Scepan Polje is the small village, being a border crossing to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nevertheless in summer it is one of the most visited with tourist places in continental part of Montenegro. The reason is the very exciting event, rafting down the Tara River. In general one-day rafting routes start from Scepan Polje, and at the same time here is the end of longer time rafting routes - two-day and three-day ones.
In the past an industrial timber floating was taken place down the Tara River. In 1973 timber felling was stopped, and tourist rafting by wooden rafts began. Since 1989, a service of white water rafting has been offered here. White water rafting is floating by special rubber rafts intended for rapid waters. Each tourist is provided with life jacket, professional helmsmen conduct the rafts. According to generally accepted worlds standards of rafting attractiveness and complexity, Tara routes rate as 3 or 4 categories (the highest category is 5, as for Colorado River in USA). In Montenegro many travel agencies, located on the coast and continental area, offer services of rafting by wooden or rubber rafts. And certainly you can arrange for rafting directly in Scepan Poljie. The Tara River is also attractive for kayaking.
Directly over Scepan Polje upon a high hill there are the ruins of medieval fortress Soko – former residence of Herzog Stepan (Stepan Vukcic Kosaca). From here Vukcic ruled a large territory, until now called for his title – "Herzegovina". The title was granted him in 1448 by the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Frederick III. Soko was founded supposedly at the beginning of the XIV century, and belonged to Herzog Stepan till 1465 during 40 years, until the Turks captured and destroyed it. There were no solid fortress walls due to complex relief, so in many places high vertical precipices are used instead of them. Soko is worth to be visited for a magnificent view of Piva river canyon and vicinities, opening here.
During of the Herzog Stepan's governing, only court and army located in Soko for it's small area. The townsfolk lived in the lower part – Scepan Polje. Despite name coincidence, this place was named not after its governor’s name. Before the days of Herzog Stepan, there was a large St.Stephan Ñhurch, the remains of which were found only in 1973. Not far from Sñepan Poljie, in picturesque place, there is the John the Baptist Orthodox Church, had been built by Herzog Stepan during 10 years before he died. Today it is the Monastery here.
