SITES

Mountain Rtanj is located on the northern edge of the Sokobanja valley. The legend of an extinct volcano, fireballs, as rare natural phenomena, pits, caves, steep peaks, endemic plants, stories about aliens and other mysteries attract a large number of mountaineers, nature lovers, scientists and treasure hunters. A special challenge is an ascent to the top of Rtanj (Šiljak 1560 m), from where the view reaches as far as the confluence of the Sava and the Danube. Numerous adventurers are also attracted by the ice cave, 50 m deep, which is located in the area of ​​the village Mužinac. There are the remains of the church-chapel of St. George on Šiljak. The church was in 1935. erected by Greta Minch, in memory of her husband Julius Minch, owner of the Rtanj mine.

Spring - Borići is a famous picnic area, about 300 m from the center of Sokobanja. Vrelo used to be a fashionable picnic spot, where famous writers, actors, artists, politicians, and members of the Karadjordjevic royal family gathered. The trail is connected to the Borići picnic area, which is equipped with benches, tables and plays props, and is suitable for children and adults with chronic respiratory diseases, due to the high concentration of negative ions in the air. In this area, there is also a memorial fountain of Hajduk Veljko Petrović and the summer stage "Vrelo".

Along the north side of the spa promenade, there is a central spa park. The park is beautifully landscaped, with numerous benches and century-old trees that provide pleasant shade, and is decorated with flowers, greenery, fountains and sculptures. In the western part of the park, there is a children's playground "Sokolići", which is equipped with various devices for entertainment and entertainment of children. A stream flows through the park into which hot mineral water from the Turkish bath flows. In the immediate vicinity of the park, there is an outdoor children's playroom with numerous devices for play and entertainment as well as an amusement park.

God's Gate is located on the mountain Krstatac, in the area of the village Milusinac, 15 km away from Sokobanja. The unique window of the "God's Gate" is a rare natural phenomenon and an interesting speleological phenomenon, so in addition to a large number of tourists, it also attracts scientists from this area. Urdeški creek and upstream, along the forest path along the stream, it continues to "God's Gate", which is located at 690 meters above sea level. , Babin zub, Knjaževac, and all the surrounding villages, near the God's Gate there is the Milušinac waterfall, the Manastirište picnic area, and the Buk spring.

The "Šopur" spring is located on the Ozren mountain, on the way to the village of Jezero, and is 10 km away from the centre of Sokobanja. The spring is surrounded by beech forest, and a picnic area is arranged around it. From Šopur, along forest paths, you can reach the top of Oštra čuka (1075 m), from where there is a magnificent view of the Sokobanja valley and the mountain Rtanj. Sharp hammer is one of the peaks on the Virgo mountain. The ascent is moderately demanding and takes about an hour. The top of Oštra čuka is rocky and steeply cut off on all sides, except on the north side, where the only possible ascent is with a much milder slope. The top itself is small and resembles a "stone nest". From the top, there is a view to the south to Suva Planina, and it is possible to see the Nis airport. In the north, you can see the mountains Beljanica, Veliki and Mali Malinik. On the west side, you can see Veliki and Mali Jastrebac.

The homeland museum is housed in a building built in the 19th century. Built in the old Serbian Moravian style, with a minor reconstruction, the building has completely preserved its original appearance. The collection has exhibits from the field of archaeology, ethnology and history, from prehistory to modern times. In front of the museum, there is an amphitheatre that is used in the summer season to hold the Spa Fun Summer program. The gallery - Legacy of Milun Mitrović was opened on June 21, 2001, on the initiative of the Sokobanja academic painter Milun Mitrović, who on that occasion donated over 150 paintings to Sokobanja. During the year, the settings of a large number of recognized domestic and world names in art change in this building. Milun Mitrović is also one of the founders of the Art Colony "Sokograd".

Jošanica spa is 16 km away from Sokobanja. Health tourism in this spa is based on the application of healing waters and peloids. It has a swimming pool with a capacity of 15 people, 5 bathtubs with showers, and a mud therapy block with a capacity of 12 beds. There are 5 thermo-mineral springs in the spa: sulfur water, iron I and II, stomach, and red water. These waters belong to the group of oligomineral earth-alkaline hypothermic with a temperature between 18 and 22 ° C. Near the park, where there are captured thermal springs, there are two churches and a church residence that has been turned into a museum. The Church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Mother of God is the oldest in the municipality of Sokobanja and was built in the 14th century, although according to some sources it dates back to the 11th century because it has similar architectural features as Peter's Church from Novi Pazar. It is made of stone, without a dome, with windows in the form of loopholes, arranged at different heights. Next to this church, there is a church dedicated to St. Dimitrije, which was built in 1899. In the churchyard, there is a museum located in the building of the former church residence from the 19th century. The museum has exhibits from the field of history and ethnology and is placed under state protection. Near the spa is the picnic area Vrelo, which is about 21 km away from Sokobanja, and 6.5 km from Jošanica spa. It is located at the foot of Bukovik and can be reached by forest paths. The main attractions of this resort, located in a forest-meadow environment, are the sources of hot and cold mineral water, after which it got its name, preserved nature and clean air.

