Kuršumlija – A City of Water, History, and Incredible Nature

Kuršumlijska Banja

Our first destination and the hotel where we were accommodated and stayed the whole time was Kuršumlijska Banja and Hotel Planinka. The hotel is exceptionally beautiful, and its offer includes all facilities for both individual travelers and family vacations according to the most modern hotel standards. They say that Planinka is the newest hotel with the longest history. What is special about Hotel Planinka is its modern spa center. The hotel has a complex of as many as eight pools with thermal water, which include indoor, outdoor, indoor-outdoor, and children's pools. There is also a medical center where examinations and therapies are performed daily, saunas, a salt room, an infrared sauna, a cold cave, tepidariums, as well as other necessary modern wellness facilities. Hotel Planinka is also excellent for athletes' preparations, and it has a tennis court.

Prolom Banja

On the second day, we headed towards Prolom Banja. It should be noted that numerous tours of Kuršumlija's tourist attractions were organized from all the hotels we visited, such as the first endowments of Stefan Nemanja, the Monastery of Saint Nicholas, and the Church of the Holy Mother of God. Accompanied by a guide, we visited the unique natural wonder, Devil's Town (Đavolja Varoš). We continued on to Prolom Banja, where we toured all the spa facilities and the wellness center. Besides being known for the famous Prolom water, this spa has also become known for the unique beer it makes from that water. Prolom beer cannot be found in free sale; it is served in their hotels and restaurants. We had lunch at a unique spot next to the Prolom River, where we tried traditional specialties, "rednica" pie, and lamb or veal cooked under a bell (sač).

Lukovska Banja

The following day, we visited Lukovska Banja, the highest spa in Serbia. We visited Hotel Bela Jela, its spa center, and accommodation facilities. The hotel is new, modern, and exceptionally attractive. One of the excursions organized from that hotel is a walking tour to the Church of Saint George, where there is a viewpoint offering an incredible view of the spa and its surroundings. After a good walk, we took a break at the Lazarica Church, which is dedicated to Prince Lazar. Its origin is linked to the passage of the Serbian army towards Kosovo and the communion of a part of the army at this site. It is interesting that in the churchyard there are plum trees that twist around their own axis. There are two legends; according to one, the plums twist out of grief for Prince Lazar and his soldiers who went into battle. Twisted like that, they symbolize harmony and unity. The second legend says that the plum trees twist in the direction of Kosovo, looking after the soldiers who took communion and passed by the trees. After the rest, we had the opportunity to treat ourselves again to the traditional specialties of that region in the ethno restaurant Lukovske Kolibe.

This trip was quite different from similar ones we organize. We visited a region where nature truly reigns, felt the power of water, and listened to the singing of birds. However, what makes it differ the most are the people. Our hosts were exceptionally polite, warm, and cordial. We felt as if we had gone to visit relatives or our best friends.