Dečani

Dečani

The Dečani monastery is the largest construction of medieval Serbia. The expansive complex is best know for its perfectly preserved 14th century paintings.

The complex was built between 1327 and 1350, with most frescoes completed in 1350. Dečani's patrons were King Stefan Uros III (1321-1331) and his heir King Dušan (1331-1355).

This monestary was built based on heavy influence from the Church of the Holy Mother in Studenica, with rich and diverse plastic decoration on portals, windows and corbels. The architect Vita from Kotor has taken the structure of an orthodox temple and veiled it with a Romanesque style of facade.

The paintings of Dečani are almost completely salvaged and amount to over 1000 individual figures and scenes from the history of Christianity. The paintings were created between 1335 and 1350.

Decani is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, with its frescoes being described as "one of the most valued examples of the so-called Palaeologan renaissance in Byzantine painting...a valuable record of life in the 14th century."

Dečani is located about 10 kilometers south of Peć on the road to Prizren. Accommodation is available in Peć.

Located in the UN administered Serbian province of Kosovo and Mehohia.