SERBIAN SPAS

Serbia is home to some of Europe’s most impressive and underrated wellness centres.  When we say spas, we mean natural spas, not clinical rooms where you lay on a bed, surrounded by white fluffy towels, $100 candles burning and a therapist in white overall treating you like you are the only person in the world for an hour – although they do of course have ‘those’ wonderful spas and in the spa towns, but mostly we are talking natural spas, therapeutic thermal springs, healing springs and mud, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, National Parks with clean healthy fresh air … that sort of spa. 

To make them more fun and to suit a more diverse demographic some of them even have water parks with slides.  There is an absolute plethora of spas and wellness retreats in Serbia but we hope with the few we have selected it will give you an idea of what is available – personally we feel that once it is safe for us to travel, we all deserve to spend a week in Serbia, in a wellness retreat, looking after ourselves!

A little history on spas in Serbia to build the scene for you … Sokobanja is where it all began and renown for thermal and air spas ..

Sokobanja, Soko-grad, dođeš mator, odeš mlad “Sokobanja, Sokograd, you come old, you leave young”…

.. this was coined by Branislav Nusic and used on postcards (left) to promote tourism and after being printed in a newspaper in 1934 the phrase became popular and still survives today as the trademark for Sokobanja.

Located in the Zajecar District of eastern Serbia, the healing waters of Sokobanja have been known for centuries and Milos Obrenovic, founder of the Obrenovic dynasty, demanded the development of spa tourism and Sokobanja became the spa of choice for the ‘nobles’ and artists.  Since then, spas, wellness retreats and centres have popped up all over the country.  You can feel confident that there will be one nearby, wherever you are.

Novi Pazar is the magnificent ‘other’ of Serbia, a throwback to the Ottoman years that is far and away the youngest city in the country. The town’s spa Novopazarsk Banja is equally unusual, located just outside the town some 500+ metres uphill, making it one of the highest spas in the country. There are as many as 14 springs at the surface, the main source with gas emanation give 1.1ltrs per second with a total of 5 ltrs per second from all of them.  The water temperature at the springs ranges from 15 to 50 degrees Celsius, and most springs provide hyperthermal water.

Thermomineral water in Novopazarska Banja contains the most sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium, as well as anions: hydrocarbons, chlorine, sulfate and nitrate. Of the dissolved oxides, it has iron, aluminium oxide, silicon dioxide, free carbonic acids and free sulfur – hydrogen. According to the chemical composition of the water of Novopazarska Banja, they are among the sulfuric acid hypertherms with 1.6 grams of solids. Therapeutic treatment is performed in the Special Hospital for the Treatment of Progressive Muscular and Neuromuscular Diseases.

 Now you know why these spa treatments are considered to be healing and therapeutic!  (we will be testing you on your periodic table later 😊)

People have been coming to Vrnjacka Banja to heal themselves since the days of the Romans.  Here you will find several thermal springs. 

And for a bit of ‘useful’ information that you will feel the urge to share … Vrnjacka Banja is where the ‘love lock bridge’ (Most Ijubavi) craze started and then spread across the world, mostly made famous in Paris where they had to remove the locks due to the weight and the potential damage to the bridge.  So, here is where it started.

Nis is well known throughout Serbia for its energetic atmosphere (and unbeatable food) but Nis is the location of Niska Banja, one of the most popular spas in the country.  Located at the foot of the Suva Planina mountain.

Sokobanja might get the plaudits when it comes to celebrating the start of Serbian spa tourism, but you must travel west to Banja Koviljača in order to find the oldest spa. Also known as the Royal Spa, it’s defined by the majesty of its natural surroundings, hemmed in as it is by the iconic Drina river and the Gučevo mountain.

It doesn’t get much more elegant than Bukovica. Bukovička is the golden belle of Serbian spas, a blissful centre for health that once hosted some of the most fashionable parties in Yugoslavia. The Obrenović dynasty spent plenty of time here, and if it’s good enough for one of the two royal families than it’s good enough for us!  *Knjaz Miloš is also bottled nearby, so happy sipping!

Bukovička mineral water is a groundwater of vadose origin. It is created in faults of mountains Bukulja, Venčac and Vaga, from sinking surface water. While flowing through sedimentary rocks, the water solves lime and magnesium salts, and then springs to the surface under pressure created by new sinking water. Healing properties of water from this region have been known for centuries and influenced the development of Bukovička banja and Aranđelovac, house of Prince Miloš.

Sticking with iconic Serbian mineral water theme, the unusually packaged VodaVoda is sourced from the area around Banja Vrujci in the northwest of the country.

VodaVoda is a premium natural mineral water from a spring at Vrujci Spa at the base of Mount Suvobor in Serbia. The Spa has been known for its quality since the middle of the 18th century. The source for VodaVoda comes from a depth of 273 meters. It is bottled and distributed by the Arteska International Company to many countries including the Middle East.

At Banja Vrujci we find bathing pools built on the thermal water springs, adding a flowing nature to the whole thing. it makes for a unique experience at this spot just 30 miles from Valjevo. The undulating hills are reason enough to visit, and the health benefits are the (sugar-free) cherry on top.

And finally the last spa on this blog … roll on the drums … Banja Vrdnik.

Fruška Gora is one of the most fantastically idyllic parts of Serbia, so it’s no surprise to find a typically tranquil spa, Banja Vrdnik, within its forested land. Just 24km from Novi Sad, Vrdnik also offers an impressive array of swimming pools, including one outdoor Olympic-sized beast that is nigh on impossible to resist. The Ravanica monastery is also nearby, as if the spa wasn’t tranquil enough.

So whether you are just looking for a week of relaxation and recharging your batteries, some hydrotherapy, thermotherapy, a week of swimming in waters that will make you younger or a spa hopping tour of the countryside, Serbia has that in abundance. Some spas also have doctors where you can make appointments for specific ailments and treatments. You might go to Poland to get your teeth done, but Serbia is the place for wellness!

Credits, sources and extractions from:

theculturetrip.com

chasingthedonkey.com

wikitravel

Inyourpocket.com

Serbia.com