Things to see and do Eastern Serbia

The camp in Niš is one of the few remaining Nazi concentration camps. It bears witness to the suffering of the citizens of Niš and all of southern Serbia during the Second World War. Although at first glance the large building, located not far from the town's railway station, looks more like an old factory or warehouse of some kind, it is not. Everything here has remained unchanged, as if time had stood still in 1944: the gray, rectangular buildings where civilians were crammed together, the watchtowers and guardhouses, the intact barbed wire... During the war, more than 30,000 people passed through the camp, 10,000 of whom were shot on Bubanj Hill. At the beginning, the camp was intended to lock up, interrogate and torture the enemies of the regime: Serbian communists, hostages, gypsies and Jews. On February 12, 1942, a revolt broke out and more than a hundred prisoners managed to escape. The repression was ferocious: the remaining forty prisoners were butchered with a bestiality rarely seen until then, and the camp, called the Red Cross, became the death camp. A visit to the Skulls Tower and the Mediana is worthwhile, as is a visit to Niš.

On the hill of Bubanj, a monumental sculpture represents three huge closed fists. It honors the memory of the 15,000 prisoners shot by the Nazis on this hill, after having been in the jails of the Red Cross.

Be careful, it is not suitable for young people. The Skull Tower, a unique place in the world, is the emblematic monument of the city, which should not be missed under any pretext! A small chapel was built in 1938 to protect what remains of the Skull Tower. On May 31, 1809, the voivode Stevan Sinđelić, leading 3,000 Serbian soldiers, lost a crucial battle against 10,000 Turks. While all over Serbia, uprisings against the Ottomans were gradually liberating the country, Niš would see its occupation extended for 68 years. As a warning and revenge, the sultan ordered his lieutenants to build a tower with the heads of Serbian soldiers and to place at the very top, last, that of the Serbian commander Stefan Sinđelić. On the spot, 952 skulls are thus stacked and ostensibly arranged in tiers, forming a tower several meters high. In Serbian history, the voivode Sinđelić became a hero of the resistance against the Turks, and the site of the Čegra, where the battle took place, was listed as a historical monument in 1983. During his visit to the country in 1824, Lamartine affixed a plaque at the bottom of the Skull Tower in honor of the fighters who died for their homeland, where it reads, "May the Serbs preserve this monument! It will teach children in future times what the price of freedom was for their ancestors and will serve as a constant reminder of the value of this struggle An unmissable stop during a visit to Niš!

The Resavska Pecina cave, located in Jelovac in eastern Serbia, is one of the country's largest cave systems. With corridors some 4.5 kilometers long, it offers visitors a unique experience. Discovered in 1962 and opened to the public in 1972, the cave features colorful red, white and yellow formations, such as stalactites, stalagmites and flags. Of the 4.5-kilometre-long cave, only 800 metres are accessible to visitors. The temperature inside the cave is a stable 7°C, with humidity between 80 and 100%. A must-see for nature lovers and underground explorers in Serbia.

Like most of Serbia, Zajecar has a beach in the center of the city, which is located on a bend in the Timok River. There is a wide range of infrastructure for activities: sports fields of all kinds and recreational, a mini-golf, a water polo field, a giant chess field, bocce ball, beach volleyball, skateboarding ..., as well as the beach area itself, arranged for children and adults. In short, it is a place that is a hit in the summer, especially since concerts are often given in the evening.

Take the winding road to Lipovica: 20 km to the north you will find the Gornjak Gorge. In a very green setting, the emerald-green Mlava River opens up here into a narrow gorge, with foothills more than 30 meters high. At the foot of a cliff overlooking the Mlava stands the church of the Gornjak monastery. Founded in 1380 by Prince Lazar, this monastery is located in a truly splendid setting and is decorated with wall paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries. It is known in Serbia through the poems by Djura Jaškći, "The Night at Gornjak" and "The Road to Gornjak".

