Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Path at Camp Coxcomb.
Desert Training Center
The mosaics give the cathedral a resemblance to Byzantine/Orthodox architecture.
Porta Coeli Cathedral
Gashouder Westergas.
Westergasfabriek
Wulixue Irrigation Canal
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Kolaches
How Texas Became an Unlikely Epicenter for Czech Pastries
What I Found Driving Across Northern Michigan
What I Found Driving Down Highway 61
What I Found Driving Through Appalachia

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 Gornji Matejevac Latin Church

Latin Church

An 11th-century Byzantine church with medieval Serbian history and spectacular views.

Gornji Matejevac, Serbia

Added By
alexplorer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Wikimedia/Jsphotomorgana
  Wikimedia/Dekanski
  Wikimedia/Dekanski
  Wikimedia/Suncocvet
  Wikimedia/Tomislav Ž. Popović
  Wikimedia/Nebojša Stojanović
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On Metoh Hill, above the city of Niš and in the village of Gornji Matejevac, is an 11th-century Orthodox church dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Known as the Latin Church, the building got the name from Dubrovnik merchants (called "Latins" by the locals for their Catholic faith) who used it for religious ceremonies in the 16th century. It is one of the few buildings from the pre-Nemanjić dynasty epoch (Medieval Serbia), when the region was still part of the Byzantine Empire.

The church was built from stone and bricks and the facade decorated with stone ornaments. There are no traces of interior decorations and frescoes remaining, but it is known it was painted in 1870, including with a fescoe depicting a life-size figure of famous Serbian medieval knight Miloš Obilić. The architectural style of the church resembles the old Byzantine churches: stone, with brick arcades and one ancient Roman tombstone embedded in the wall. The churchyard is a necropolis of the prominent Dubrovnik merchants and diplomats from that time. During the Ottoman conquest, it was the only remaining church in the area, as all others were converted into mosques. 

The church offers spectacular views on the surrounding area, it overlooks the nearby villages, forests and mountains. 

Related Tags

Churches Religion Medieval Balkan Sacred Spaces
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

June 10, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Latin Church
Gornji Matejevac
Serbia
43.370117, 21.96285
Visit Website

Nearby Places

The Skull Tower of Nis

Niš, Serbia

miles away

Red Cross Concentration Camp

Niš, Serbia

miles away

Bubanj Memorial Park

Niš, Serbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Serbia

Serbia

Europe

Places 126
Stories 3

Nearby Places

The Skull Tower of Nis

Niš, Serbia

miles away

Red Cross Concentration Camp

Niš, Serbia

miles away

Bubanj Memorial Park

Niš, Serbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Serbia

Serbia

Europe

Places 126
Stories 3

Related Places

  • St Mary’s and All Saints Church, Dunsfold

    Dunsfold, England

    St Mary's and All Saints Church & Holy Well

    An ancient yew tree and holy well nestle beside a remarkable 13th-century church.

  • Edinburgh, Scotland

    Trinity Apse

    This 15th-century structure had a long, tortuous journey to its current location.

  • Contrast of religious architecture.

    Ferizaj, Kosovo

    Church of the Holy Emperor Uroš and Madhe Mosque

    Christianity and Islam have clashed, yet here a Serbian Orthodox church and a mosque stand together.

  • The apocalypse scene in the central apse

    Anagni, Italy

    Cripta di San Magno

    The “Sistine Chapel” of the Middle Ages merges 11th-century science and religion in wondrous hues.

  • The Telestrion and the Church of Panagia Mesosporitissa

    Elefsina, Greece

    Church of Panagia Mesosporitissa

    Only open for two days a year, this church links ancient Greek and modern Christian celebrations.

  • Part of the fresco.

    Beram, Croatia

    Svetište Sv. Marije na Škriljinah (The Sanctuary of St. Mary of the Rocks)

    Inside this small chapel tucked away in the forest is one of the most well-preserved Danse Macabre frescos.

  • Santa Vittoria Church.

    Monteleone Sabino, Italy

    Sanctuary of Santa Vittoria

    This Romanesque church is built over the tomb of a martyr who legend says defeated a dragon.

  • Dale Abbey, England

    Hermits Cave at Dale Abbey

    Inspired by a dream, a hermit carved out a home in this sandstone bank to live a life of contemplation and prayer.

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.