Mrčajevci: Kupusijada, cuisine and village character

Mrčajevci combines the well-attended Kupusijada with regional cuisine and the rural character of a village on the left edge of the West Morava Valley. The place also offers a camp programme for children and young people, as well as a cultural highlight in Poetry Rock. Culinary tradition, culture and activities for young visitors can therefore each shape a different focus for your trip. When choosing a holiday apartment, consider which of these you want to define your stay.

Kupusijada: competition and tradition

Mrčajevci has been known for the well-attended Kupusijada since 2003. At the event, cabbage is cooked in an earthenware pot and entered in several categories. The most successful participants receive the Gold, Silver and Bronze Pot. So it is not just a dish that takes centre stage: its preparation also becomes a competition, making the event a culinary experience in its own right.

Regional dishes and a local stay

The Erić restaurant in Mrčajevci serves Svadbarski kupus, Čačak proja, kačamak and kajmak. Svadbarski kupus is a speciality of the wider area: sauerkraut and meat are slow-cooked together for a long time in an earthenware pot. This method of preparation connects the dish with the competition, where food is also cooked in an earthenware pot. The guest rooms and the “Erić” ethno house also offer restaurant specialities, including cabbage traditionally cooked in an earthenware pot and dishes cooked under a sač. If you are considering staying here, check current availability and the offer in advance. The earthenware pot and the sač represent two different methods of cooking.

Camp and cultural highlights

Camp Mrčajevci is for children and young people. The programme includes creative workshops, sports, team games, learning in nature and talks. The mix of physical activity, group games, creative tasks and learning gives families concrete themes to help match the trip to the interests of the children travelling with them. If the camp is the reason for your trip, check the current dates in advance.

Poetry Rock is at the highest point of Mrčajevci, with the names of 56 award winners engraved on it. According to a report from 2025, the 25th Mrčajevci Poetry Meetings were scheduled for the end of September. This offers a different cultural focus from the cuisine of the Kupusijada.

Village character and choosing a holiday apartment

Mrčajevci is an agricultural and livestock-farming village on the left edge of the West Morava Valley. The village lies on both sides of the Ibarska regional road. Among its landscape features is the Timotijević Oak, on private land; it is estimated to be about 200 years old and around 21 metres tall. Then match the specific accommodation location to the programme activities that matter to you.

Discover more destinations

Riđage, Gornja Trepča, Grab, Koštunići, Lozanj, Ivanjica, Kušići, Gornji Banjani

For the broader travel overview: Moravica District.