PERUĆICA NAMED EUROPE’S MOST SECLUDED “ENCHANTED” FOREST

Perućica Primeval Forest in Sutjeska National Park has been ranked first on a list of Europe’s most secluded “enchanted” forests presented by renowned travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

One of Europe’s last remaining primeval forests topped a list of 33 forest destinations and landscapes across the continent.

The ranking considered natural phenomena and the age of trees, as well as monthly Google searches, Instagram presence, distance from the nearest airport and travel time.

Perućica recorded only around 480 monthly searches and approximately 1,000 Instagram posts, highlighting just how far this natural treasure remains from mass tourism.

ONE OF EUROPE’S LAST PRIMEVAL FORESTS

Perućica is a strictly protected nature reserve within Sutjeska National Park, covering approximately 1,400 hectares.

In its most inaccessible areas, nature has developed for centuries with almost no human interference, creating some of the oldest and best-preserved forest ecosystems in Europe.

More than 170 species of trees and shrubs and over 1,000 species of herbaceous plants have been recorded in Perućica.

Its dense forests and steep cliffs provide a habitat for brown bears, grey wolves, chamois, golden eagles and numerous other wildlife species.

Since 2017, the Perućica Strict Nature Reserve has been included on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tentative List for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. UNESCO describes it as one of the two remaining primeval forests in Europe.

A 75-METRE WATERFALL HIDDEN IN THE FOREST

One of Perućica’s most impressive natural attractions is Skakavac Waterfall, hidden among dense forest and steep cliffs.

The water plunges from a height of approximately 75 metres, making Skakavac one of the highest waterfalls in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Travel + Leisure highlighted the waterfall as one of the features that gives Perućica its almost fairytale-like appearance.

The waterfall is located on the mountain stream Perućica, which flows through the primeval forest below Maglić, the highest mountain peak in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

VISITS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE WITH A GUIDE

Due to the exceptional value and sensitivity of its ecosystem, access to Perućica is strictly controlled.

Visitors can explore the reserve only accompanied by licensed local guides and nature rangers. This helps protect one of Europe’s rarest and best-preserved forest ecosystems while also ensuring safer movement through the challenging terrain.

AMONG EUROPE’S MOST SECLUDED FORESTS

Second place on the list went to Otzarreta Forest in Gorbeia Natural Park in Spain’s Basque Country, known for its approximately 500-year-old beech trees and moss-covered landscape.

Wistman’s Wood in England’s Dartmoor National Park ranked third. The ancient woodland is known for its dwarf oak trees and sensitive ecosystem of rare lichens and mosses.

The top ten also included Garajonay National Park in the Canary Islands, Trollskogen in Sweden, Fanal on the Portuguese island of Madeira, Białowieża Forest on the border between Poland and Belarus, Brocéliande in France, Saxon Switzerland National Park in Germany and Hallerbos in Belgium.

Perućica’s first-place ranking once again draws attention to the extraordinary natural heritage of Sutjeska National Park and one of Europe’s last places where nature continues to thrive largely according to its own rules.