The Ljubičevo horse farm and the town of Požarevac make up one of the most complete full-day trips you can take from Silver Lake (Srebrno jezero): horses and carriages on the banks of the Velika Morava river, a town square with a monument to Prince Miloš, a hill where a peace treaty that redrew the map of Europe was signed in 1718 — and, if you set off early, the Roman city of Viminacium on the way. All of it lies just 35–40 kilometers from the lake, without a single stretch of bad road. In this guide you will find the history of the stud farm, practical visiting information, the dates of the Ljubičevo Equestrian Games, what to see in Požarevac and a ready-made itinerary for the whole day.
Ljubičevo Stud Farm: An Obrenović Legacy on the Velika Morava
The story of Ljubičevo begins, somewhat unexpectedly, with a search for a quiet place: Princess Ljubica wanted a residence outside the city for her sickly son Milan, so a lodge was built right across from today's entrance to the complex. On the right bank of the Velika Morava, Prince Miloš kept an agricultural estate called "Morava", which he donated to the state in 1860 with orders to relocate the stud farm from Ćuprija there. Prince Mihailo later renamed the estate "Ljubičevo" in memory of his mother Ljubica (1785–1843). And so, in the second half of the 1850s, one of the greatest legacies of the Obrenović dynasty came into being — the official history gives 1858 as the founding year.
At the start of the 20th century, Ljubičevo was an institution of European rank with around 500 horses; today it is the only state-owned stud farm in Serbia, set on an estate of some 300 hectares. It breeds mainly English Thoroughbreds, joined in 2010 by Lipizzaners, a gift from the Slovenian stud at Lipica. At the heart of the complex stands a monument to its most famous resident — the horse Ljubičevac, who won the "Triple Crown" in 1974 by taking all three classic races.
Visiting the Ljubičevo Stud Farm: Opening Hours, Tickets and Horseback Riding
The stud farm has been part of Požarevac's tourist offer since 2016, and its popularity is best illustrated by the fact that as early as 2019 it recorded around 5,000 organized group visits. On offer are guided tours of the complex, a trophy hall, a riding arena, a small zoo, carriage rides and demonstrations of the Ljubičevo multi-discipline contest. Families will especially appreciate the mini adventure park for children aged 5 to 12 and the fitness trail with an outdoor gym — if you are traveling with little ones, fold the stud farm into the ideas from our guide to Silver Lake with children. The Ljubičevo riding school also operates here, with amateur riding available to visitors, plus a souvenir shop, a café and the "Ljubičin konak" restaurant. Parking is free.
One important note: at the time of writing, the official price list for admission, riding and carriage rides — as well as precise opening hours for individual visits — has not been published. Book your visit, especially a carriage ride or a riding lesson, by phone at +381 12 515-174 or +381 12 515-199. The address is Ljubičevo bb, 5 kilometers from the center of Požarevac, at the exit toward the Velika Morava.
Tip: Call the stud farm a day or two before you set off and book a tour slot — guided tours are tailored to groups, so without an appointment you may run into a fully booked schedule. And wear flat, closed shoes: the paths around the stables and the riding arena are unpaved and dusty, and the same goes for the archaeological trails of Viminacium if you add it to your plan.
Ljubičevo Equestrian Games 2026: Dates and Program
If you are choosing when to make this trip, know that Požarevac is at its liveliest in early September. The Ljubičevo Equestrian Games trace their roots to the "Knez Mihajlo" riding society of the late 19th century; the first documented event was held on September 4, 1932, at the "Mihailovac" racecourse, and the games have run in their modern form since 1964. The traditional date is the first weekend of September: the 62nd games took place on September 5–7, 2025, with a supporting program and concerts on Liberation Square from September 1, while event calendars announce the 63rd games for September 4–6, 2026 — since official confirmation had not yet been published at the time of writing, check the date before you set off on the official website of the games.
As a rule, the program opens with a ceremonial parade on Friday at 6 pm, trotting and gallop races are run over the weekend (twelve in total), and a children's vaulting show delights the youngest visitors.
The Ljubičevo Multi-Discipline Contest: Five Events on Horseback
The highlight of the games is the Ljubičevo multi-discipline contest, held on the final day. Riders on horseback compete in five traditional disciplines: saber cutting, javelin throwing, courier riding, archery and mace throwing — a spectacle you will not see anywhere else in Serbia.
Požarevac: Sights and What to See in Half a Day
The center of Požarevac is easily explored on foot, with most of the sights just a few minutes' walk from one another.
Liberation Square and the Cathedral Church
The heart of the town is Liberation Square (Trg oslobođenja) with a monument to Prince Miloš Obrenović, the work of sculptor Đorđe Jovanović, ceremonially unveiled by King Aleksandar on July 6, 1898, on the anniversary of the town's liberation. Nearby stands the Cathedral Church from 1819, an endowment of Prince Miloš, while busts of famous Požarevac natives — among them Milena Pavlović-Barili and the actress Žanka Stokić — are scattered across the square and the surrounding streets. A practical detail for drivers: from May 14 to October 10, Liberation Square, Tabačka čaršija and Lenjinova street become a pedestrian zone from 6 pm, so park in the surrounding streets in the evening.
