Prokuplje | Top 10 in Cities in Serbia

Prokuplje Town

Jug Bogdan's Town (Hisar, Hameum, Komplos, Toplica, or Prokuplje Town) is a fortress on the elevation of Hisar that dominates the panorama of Prokuplje. The fortification, unfortunately, exists only in ruins today, was built in the second half of the 14th century to protect the road from the invasion of the Turks. However, the oldest archaeological traces indicate that there was a settlement in the same place during the ancient (pre-Roman) period, but the traces are beneath the current ruins. The best-preserved object of the medieval town is the Water Tower (Jug Bogdan's Tower), and besides it, there are a large number of collapsed ramparts, walls, and building foundations. The fortress is protected by the state as a monument of great importance and is patiently waiting for reconstruction, after which it will shine in its full splendor.

Folk Museum of Toplica

Folk Museum of Toplica is the most important cultural institution in Prokuplje. It was founded in 1946, and the original exhibition was dedicated to the National Liberation War. Today's museum has a regional character, and within the museum, there are archaeological, ethnological, historical, and art history departments. It has more than 2,000 exhibits in the archaeological collection, primarily from the Neolithic period and from the Pločnik locality. Also, in the museum, visitors can see collections of traditional folk costumes, historical photographs, and a large number of artworks. The museum is located in the building of the former post office in the city center.

Church of St. Procopius

Church of St. Procopius is the second oldest church in Serbia (after the Church of St. Peter in Ras). It is located at the foot of Hisar, and it is believed to have been built in the late 9th or early 10th century, during the time of the Samuil's Empire. It was built as a three-nave basilica but was demolished and expanded over the centuries, so it has lost its original shape today. In the church itself, there were found ancient baths that were part of the ancient city of Hameum. The oldest frescoes in the church date back to the 18th century, and the iconostasis dates back to 1848. Not far from the Church of St. Procopius, there is a Latin church in the foundations of which remains of an ancient temple dedicated to Hercules were found.

Savićevac

Savićevac is the name of a popular building on Hisar. It is a endowment of Dr. Aleksa Savić, a native of Užice and the Minister of Health in the Kingdom of SHS government. He began his medical career in Prokuplje, and the people of Toplica nominated him as their representative in the National Assembly. He was closely connected to Prokuplje throughout his life and initiated numerous projects that contributed to the city's development. In his will, he bequeathed the citizens to use his funds to build a house with a viewpoint on Hisar for the recovery of the sick and the enjoyment of the healthy. The building was named Savićevac after him. Aleksa Savić was buried near the house. Today, the building is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Prokuplje.

Vidojevica Observatory

Vidojevica is a mountain located near Prokuplje. Among other things, it is known as a place in Serbia with the clearest view of the starry sky. For that reason, the largest telescope (Milanković) in this area is located on Vidojevica. Additionally, there is another smaller telescope (Nedeljković) within the Vidojevica Observatory. The entire research complex on Vidojevica belongs to the Astronomical Observatory Belgrade. The observatory is situated at an altitude of 1150 meters, and there are no major settlements or air pollutants nearby, which contributes to undisturbed astronomical observations of the night sky and celestial bodies.

Bublica Lake

Bublica Lake is located on the Pusta River and was created four decades ago by damming its flow. It is about four kilometers long, several hundred meters wide, and situated at an altitude of about 400 meters. The lake has several local names - Brestovaćko, Bojničko, and Magaško, named after nearby toponyms. The lake's water is used for supplying Bojnik and Leban, as well as for recreational activities. The lake is rich in fish (catfish, carp, perch, pike, etc.), making it a paradise for local fishermen.

Devil's Town

Devil's Town Nature Monument is one of the most interesting geomorphological sites in Serbia and was once a candidate for one of the world's natural wonders. It is located near Prolom Banja on the slopes of Mount Radan. The complex consists of a large number of rocky formations called "earth pyramids" and two highly mineralized springs. Earth pyramids are a natural phenomenon formed by intensified soil erosion, which creates tall columns with volcanic blocks on top. Such a phenomenon is very rare in the world, but there are a few places with similar formations in our region. Devil's Town is under the first degree of protection and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Serbia.

Spa Resorts

The spas in the vicinity of Prokuplje have been known since Roman times. Only in the last fifty years, some of them have been developed for tourism and used for spa tourism.

Prolom Spa is located on the slopes of Mount Radan, not far from Devil's Town, at an altitude of about 600 meters. The favorable climate, clean air, and lush vegetation are beneficial to the human body, making Prolom Spa a kind of air spa. There are several thermo-mineral springs in the vicinity of the spa with water temperatures ranging from 26-32°C. The water contains a large number of minerals but not in large quantities, making it suitable for the treatment of kidney diseases, digestive system disorders, skin diseases, and more.

Lukovo Spa is located on the slopes of Kopaonik at an altitude of 680 meters. There are 37 captured springs in the vicinity of the spa with water temperatures ranging from 28-69°C. The water is rich in sodium, calcium, and magnesium and belongs to the category of hyperthermal waters. It is used for the treatment of rheumatic and skin diseases.

Pločnik Archaeological Site

Pločnik Archaeological Site is located in the village of the same name near Prokuplje, in the valley of the Toplica River. The site belongs to the Vinča culture, and as a settlement, it existed from 5500 to 4700 BCE. The inhabitants engaged in agriculture and metallurgy and created artistic handicrafts that are considered significant archaeological discoveries from that period. The site was discovered in 1927 during the construction of a railway by Nikola Grbić, a former curator of the National Museum in Belgrade. The latest scientific discoveries indicate that Pločnik may be the oldest metallurgical center in the world. In recent years, the former houses have been reconstructed, and visits by tourists have been enabled.

Iron Regiment Monument

The Iron Regiment Monument was erected in 2018, on the centenary of the liberation of the city in World War I. The Iron Regiment refers to the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the Morava Division "Knez Mihailo," which participated in wars from 1912 to 1918. The regiment consisted of residents of Toplica, Jablanica, Pusta Reka, and Zaplanje, who earned the title of the Iron Regiment through their fight for the liberation of Serbia. This regiment, more precisely its soldiers, received the highest number of decorations in the history of the Serbian army: 133 Karađorđe Stars, 10 Legion of Honor orders, and six Russian crosses of St. George. The monument is located in a park in Prokuplje and bears the names of all the battles fought by the regiment, as well as the faces of the commanders of the Iron Regiment, Milivoje Stojanović - Brka, Colonel Charles Pranier, Milunka Savić, and Flora Sands.

Ripivoda Waterfall

On the higher parts of Mount Radan, at an altitude of about 900 meters, there is a cascading waterfall with a symbolic name, Ripivoda. It is one of the two waterfalls on the mountain - the other one is Soko and is located near Ripivoda. The total height of the waterfall is about 40 meters, and it has the most water during the period when the snow melts on the mountain. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the waterfall is not easily accessible and is most often visited by mountaineers and adventurers.