Day 5 Pirot Serbia

We have a fantastic Airbnb host in Pirot. She sorted out our parking fine and with it comes parking till Monday. We had breakfast in a bakery called Kod Vuka where we ordered our breakfast borek and toasted sandwich. A sandwich to takeaway for lunch and for our hike. A gentleman came in to the store, and as he was leaving presented us with 2 complimentary sweet rolls and a broad smile. We think he's the owner of the shop.

After hearty breakfast we went for a drive and a 6.3km hike at Kozci Kamen, then to Rsovcsi to see the cave church of St Peter and Paul.
The hike at Kozji Kamen was absolutely spectacular. The views were breathtaking. Hopefully, the photos would do it justice.

From Google about the mud houses at
Rsovcsi.
Mud houses or earthen structures, are traditional dwellings found in regions like Rsovcsi for several key reasons, primarily revolving around sustainability, climate adaptation, and cost-effectiveness.
They are built this way for the Dowling readiness:

Natural Insulation (Thermal Mass): Mud walls have excellent thermal mass, meaning they absorb heat during the day and release it at night, keeping interiors cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Locally Available Materials: They are constructed using materials readily available in the area, such as soil, clay, and straw, making them highly economical.

Cost-Effective and Sustainable: Mud houses are generally inexpensive to build and have a very low carbon footprint, often being constructed with little to no industrial processing.

Durability and Maintenance: When built with proper techniques (like protective roofing) and maintained, mud houses are durable and can last for generations.

Cultural Heritage: The technique is a reflection of local tradition and often involves community cooperation to build, strengthening social bonds.

Some of the structures are barns, but others are actual dwellings.

The St Peter and Paul's church was locked but we managed a photo from the window.

The church of St. Peter and Paul in Rsovci is home to "Jesus the Bridegroom," a depiction of Jesus that is notable for his bald head.
There is some disagreement about the origin of this fresco. Some claim that it was painted in the 13th century by an experienced artist who had traveled from Sinai, which is a source of old painting styles and techniques. But many of the inhabitants of the Rsovci village claim that the fresco is the work of the people seeking for God's help during hard times.

The fresco is located on the northern wall of the church, which is itself remarkable. Built inside a cave, the walls have a glassy surface that results from water draining from the church ceiling. Many people believe that the water is healing. Until recently, the church was in disrepair, but recent work has been done to restore the church. Since 1981, the church has been protected as a national cultural heritage site by the Republic of Serbia as a national cultural heritage site.

After the visit to the church we went for a drive and had lunch on a forest track amongst the trees.Read more