Kopaonik

Kopaonik has a long mining history, with deposits of iron, lead, zinc, silver and gold ores. Medieval fortresses such as Maglič guarded the routes around it. The national park was declared in 1981 and is classed in IUCN category II.

The summit, once called Milan's Peak, was renamed Pančić's Peak in 1951 in honour of the 19th-century botanist Josif Pančić, who studied the flora of Kopaonik and is buried in a small mausoleum on the top; the summit area lies within a military facility, so visits there need prior permission.

Kopaonik's resort village is busy and cosmopolitan in winter, attracting skiers from across Serbia and the wider region, while the surrounding villages on its slopes keep a quieter rural rhythm of sheep, hay meadows and wild-berry and mushroom gathering. Mountain fare includes hearty stews, cheeses and kajmak; as elsewhere in Serbia, pork is common, so travellers seeking halal food should ask. The towns of Raška and Brus at the foot of the mountain are the region's everyday centres.