EN 
SR 
Guide through Vrnjačka Banja - What to see and what to visit in Vrnjačka Banja and its surroundings
If you have recently planned a visit Vrnjačka Banja and wondered what to see and visit in Vrnjačka Banja, then you are at the right place.
As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Serbia, but also outside Serbia, especially with guests from the region, Vrnjačka Banja has been building a reputation as one of the most beautiful spas in this part of Europe for years.
The beginnings of the development of Vrnjačka Banja or Vrnjačka Spa, as it is today, are connected to Prince Miloš Obrenović and the year of 1835. His idea was to make Vrnjačka Banja one of the best and most visited spas in Europe, and as a model, he used the spa of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic.
The extent to which his vision has been implemented can only be seen if you visit Vrnjačka Banja and experience all that a place like this can offer to a tourist.
In order to make your stay easier and create a tour of the spa, today we have prepared a list of locations you should visit when you are in Vrnjačka Spa. So, if you’re ready, let’s get started!
1. Promenade
Promenade in Vrnjačka Banja is actually the central part of a large whole that consists of several attractions and you must visit all of them. After all, everything is very close, so there is no reason not to visit a place.
Before you decide to visit anything else in Vrnjačka Banja, the advice is to take a walk along the Promenade. With an easy walk, you will reach other locations, which we will talk about a little later.
In case you didn't know, the Promenade is actually a beautiful central walking zone in Vrnjačka Banja. It is located right next to the Vrnjačka river, more precisely it stretches along one bank of this river, and the main characteristic of the Promenade is the large number of linden trees.
A visit to Vrnjačka Banja and a walk along the Promenade during the linden tree flowering period is the right thing to relax your soul and body.
Very important and recognizable components of the magnificent Promenade are the central fountain, an artificial waterfall, but above all the symbol of Vrnjačka Banja, and that is the sparrow Gočko. You guessed it, it was named after the nearby mountain Goč.
2. Vrnjački Park
Apart from the walking zone, an important place in the central part of Vrnjačka Banja is occupied by the fantastic and carefully nurtured Vrnjački park which covers a huge area and is over 2 kilometers long.
The arrangement and foundations of today's appearance of this park were laid in the second half of the 19th century, and the park is dominated by the French Baroque style.
The year of 1835 is considered the beginning of the arrangement of the spa and its transformation into one of the best and most beautiful spas in this part of Europe. Then, on the initiative of Prince Miloš Obrenović, Vrnjačka Banja began to rise as a health resort, a place for rest and enjoyment.
When it comes to Vrnjački Park, its arrangement lasts continuously, and the beginning is considered to be 1888.
Numerous generations have left their mark in the park, domestic and foreign architects and gardeners who have always tried to make the park look impressive and to attract a large number of visitors and guests of Vrnjačka Banja.
It is important to point out that a visit to Vrnjačka Banja cannot be complete without a visiting a Vrnjački Park. Numerous guests walked through this park, and some of the most famous are Desanka Maksimović, Danilo Bata Stojković, Maksim Gorki, Dragan Nikolić and Ivo Andrić.
3. Japanese Park
Although a relatively young and recently landscaped part, the Japanese park quickly gained a reputation as one of the favorite places in Vrnjačka Banja.
It is located in the continuation of the large Vrnjački Park, and in the direction of the Snežnik spring. The Japanese garden was arranged relatively recently, in 2011.
However, it is a very nice park with a combination of living and non-living nature, and as such, it is great for a break from walking, and planning the continuation of the walking tour of Vrnjačka Banja.
As the central and most interesting places in the Japanese Park, we should single out ponds, wooden bridges, waterfalls, but also numerous plant species that are characteristic of Japanese culture and the way of arranging gardens.
4. Labyrinth
Another integral part of the large park is the labyrinth. This part of the park is interesting and we recommend a visit if you want to take a break from a long walk.
Interestingly, the labyrinth park is 32 meters long and 23 meters wide, and for its construction, 440 cypress trees were planted, which form the walls of the labyrinth at a height of 2 meters.
Apart from being a place of rest, there is no doubt that the labyrinth park would be a very interesting place for children.
5. Bridges of Vrnjačka Banja
Apart from parks and springs of mineral and healing water, Vrnjačka Banja is also known for its bridges. Namely, according to some information, there are currently 23 bridges in the spa and each of them is located on the Vrnjačka River.
Certainly the most famous of all is the "Bridge of Love". This bridge is a place where lovers today can buy a padlock, write their names on it, lock it on the fence of the bridge and then throw the key into the river.
This symbolic act represents the eternal bonding of two lovers, and it is interesting that the story of two lovers, teacher Nada and young officer Relja, is also tied to this bridge.
Namely, in the period before the Great War, the two of them were very much in love, but the beginning of the war separated them and ended their love.
The epilogue of the whole story is sad because Nada eventually dies of grief, while the fate of officer Relja is unknown.
However, this story would have been almost forgotten if there was no local population who told it to the great Serbian poet, Desanka Maksimović, and she wrote the poem "Prayer for Love" based on that.
If you visit the Bridge of Love, you will be able to hear a more detailed story about the tragic fate of love between a teacher and officer, but you will also see a board on the bridge with verses from a poem by Desanka Maksimović.
