-Zajecar.

The thing that is important and what the authors of the Golema reka PGR center underlined when presenting the document is that the concept of development at Satar planina is not contrary to the one on Jabucko ravniste. On the contrary, they would complement.

Accommodation for 3.500 tourists, cable car up to 2.000 meters

The Detailed regulation plan comprises some 1.253 ha expanding to the heights ranging from some 780 to 2.060 meters above the sea level, in the north and northwest mountain expositions (convenient for ski resort) as well as south and southwest expositions (convenient for tourist accommodation).

The Golema reka tourist center with the Mirica point comprises 145 ha, a tourist point Kozarnica some 26 hectares and the sector of the Golema reka Alpine ski resort – an area of some 1.082 ha.

Although Golema reka was designed as a place where visitors would come over the whole year, they mostly count on winter tourism development. According to the development concept, out of 3.500 beds, some 2.100 would be for skiers and the remaining 1.400 for other tourists. Apart from that, the complex could host some 5500 visitors per day.

Accommodation capacities are planned exclusively in the third protection level.

The unit called Sedlo, in the western part, would comprise mainly utility services with a smaller part for sports fields. Gedzin rt was designed mainly for accommodation capacities while Beli obreten would comprise different facilities – a big garage, a visitor center, a market, a park, etc. Tupanar is a ski stop and the cable car starting point as well as a polygon of a school of skiing along with catering facilities.

The Gramada unit is located at the entrance of the Golema reka valley, from the canyon. Public services and water accumulation would be located here.

The tourist- ski point, Mirica will have a parking and catering facilities.

As Cirkovacki says for eKapija, this would bring Stara planina to the top of domestic ski destinations.

Cable cars would lead to Prilepski vrh, Tupanar, Midzor and Orlov krs.

The PGR draft defines also that the plan solutions can be implemented in stages. The first suggested stage comprises construction of an access corridor, then Beli obreten unit and Tupanar, a part of Sedlo and Gedzin rt as well as parts of the resort with ski lift to the top of Tupanar.

The second stage comprises construction of the remaining parts of Sedlo and Gedzin rt as well as the construction of Prilep, Gramada and Mirica and the remaining part of ski resort. Of course, implementation stages can change depending on funding options as well as on implementation of works and construction land equipping.

Further activities when it comes to Golema reka, after the overall plan documentation is adopted, cannot be specified for the moment. There is no doubt that extensive funds are essential, despite the fact it is a huge chance for development of Stara planina. Therefore, the implementation will not be simple.

Still, it does not mean that, after Jabucko ravniste, investors will not appear for these plans as well …

M.S.