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Stari Ras

Stari Ras
Native name
Serbian: Стари Рас
Stari Ras.jpg
Overview of the Stari Ras
Location Near Novi Pazar, Serbia
Coordinates 43°7′42″N 20°24′56″E / 43.12833°N 20.41556°E / 43.12833; 20.41556Coordinates: 43°7′42″N 20°24′56″E / 43.12833°N 20.41556°E / 43.12833; 20.41556
Elevation 755 m (2,477.0 ft)
Official name: Stari Ras and Sopoćani
Type Cultural
Criteria i, iii
Designated 1979 (3rd session)
Reference no. 96
State Party  Serbia
Region Europe and North America
Official name: СТАРИ РАС СА СОПОЋАНИМА
Type Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
Designated 1990
Reference no. ПКИЦ 24
Stari Ras is located in Serbia
Stari Ras
Location of Stari Ras within Serbia

Ras (Serbian Cyrillic: Рас, Latin: Arsa), known in modern Serbian historiography as Stari Ras (Serbian Cyrillic: Стари Рас, meaning Old Ras), is a medieval fortress located in the vicinity of former market-place of Staro Trgovište, some 11 km western from modern day city of Novi Pazar in Serbia.

Old Ras was one of the first capitals of the medieval Serbian state of Raška, and the most important one for quite a long period of time. Located in today's region of Raška, the city was positioned in the center of the early medieval state. It was founded before 9th century and got deserted sometime in the 13th century. Its favorable position in the area known as Old Serbia, along the Raška gorge, on the crossroads and trading routes between neighbouring regions of Zeta and Bosnia in the west and Kosovo and Metohija in the south added to its importance as a city.

Today the fortress of Ras lies in mostly unenclosed and unprotected ruins. However, there are plans for future reconstruction of the site. In the close vicinity of Ras there is impressive group of medieval monuments consisting of fortresses, old market-places, churches and monasteries. Serbian medieval Monastery of Sopoćani near Ras is a reminder of the contacts between Western world and the Byzantine world. The site of Stari Ras, in combination with the nearby Monastery of Sopoćani, is already a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Stari Ras monastery (12th century) is being reconstructed and it too may be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List with the site. Stari Ras and Sopoćani World Heritage site is not far from another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serbia, the magnificent medieval monastery and churches of Studenica. The 6th century Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul is one of the oldest early medieval churches in Serbia.


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