Apart from the Bridge of Love, Vrnjačka Banja is also known for the bridges "Spomenar", "Ko to tamo peva", "Daljinar", but also for the bridge dedicated to mathematics.
6. Springs of Vrnjacka Banja
Long before the spa became a spa, people discovered several sources of mineral water and its healing effects. There are a total of 7 of them in Vrnjačka Banja, and they are Snežnik, Topla voda, Slatina, Jezero, Beli Izvor, Vrnjačko vrelo and Borjak.
Probably the most famous of the seven magnificent is the Topla Voda Spring, also known as the Roman Spring. The latter name, the Roman spring, indicates that this water spring was discovered in the time of ancient Rome, and the evidence is old coins found around the spring. By the way, they were minted in the period of several centuries, during the reign of the Roman emperors from Augustus to Valentinian.
The age of the coins and the year of their origin indicate that the spring was most likely discovered around 200 AD.
Several other interesting facts related to this spring are that the water temperature at the spring is identical to the temperature of the human body and that this is the first source of mineral water in Vrnjačka Banja arranged for the needs of treatment and spa tourism (1883).
It is important to mention that the spring was damaged during the Second World War, and renovated in 1989 and according to the conceptual design of the architect Mihajlo Mitrović, protected by a glass pyramid.
So, if you were wondering what kind of glass pyramid it is in Vrnjački Park, it is the most famous and oldest source of mineral water in Vrnjačka Banja.
7. Belimarković Castle
Belimarković Castle, also known as the Castle of Culture, is one of the most beautiful buildings in Vrnjačka Banja. It is located on a hill above the previously mentioned Topla Voda spring.
Once upon a time, this castle was the summer residence of the Serbian royal general Jovan Belimarković, and it is interesting that it used to host the most important political figures of Serbia.
Today, this magnificent building is the Homeland Museum with large historical, ethnographic, archaeological and cultural collections and exhibits that include photographs and documentation of the development of Vrnjačka Banja as a tourist place, but also a place of numerous cultural events.
8. Vrnjački train and carriage ride
If you want to drive through the pedestrian part of Vrnjačka Banja in your own car, that will not be possible in any case.
However, where cars are not allowed to be, a carriage or tourist trainis allowed. These two means of transport are also symbols of Vrnjačka Banja and it is really rare that someone has visited Vrnjačka Banja without hearing about the possibility of driving a in tourist train or carriage.
First of all, by driving in a tourist train you can experience and see a lot in Vrnjačka Banja, including the previously mentioned parks.
When it comes to the second option, the Vrnjački carriages are mostly focused on the Vrnjačka Park and the trails that are mostly used by tourists who prefer this way of seeing the park and its surroundings.
A carriage ride is a kind of opportunity to experience Vrnjačka Banja in the old days and in accordance with the style in which Vrnjačka Park is decorated - in the Baroque style.
No matter which form of driving you prefer, driving in a tourist train or carriage is something you should not miss when you are in Vrnjačka Banja, even if you have already took a walk.
9. The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This orthodox church dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the oldest building in Vrnjačka Banja. According to sources, it was built in 1834, and is the is the endowment of Hadži Jeftimije Popović..
The location of the church is very beautiful, in the center of Vrnjačka Spa, on a hill called Church Hill. It is also known for the numerous flowers and small forest that surrounds the church.
Another interesting fact related to the endowment holder of this temple, Hadži Jeftimije Popović, is that this man is connected to the rediscovery of the healing properties of mineral waters and springs of Vrnjačka Banja.
10. Ljubostinja Monastery
Although it is located a little further from Vrnjačka Banja, the Ljubostinja Monastery is one of the greatest shrines in this area. It was built at the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century, and is the endowment of Princess Milica.
The distance of the Ljubostinja Monastery from Vrnjačka Banja is about 16 kilometers, so it can be a great continuation of the adventure if you have already visited the main attractions in the spa.
It is interesting for the Ljubostinja monastery that the relics of Princess Milica are located in the monastery itself, as well as that the Serbian medieval poet Jefimija, also a nun, is buried there. In addition, this monastery is the first nunnery in Serbia.
11. Goč
If you are interested in some other popular destinations in the vicinity of Vrnjačka Banja, then the recommendation is definitely Mountain Goč..
This mountain offers its visitors primarily hiking, excursions, nature walks, fishing on the lake, while in winter you can ski on Goč.
In addition to the mentioned activities such as hiking and walking in beautiful nature dominated by beech and coniferous forests (but also some rare species), Goč offers its visitors certain gastronomic specialties.
Namely, parts of the mountain are planted with raspberries, plums and vines. This means that you can find homemade rakija, wines, and similar drinks at local producers, but not forget forget other products such as homemade kajmak, cheese and the like.
So, if you are in shape, or just want an interesting and beautiful place in nature for a picnic, Goč is definitely the right choice.
12. Lovefest
For the end, one of the most famous festivals in this part of Europe. Of course, it is Lovefest, an electronic music festival that is held every year in Vrnjačka Banja, at the beginning of August. This year, the festival will be held on August 4, 5 and 6.
In the previous years, Lovefest brought together stars of electronic music and fans of this genre from all over the world, so there is no doubt that it will be the same this year.
If you are coming to Vrnjačka Banja in this part of the year, and you love this genre of music and good time, then Lovefest is the right place for you to be.
