Stari Ras

Stari Ras, also known simply as Ras, is a significant archaeological site and medieval fortress complex located in southwestern Serbia, approximately ten kilometers west of the modern city of Novi Pazar. Situated at an elevation of 755 meters within the Raška region, the site occupies a strategic position on historical crossroads and trading routes that connected neighboring territories. Originally established as a frontier fortress under the Eastern Roman Empire, it frequently changed control between the First Bulgarian Empire and the Byzantine Empire before evolving into one of the primary capitals of the early medieval Serbian state. The complex includes two distinct fortifications known as Gradina-Pazarište and Gradina-Postenje, alongside the remnants of the urban settlement Staro Trgovište.

The historical importance of Stari Ras is underscored by its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, listed jointly with the nearby Sopoćani Monastery under cultural criteria representing masterpieces of human creative genius and testimony to cultural tradition. It is also recognized domestically as a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance. The area is surrounded by an impressive group of medieval religious monuments, including the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. While the urban center eventually influenced the foundation of Novi Pazar during the Ottoman period, the original fortress fell into ruin. Today, the site exists primarily as an archaeological zone with plans for future reconstruction, serving as a vital testament to the region's layered history from pre-Slavic times through the medieval era.