Forest Park Čuka 2 is located near the Sokobanja Special Hospital, in the Čuka settlement. Evergreen forest, health trail, children's park, wooden benches and holiday homes are just some of the attractions of this resort. The space is suitable for various sports activities such as badminton and frisbee, or for excursions and walks in a beautiful natural environment and a full day outdoors. Even in the summer heat, the park is always pleasant, thanks to the wind rose that brings fresh air from Ozren.

Lake Bovan is an artificial accumulation, created by the diversion of the river Moravica in 1977. It is about 10 km away from Sokobanja. There are several beaches on the Sokobanja and Aleksinac sides. It is about 8 km long, and the greatest depth is at the dam and it is about 50 m. It has developed bathing, fishing, and excursion tourism, and on the beaches, near the village of Bovan, you can rent pedal boats and boats for real water enjoyment. Lake Bovan is one of the richest Serbian lakes with noble species of fish: catfish, perch, carp, grass carp, silver carp, chub, perch, tench, and species of white fish: silver carp, bream, bream (yellow-eyed), beovica. Sailing regattas are occasionally held on the lake, mostly in the spring and autumn month

Lepterija is the most famous and most visited picnic area in Sokobanja. It is 2 km southeast away from the centre of Sokobanja, on a rock above the canyon of the river Moravica. The picnic area can be reached by an asphalt road, or by a picturesque forest path. Near this area is the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God and the natural phenomenon "The Mother of God in the Rock". The medieval fortress Sokograd is located only 500 m from Lepterija, which can be reached by a forest path. It was built at the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century on the foundations of a Roman fortress, which dates from the period between the 4th and 6th centuries. It has been found that the fortification existed in the time of Stevan Nemanja, at the time of the expulsion of Bogumil when it was destroyed for the first time. It is later mentioned in the biography of the despot Stefan Lazarević. It was destroyed in 1413. in the battles for the Turkish throne between Bayezid's son Sultan Musa and the outlaw Hamuz Bey.

The spring of the river Moravica is a pleasant place for rest and picnic, near the crystal clear pond where the river Moravica originates. The river springs at a place called Vrelo-Istoci, at the foot of the Virgo mountain, 12 km from Sokobanja in the direction of Knjaževac. The spring itself is a natural phenomenon because at the very beginning it appears in the form of a spilt river flow, which arises from a large number of underground springs. Nearby is the Temple of St. Elijah, It was built in the middle of the 19th century, on the initiative of Princess Persida Karađorđević, who learned that the inhabitants of the village gather on the day of St. Elijah around the stone cross, so she gave a contribution of 18 ducats to build a church on that place. One of the attractions nearby is Marko's Cave, where, according to legend, Marko Kraljevic sought refuge with his horse Šarac, who left a hoof print in the rock at the entrance to the cave.

Excursion site "Očno" is 6.5 km from the centre of Sokobanja. It is known for the "Stone of Love", a lonely rock in the middle of a large meadow, which is a symbol of eternal love. Under the century-old trees are benches and tables for rest. This place is characterized by the concentration of negative ions that eliminate harmful substances from the body, as well as by the specific mixing of air currents, wind roses, which have a positive effect on the airways of sick and healthy people.

The Kalinovica picnic area is 6.5 km from Sokobanja and is located on the Ozren Mountain at an altitude of 650 m. The picnic area is characterized by dense beech and coniferous forests in the vicinity of which there are a large number of sources of clean cold drinking water. Sports fields for football and small sports are also available to visitors.

The excursion site "Ozren" is about 5 km away from the center of Sokobanja. Ozren can be reached by asphalt road. It includes a large park within which there are sports fields, a children's playground and an artificial pond, a restaurant, the waterfall Mala Ripaljka and a picnic area. Near the picnic area is the Ripaljka waterfall, the first natural monument in Serbia, which was protected by law in 1949. The waterfall originates on the river Gradašnica and is one of the highest in Serbia. It consists of 11 sections with a total height of about 40 m. The height of the highest section is 11 m, below it is a section 5 m high, while the others are smaller and range from 0.5 to 2 m. It is named after the local expression "ripati" which means to jump. In the Sokobanja area, it is not said that the water jumps - but rips. The waterfall has the most water in the spring after the melting of snow and ice, and the least during the summer months, especially if there is a drought. Above the waterfall, there is a picnic area with benches and tables for rest and a place for barbecue.

