What is the European Amazon and why should you visit it?

If you’re drawn to exciting adventures in untouched nature, paddling through thick reeds and water lilies, cycling through forests filled with wildlife, birds, and butterflies, the Gornje Podunavlje Biosphere Reserve is the destination of your dreams!

An endless network of rivers and canals meandering through the floodplain forests, this protected natural site of the highest category is part of the large floodplain area of the Danube, Drava, and Mura rivers. You can experience the unique natural and cultural heritage of the reserve across more than 1,000,000 hectares in five countries: Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Austria. Due to its pristine condition and ecological importance for the entire continent, this region is often called the "European Amazon".

What else can you see and experience in Gornje Podunavlje?

In addition to its natural beauty and rarity, Gornje Podunavlje also preserves a rich cultural heritage. Visitors can, either independently or as part of organized tours through the European Amazon, visit numerous farmsteads, ethnographic houses and collections, craft workshops, rural households, wineries, and the region's famous "čarde", renowned for their fish specialties.

This area is home to as many as 25 different nationalities, each preserving the traditions of their culture, language, customs, cuisine, and crafts.

You can explore the ethnographic richness of the European Amazon in villages like Bezdan, Bački Monoštor, Kupusina, Sonta, and Prigrevica, as well as the surrounding areas. Enjoy the vibrant traditional costumes, the dynamic folklore, and the customs showcased especially during cultural events for tourists.

Many of these traditions can be experienced at events like the “Masked Carnival” in Kupusina, “Šokac Wedding” in Sonta, and “Fishermen’s Nights” and “Golden Kettle” in Apatin, which are perfect opportunities to try traditional fish dishes such as fish stew, fish soup, fish on sticks, and venison goulash.

Be sure to complete your visit by exploring the ethnographic houses and craft workshops, where you can see traditional boat and oar making, fishing gear, clogs, musical instruments, and antique household items.

Why is the European Amazon important for our planet?

The reserve is so crucial for the preservation of the biosphere and mitigating the effects of climate change that global conservation organizations have recognized its significance. It was included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List in 2017, and in 2021, UNESCO designated this area as the first Five-Country Biosphere Reserve “Mura-Drava-Danube.”

Given that over 80% of Europe's wetlands have disappeared in the last 150 years due to river regulation for navigation, agriculture, and hydroelectric power stations, major global organizations like the WWF are actively working to preserve the wetland habitats and the plant and animal species that thrive there.

Who lives in the European Amazon?

Among the protected animal species that call the European Amazon home, some of the most fascinating are the white-tailed eagle, black stork, and European deer, whose largest population is found in this reserve. The image of the European deer is also the symbol of the famous *Jelen* beer, brewed in Apatin.

In addition to these, the European Amazon is home to 50 species of mammals, 50 species of fish, nine species of reptiles, 250 species of birds, over 60 species of butterflies, and more than 1,000 plant species.

You can encounter most of them by paddling through the swamps and canals in a canoe or by walking or cycling along marked trails through the forest. With a bit of luck, you might spot the white-tailed eagle, which has the largest breeding population in Central Europe right here. Endangered species such as the little tern, black stork, beaver, otter, and the very rare sterlet also reside in this area. Moreover, the floodplain forests, marshes, and shores of the Danube serve as a safe resting and feeding ground for over 250,000 migratory waterbirds on their way to warmer climates.

How to organize a visit to Gornje Podunavlje?

With prior notice and reservation, hosts will welcome you in the heart of the reserve, at the Eco Center "Karapandža" near the weekend settlement Kenđija, on the bank of the Bajski Canal. Here, you’ll receive an introductory presentation and important information about the location.

Afterward, you can rent a bike, boat, or canoe and enjoy the nature and clean waters of the Bajski Canal on your own, or embark on a guided tour through the reserve with a local guide.

Fishing enthusiasts can rent equipment and obtain the necessary permits for angling.

Organized tours and activities in Gornje Podunavlje

You can explore the European Amazon independently or join organized private and group tours with expert local guides. The travel agencies that organize visits to Gornje Podunavlje ensure that during your visit to this magnificent region, you see, learn, and experience the very best it has to offer.

The tours typically include guided tours of the reserve, where you’ll receive important information and be safely guided along the marked trails for visitors. The tours also often include visits to rural households, farmsteads, and *čarde*, as part of one-day tours departing from larger cities in Serbia.

If you want to spend the entire weekend or more days in Gornje Podunavlje, check out the latest offerings of multi-day active and eco-tourism tours prepared for you by ISerbia Travel at this link.

Text written by: Ivana Mišković