Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Serbia Vratna Vratna Gates

Vratna Gates

These natural stone bridges are the largest on the European continent.

Vratna, Serbia

Added By
alexplorer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The Small Gate.   By Гаврило - Гојко - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Large Gate.   By DJUKI, CC BY 3.0
The Dry Gate.   By CrniBombarder!!! - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Large Gate.   By CrniBombarder!!!, CC BY-SA 3.0
Vratna Gates.   By Danuberiverchild - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Tucked away in mountainous regions of eastern Serbia, the Vratna river gorge hides an unusual natural phenomenon. The Vratna Gates are the largest natural stone bridges in Europe. These three gigantic rocks loom over the swerving forest stream.

Two of the stone bridges represent the remains of a former tunnel cave through which the Vratna river once flowed, while the third was created due to river sinkage.

The Small and Large Gates are located near the entrance to the gorge, not far from the Vratna monastery, which coined them the "Monastery Gates".

The Small Gate is 49 feet (15 meters) long and more than 100-feet (34 meters) tall, while the Large Gate is 148 feet (45 meters) long and 85 feet (26 meters) tall. The last stone bridge the Dry Gate, is located deeper in the river gorge and is the youngest and the hardest to reach. It garnered its name because the river sinks underneath the gate. 

Vratna River Canyon is rich in flora and fauna, and is home to a vast array of herbaceous plants, countless species of birds, numerous bats, otters, badgers, mouflons, deers, and other animals. 

Related Tags

Natural Wonders Nature Fauna Monasteries Animals
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina

Traverse the beauty and history of the Balkans through locals' stories.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

alexplorer

Published

May 19, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Vratna Gates
L-30
Vratna
Serbia
44.382496, 22.34009
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Decebal's Head

Dubova, Romania

miles away

Tabula Traiana

Tekija, Serbia

miles away

Lepenski Vir

Boljetin, Serbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Serbia

Serbia

Europe

Places 126
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Decebal's Head

Dubova, Romania

miles away

Tabula Traiana

Tekija, Serbia

miles away

Lepenski Vir

Boljetin, Serbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Serbia

Serbia

Europe

Places 126
Stories 3

Related Places

  • Elephants within the park.

    Udawalawa, Sri Lanka

    Udawalawe National Park

    Huge herds of Asian elephants can be seen walking, bathing, and just chilling at this Sri Lankan park.

  • London, England

    Pelicans of St James's Park

    Giant, friendly pelicans in Central London, the most unlikely of places.

  • Fish and reefs in La Parguera

    Lajas, Puerto Rico

    La Parguera

    This beachside town is home to a diverse nature reserve, multiple cays, and one of the three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico.

  • Castle Rock Badlands

    Quinter, Kansas

    Castle Rock Badlands

    These otherworldly limestone formations jut out from the Kansas prairie.

  • The sign for the iridium layer, located next to the exposed rock.

    Raton, New Mexico

    Raton Iridium Layer

    This unassuming layer of clay boasts an out-of-this-world origin story.

  • Green arch in Fragas do Eume.

    Cabanas, Spain

    Fragas do Eume

    This enchanting natural park is a magical example of a temperate rainforest in Europe.

  • Rock formations of Hamelin Bay.

    Hamelin Bay, Australia

    Hamelin Bay Beach

    Incredible rock formations jut from the southern end of this spectacular stingray-viewing spot.

  • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

    Keahole Point Blowhole

    This unusual lava tube spouts seawater during high surf.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.