Vrmdža is a rural settlement at the foot of Rtanj, and it was built on the foundations of a settlement that is mentioned in written documents in the 3rd century. The centre of the village is dominated by Latin - a city, a Roman fortress for the defence of the imperial road that led to the Middle East, built between the IV and VI century, most likely during the reign of Emperor Justinian. In the 6th century, the city was rebuilt in order for Byzantium to defend itself from the invasion of Slavic tribes. The city was later mentioned in the 14th century as a fortified habitat of rich landowners, who, at that time, trade with merchants from Dubrovnik. It was destroyed in the 15th century (1413). The Church of the Holy Trinity in Vrmdža was built of hard material in 1818 and was added in 1892. Milisav Markovic from Knjazevac painted the iconostasis of the Vrmdza God's Temple in 1894. There is a popular story that the church dates from the 13th century, that it was burned down three times, that the current one was built on the old foundations on the monastery property, that the place of worship was saved by a "firman" of a Turkish elder from Sokobanja. a token of gratitude for the healing of a son suffering from insanity.The Ethno Museum in Vrmdža was opened in 2010. and is located in the building of the Parish Home. There is a permanent display of folk costumes, pottery, fabrics and tools. The exhibits were collected by the residents of the villages of Vrmdža, Mužinac and Trgovište. Visitors can see the entire process of making folk costumes, traditionally. Lake Vrmdža is located at the foot of the mountain Rtanj, at a distance of about 15 km from Sokobanja and 3 km from the village of Vrmdža. It is a wonderful place for rest, fishing and picking forest fruits and medicinal herbs. The village can be reached by an asphalt road, and then by macadam road to the plateau where the lake is located.

Sesalačka cave is located in the area of the village Sesalac and is about 19 km away from Sokobanja, in the direction of Knjaževac. The cave is illuminated in the length of 200 m and abounds in cave jewellery - stalactites and stalagmites and travertine tubs. A submerged river flows through the cave and sinks in its lobby. The tourist site itself is arranged for the reception of tourists. There is a source of drinking water, access paths have been arranged, tables and benches have been set up and a barbecue area has been arranged. Sesalačka cave is also known for one of the largest colonies of bats in the Balkans, which is why it is protected by law. There is also an artificial pond near the cave, which the locals built by damming the Sesalačka river so that visitors can swim during the summer months.

The Turkish bath "Amam" is located in the central spa park, and it was built by the Turks on the foundations of Roman baths in the 15th century. It was first renovated in 1834. by order of Prince Miloš Obrenović, and the last time in 2005. The only Turkish bath is in operation on the territory of Serbia. It is also known for the fact that a scene from the movie "Zona Zamfirova" was filmed in it. Today it is managed by the Special Hospital "Sokobanja" and various wellness programs take place in it. Visitors can enjoy swimming in the thermal water in the pools or in the original Miloš bathtub, try various types of massages and cosmetic treatments. Within the bathroom, there is a room for inhalations with natural vapours rich in radon gas, which is why they are recommended for people with respiratory problems.

It is located in the wider city centre, on the banks of the river Moravica, and is about 500 m away from the marble promenade. The park is beautifully landscaped, with numerous benches, decorated with flowers and greenery. Within the park, there is also an outdoor gym as well as running tracks (made of tartan). The park "Banjica" with thermo-mineral water with a temperature of up to 28 ° C, which is used in the treatment of various neurological diseases, and the restaurant "Čoka" on the river bank is located in the park. Below the restaurant is the sandy beach "Župan", which is beautifully landscaped, with a shoal for children. The part of the beach, which is located in a gorge between two rocks, where the depth is about 4 m, is suitable for diving. Upstream from "Župan" is the beach "Tesnac", in that part Moravica is the narrowest in its course, but it is very attractive for bathers. Then follow the beaches "Six tubs", "Three tubs" and "Gentleman". The first two beaches were named after the appearance of the rocks between which the river flows since the action of river erosion took the form of barrels or barrels. These beaches are also suitable for diving and are very popular during the summer.

The ethnic corner of the Grudonjska watermill is located in the settlement of Gradašnica (2 km from the centre), on the river of the same name. It consists of 2 mills, more than two centuries old. The large mill has been converted into an ethnic-kitchen where each of the visitors can, with the help of the instructor of the ethnological workshop "Ethnos", prepare dishes from the Sokobanja region according to the traditional recipe. Another smaller mill will be converted into an old craft workshop. In the yard, there is a small amphitheatre in which various programs related to the history and tradition of the Sokobanj area are held.