Leskovac and the Roštiljijada – Serbia's barbecue festival

If you love barbecue, Leskovac is a place of pilgrimage. This southern Serbian town is considered the capital of Serbian grilling, and every year in late August and early September it turns into one giant barbecue for the Roštiljijada (“roštilj” means grill in Serbian). The festival has run for decades. Master grillers compete, and the main street closes to fill with stalls, music and thousands of visitors.

The Roštiljijada

• The main street is lined with restaurants’ and master cooks’ grills – wander and taste.
• Competitions between grill masters, and attempts at the record for the biggest pljeskavica.
• Concerts, folk performances and parades in the evening.

What to try

• Leskovac pljeskavica – a big, juicy patty, sometimes stuffed with cheese or kajmak.
• Ćevapi with onion and flatbread (lepinja).
• Uštipci – meatballs, often with bacon and cheese.
• Leskovačka mućkalica – a stew of mixed meats and peppers.
• Rakija – made from plums, apricots or quince.

Nearby

• Caričin Grad (Justiniana Prima) – about 30 km away, the ruins of the city Emperor Justinian I built in his home region in the 6th century, one of Serbia’s most important late antique sites.
• Lake Vlasina – the largest and highest lake in Serbia, known for its floating peat islands. A great place for fishing and relaxing, about an hour away.
• Niš – on the way. See Niš.

Itinerary

1. 7:30 – leave Sofia via Kalotina, Pirot and Niš.
2. 11:00 – arrive in Leskovac and wander the stalls, tasting until early afternoon.
3. 15:30 – head to Niš for an hour and a half’s stroll.
4. Around 21:00 – back in Sofia.

Practical tips

• Go hungry and wear comfortable clothes – you’ll smell of barbecue!
• Check the exact Roštiljijada dates each year.
• Remember the time difference (1 hour behind) and bring dinars for small purchases.