The Milena Pavlović-Barili Gallery: Under Reconstruction Until 2027
Požarevac's most famous artist, Milena Pavlović-Barili (1909–1945), a painter and illustrator for New York Vogue, had a gallery opened in the house where she was born back in 1962. If you were planning a visit, however, an important heads-up: at the time of writing the gallery is closed for a major reconstruction and extension that will expand the space from around 300 to around 2,000 square meters, with completion planned for January 2027. During the works, the collection is being moved to the Museum of Cultural History in Požarevac, and from March 2026 the gallery's souvenir shop operates at 31 Veljka Dugoševića Street, from 8 am to 6 pm. Check opening hours and the availability of the exhibition before you set off on the website of the Požarevac Tourist Organization or by phone at +381 12 524-173.
The National Museum of Požarevac
Founded in 1896, the National Museum of Požarevac is among the oldest in Serbia: around 50,000 items in eight collections, spread across seven buildings at five locations — including the Lapidarium, the Tulba Ethno Park and the Treaty of Požarevac tent. The main building at 10 Dr Voje Dulića Street is open on weekdays 7:30 am–8 pm and on Saturdays 8 am–2 pm; admission is 250 dinars (200 for groups), and children under 10 enter free — figures from the museum's official website, valid at the time of writing.
Tulba Ethno Park and the 1718 Treaty of Požarevac
One of the most important pages of European diplomacy was written on Tulba hill above the town: on July 21, 1718, the Treaty of Požarevac (known in Europe as the Treaty of Passarowitz) was signed there between Austria and Venice on one side and the Ottoman Empire on the other. The negotiations were held in tents, because the Požarevac of that time had no buildings grand enough — and it is precisely this detail that makes a visit special today.
On Tulba you are greeted by a memorial made of stone blocks weighing over 15 tons and a replica of the tent in which the treaty was signed, housing a permanent exhibition with costumed wax figures of the mediators and signatories. Right next to it is the Tulba Ethno Park, founded in 1972 as part of the National Museum: an open-air museum with eight examples of late-19th-century folk architecture from the Braničevo district — timber houses, a granary, a corn crib, stables, a cooper's workshop and wells. Thirty to forty-five minutes is enough for the whole complex, and the view of the town from the hill costs nothing.
On the Way: Viminacium, Opening Hours and Tickets
On the road between the lake and Požarevac, off the turn toward Kostolac, lies the Viminacium archaeological park — a Roman city and legionary camp, 12 kilometers from Požarevac, or a 25–30 minute drive from the lake. The park is open all year except January 1: from May to September 9 am–7 pm, in April and October 9 am–6 pm, with guided tours departing every full hour and the last tour leaving two hours before closing. An adult ticket costs roughly 700–800 dinars — sources quote different amounts, and the price list was changed in early 2025 — while children under 10 accompanied by their parents enter free; check current prices at viminacium.org.rs before you go. If you would like to give it more time, we have gathered the details in a separate guide to Viminacium.
Trip Plan from Silver Lake: Route and Itinerary
The route is simple: from the lake to Veliko Gradište it is just 2–3 kilometers, and from there state road 34 via Kurjače leads straight to Požarevac. The distance between Veliko Gradište and Požarevac is 34 kilometers, about a 45-minute drive — along the way you can also stop in the town itself, which we covered in our guide to Veliko Gradište.
| Leg / stop | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Lake → Viminacium | turn toward Kostolac | 25–30 min drive + 1.5–2 h visit |
| Viminacium → Požarevac (center) | 12 km | 15–20 min drive + 1.5–2 h for the square and museum |
| Požarevac → Tulba | above the town | 30–45 min visit |
| Požarevac → Ljubičevo stud farm | 5 km | 10 min drive + 1–1.5 h visit |
| Ljubičevo stud farm → Silver Lake | about 40 km | 45–55 min drive |
That adds up to 80–90 kilometers of round-trip driving, or 1.5–2 hours behind the wheel, and a full day of sights. Start in the morning: visit Viminacium on the way out (to catch a guided tour), stroll the square and the museum in Požarevac, climb Tulba, and save the stud farm for the afternoon — with the option of lunch at "Ljubičin konak". For a quieter visit, choose a weekday in spring or early autumn; on the first weekend of September the town is packed for the equestrian games, but that is also when the program is at its richest.
Our guests usually take this trip in the middle of their stay: a day on wheels makes a welcome break from the beach. From the Silver Lake Residence apartment — located just above the aqua park, 200 meters from the main beach — you are on the road within a minute, and in the evening you return to a private terrace overlooking the lake. The apartment sleeps up to four guests, has a fully equipped kitchen, self-check-in with a smart lock and a rate of 50 euros per night, so feel free to check the availability calendar or take a closer look at the apartment at Silver Lake before you shape your plan.
Ljubičevo and Požarevac are just one direction to explore: around Silver Lake you will also find Golubac Fortress, Tumane Monastery and the Đerdap gorge — you will find a complete overview of ideas in our article on day trips around Silver Lake, and if you are putting together a long weekend, there is also a ready-made two-day Silver Lake itinerary.
