A PLACE WHERE MEMORIES ARE BORN

A Place Where

MEMORIES ARE BORN

It is difficult to demonstrate uniqueness today, but Vrnjačka Banja definitely has many advantages which, for good reason, make it one of the foremost tourist destinations, with the status 'town of the first tourist category'

It is a place of unique history that dates back to the distant past when, more than two millennia ago, the healing properties of the mineral waters of the spa at Vrnjci were discovered by the Roman legionaries of Emperor Constantine.

Kings enjoyed its blessings, actors, writers, famous doctors, painters and bohemians gathered here, and officers and politicians walked its Promenade.

But Vrnjačka Banja is also a place of unique modernity adorned with magnificent buildings with a variety of content, a rich tourist offering and top class service which, in combination and balance with nature, leaves the unforgettable experience of a place where the most beautiful memories are born.

This fairy-tale green oasis, about 200 km south of Belgrade, is recognisable by its centuries-old parks with walking paths and fountains, the healing properties of its springs, a sculpture park, the Castle of Culture, a Japanese Garden, a labyrinth, the Bridge of Love connected to a tragic love story, the proximity of Goč mountain and the West Morava river, the old spa villas… With many events that are part of the Vrnjačka tradition such as the Vrnjačka Carnival, the Film Screenplay Festival, the Festival of Pop, Folk and Classical Music, the 'Love Fest', and many new events, the season at the spa lasts all 12 months.

You will experience its spirit and a magic that relaxes all the senses with long walks in the spacious parks of Vrnjačka Banja, with obligatory photos at the waterfall, the bivouac, the Goč sparrow, the roundel and the new fountains.

We know that your most valuable resource is energy, and you will need it for so many wonders that you just have to experience here, and the attractions that you must try! But don't worry. Here you will find many magical places to replenish your reserves. Hotels and restaurants, but also fast food spots offer a large selection of delicious food and drink, each with a unique idea and concept. A modern water park promises an unforgettable adventure for all lovers of swimming pools, water and slides. Its grand opening is scheduled for 14 July this summer, when Vrnjačka Banja marks one of the most important dates - 154 years of organised tourism. Every millimetre is designed with great attention to the smallest of detail to inspire you to embark on an unforgettable whirlwind of emotions. Among the beautiful oases of natural greenery, you will find an incredible variety of water facilities covering 3.5 hectares of unforgettable fun. It will be the biggest water attraction in the region, both because of the number of people it can serve and because of the modern construction that can be seen in the best aqua parks in the world. We recommend a walk along the paved hiking trails of the Crkveni Brdo hill, which through its long history has been called Krš, Stena, Aleksandrovo and Čajkino Brdo. This is a large rock of volcanic origin in the heart of the spa town, surrounded by greenery and adorned by a cascading waterfall which, with its murmur, unobtrusively reveals a secret that Lehr's tunnel has been hiding for eight decades. In this 130-metre-long tunnel, nine rooms will be turned into a museum space with exhibits found during archaeological excavations. It will testify to the distant year of 1942 when the German command led by General Alexander Lehr, known for bombing Belgrade and an airborne attack on Drvar, built a shelter here. One part will be turned into a 6D cinema, in which a multimedia experience will show visitors films about the history of Vrnjačka Banja. Unique in its splendour, Crkveno Brdo is adorned by the Summer Stage, which in summer becomes the central place of cultural and enter-

tainment for the Spa. It also sports a monument to poetry – a Muse with a bird reminiscent of the spirit of bygone times. Decades ago, Yugoslav poets of all generations and genres recited their verses from this hill. And next to the Museum of Poetry, with a view of the central spa park and the Tople Vode buffet, a glass belvedere will soon shine in the thickets of mountain greenery, similar to a previous one which, as a reminder of the days spent at the spa, was a frequent background motif for old photographs of those who came here to find a cure for their ailments, a refuge and peace.

Dressed in a new outfit, the beauty of the Vrnjačka Promenade is complemented by the spa park that gradually harmonises with it in style and connects it with dozens of thematic bridges. At the end of the year, right at the place where the promenade ends, a new tourist attraction will greet you. The largest panoramic wheel in Serbia, 58 metres tall, which will offer the most beautiful view of the green oasis of the spa. With 32 closed air-conditioned cabins, it will be available to everyone throughout the year. From a rush of adrenaline to complete relaxation, it will become part of an unforgettable experience that will be especially enhanced in the evening by the impressive ice lighting.

For lovers of clean mountain air, Mount Goč is an ideal choice. In addition to panoramic views, adrenaline sports, quad driving, staying in typical Goč houses and enjoying untouched nature, new features are being designed under the symbolic name Goč Mountain Paradise. This paradise will include a wide range of attractions for all generations - plush meadows designed as a children's village, a sunny slope with forest cabins, the Proplanak recreational complex, a lake of calm water at Seliste, a maze, a mini zoo, a zip line, an adventure park, a fist-shaped observation post. As one of the most important and most ambitious endeavours, the construction of a panoramic gondola is planned, which will connect the centre of this spa town with the beauty of this virgin mountain.

“Thanks to its rich content, more beautiful and tidier atmosphere, high accommodation capacity and many events, Vrnjačka Banja is today a competitive tourist destination and one of the most visited places in Serbia and the region. Achieving that would have been impossible without the synergy of the state, local government, businesses and tourist agents. A successful start to the year and huge interest in holidaymaking in Vrnjačka Banja promises to set new records in 2022. What's most important to us is the growing number of loyal guests and their positive comments, which confirms that, with new contents and investment every season, Vrnjačka Banja retains the magic of its leading position and as a place where the most beautiful memories are born.” So says the first man of the Vrnjačka municipality, Boban Đurović, whose three consecutive terms have overseen the unprecedented revival and renaissance of Vrnjačka Banja.