Anchorite Sacred Caves in Serbia: Balancing Between Pilgrimage and Religious Tourism Development

Serbia is a country with diverse karst terrain, full of various surface and underground karst formations. This terrain is one of the factors that influenced the development of cultures and civilizations in this area. Many archaeological findings indicate that prehistoric people found refuge, safety and peace in many caves in present-day Serbia. The natural environment has also influenced many spiritual endeavours, which have shaped cultural identities throughout history. In this study, Orthodox anchorite sacred caves in Serbia are explored, as well as their related pilgrimage activities and potential for religious tourism development. For the purpose of this research, three pilgrimage caves in Serbia have been singled out, that could be considered for possible positioning on the tourist market. All the caves have a remarkable historical background and spiritual richness, which is important for both believers and curious recreational tourists. However, research shows that some caves are more visited than others, and that there are numerous differences in management between them.