The cave of Resava is the most famous and the most practicable. Opened to the public in 1972, it welcomes every year more than 50,000 visitors, who can see a total of 780 m of galleries and its stalactites, crystal columns and waterfalls. In the main hall, more than 30 m high, there is the highest stalagmite column - 20 m - as well as baths filled with water and chandeliers of stalactites. There is also a coral channel. Visits of 40 minutes. Please bring a woolen jacket as the temperature inside is a constant 7°C.

Since the 19th century, its multiple hot springs between 36 and 46 °C, as well as a high level of radioactivity, have been known to cure asthma, bronchitis and nervous diseases. Treatment and rehabilitation include thermal baths, aerosol therapy and physiotherapy. About 100 doctors, including many specialists, are present in the entire resort. The Sokobanja center is both a hotel and a hospital. With its 35 specialists and an operating room, it is able to treat rheumatism, hypertension and post-traumatic diseases. But Sokobanja is also home to numerous cold, hot and warm mineral springs scattered throughout the site. In the center of the thermal park, where the Park baths were built, there are three springs with water between 42 and 46°C. The Banjica baths, 600 m from the center above the Moravica River, have several warm water springs. Finally, the hotel Zdravljak has a mineral water spring at 20 °C. But above all, Sokobanja has two magical parks, the first along a beautiful promenade lined with old buildings, and the other, wilder, which climbs the mountain. In the center park, the Turkish Hammam is a marvel. Built in the 16th century, it is still in operation. The baths are naturally separated. On the women's side, the mosaics date from the Roman era. Of modest size, the hammam is typical of the Balkans.

Niska Banja is a town in central Serbia, known for its thermal springs and lush green landscapes. To discover the town's must-see attractions, visitors can head to Green Paradise Nis, an amusement and theme park offering fun for the whole family. Wine lovers can visit Vinski Podrum Malca, a winery where they can taste local wines. For those who prefer to explore the city's culture and history, the Prizrenska Bogoslovija Sv. Kirila I Metodija is a church and cathedral not to be missed. Nature lovers can take advantage of the guided tours offered by Show Me - Day Tours, which provide camping and hiking experiences in the region's wilderness. For relaxation, visitors can stay in accommodations such as Accommodation Ristic - Spa of Nis or DND Vila. When it comes to dining, there are a variety of restaurants in Niska Banja, such as Gurmanova Tajna, which offers grilled and vegetarian dishes, or Restoran Ivan, which serves Eastern European cuisine. Some restaurants, such as Kafana Brka, also offer vegetarian options.

From Niš, in the direction of Pirot and Sofia, about 14 km, is a part of the imposing canyon of the Sićevačka Gorge. For a distance of 17 km, the river Nišava, the same one that flows through Niš, it cuts a path between rocky cliffs and mountains. If the road leaves few places to stop, do not miss the authentic village of Sićevo, known for its excellent wines and breathtaking panorama. For the next part of the tour, we suggest you to return to Niš by another way, in a loop, through the Jelašnica Gorge. To do this, turn right towards Golobac, 5 km after the end of the gorge (^first crossroads after the gorge). You go up to the ridges by a road in bad condition, but the landscapes are then enchanting. The wild nature, the view on the Suva Planina range, everything contributes to transport you in another world. You can also make this circuit in the other direction. To do so, when turning right towards Niška Banja from Niš, immediately turn left again at the sign "Ploče". It is in these two gorges that the extreme sports agencies in Niš offer you outings. There are several mountain activities: trekking on marked routes above the Jelašnica Gorge, skiing and mountaineering on the Trem and Suva Planina. For overnight stays, mountain cabins are available for RSD 1,000 per night in the village of Donji Dušnik, which is served by buses from Niš.

An archaeological site on the road to Niška Banja that testifies to the brilliance of the Roman Naissus. This summer residence of the emperor Constantine, is no longer in very good condition, but we can see some interesting remains: fragments of the peristyle, mosaics of pavement of some villas, a baptistery and baths have kept something of their original splendor. The adjoining museum houses some valuable pieces, including a collection of 16 statuettes, faithful representations of Roman deities such as Aesculapius, Bacchus or Hercules.