Who better to talk about Krupanj than the first man of this municipality, Ivan Isailovic? That’s why we asked him what the local and foreign visitors would have to see in Krupanj.
In an interview for portal Come To Serbia, Ivan Isailović says that the first archaeological findings in Krupanj have been dated to the Neolithic period, in the form of remains of ceramics and a single axe made out of light white stone.
The name Krupanj itself appears for the first time in the Dubrovnik writings from 1417, and the scribes usually wrote it as Crupagn. With the development of mining in the Middle Ages, Krupanj became a significant mining place (a silver mine) through which the Dubrovnik Caravan Roads passed. The long tradition of Krupanj, its rich history, beautiful nature around it, make Krupanj an attractive and interesting tourist destination – says Isailovic.
The city lies in a basin and is surrounded by mountains Boranj, Jagodnja and Sokolska planina, and it is situated at 280 meters above sea level. Through the city run four rivers – Brstica, Čađavica, Kržava and Bogoštica, which all make river Likodra.
How many inhabitants does Krupanj have?
Krupanj has about 4500 inhabitants. In addition to the abundance of parks in Krupanj itself, there are beautiful natural sites such as Kovačevića cave, Orlićka cave, nature of Danilova Kosa, Boranja, Jagodnja and Sokolska planina, which abound with natural beauties and unspoiled nature. They have plenty of plants, especially forests that have a reservoir of oxygen and clean air. You can rest your eyes and souls on the beautiful coniferous and deciduous forests at all seasons.
What about sports and recreational offer in Krupanj?
Sports fields, halls and pool in the municipality of Krupanj represent only part of the potential for the development of sports and recreational tourism, which is one of the backbones of the development of tourism in Radjevina. Krupanj has three large grassy football fields, five objects for small sports, a sports hall with 1,000 seats and one smaller hall, an outdoor swimming pool, trim trail, mini-pitch terrain, two gyms, pedestrian and bicycle paths.
And when it comes to catering offer?
As for accommodation and catering facilities in Krupanj, there is Hotel GRAND which has 190 beds, while the restaurant has 250 seats. The hotel has a reception hall for guests, entertainment hall, cafe bar, congress hall, banquet hall, spa center, swimming pool, sauna, steam bath, football field, small sports fields.
There is RADJEVSKI SAN UR, which has a capacity of five rooms and 20 beds. Alos, Restaurant Staro Zdanje, which is also a museum, where you can see numerous exhibits from the old Krupnja.
What should every domestic and foreign visitor see in Krupanj?
Every visitor of Krupanj needs to get to know all the natural, cultural and historical beauties of Krupanj. Krupanj has a rich history and a large number of historical and religious monuments. The municipality of Krupanj is rich in religious monuments – there are 12 churches and 2 monasteries. In the center of Krupanj, opposite the church of The Lord’s Ascension, there is the Old Pharmacy Building. There is the building of the endowment of Nikola Spasic, a merchant from Belgrade, was erected as a hospital in 1935. There is a memorial fountain dedicated to Archibald Rice, located in the vicinity of the Church of The Lord’s Ascension. Then the Cultural Center Politika, monumental object, a modern object with straight lines, which, in the area where it is located, acts as a sculpture, resembling a ship anchored between the two hills.
Numerous historical monuments such as: Mackov Kamen Museum Complex, dedicated to numerous victims who lost their lives in the First World War. The museum complex of the Stolice dedicated to the Second World War, where military-political consultations were held. A museum complex in Bela Crkva, where the first rebellious shots were fired in the Second World War.
Then, also, there is medieval fort Soko Grad near Krupanj. The fortress is located on the sharp ridge of a limestone wall. On the top there was once a settlement. When it was controled by the Turks, this strong fortress could not be conquered, and that is why it was called “Bride of Sultan”. It was built on a rock whose steep cliffs did not allow any approach, except on one side. Because of this position, the Turks have called it Shahin-Juvasi (“Hawk’s Nest”). The Soko-town was never conquered, but the Turks left it in 1862. After the bombing of Belgrade and the request of Mihailo Obrenovic, the Sultan signed a protocol in July 1862, under which the Turks are order to leave the Soko cty immediately.
Where does the name Radjevina come from?
This region, Radjevina, was named after the knight Radj, whos faithful Andjelija built him a stone monument. After this Radj, besides the stone monument and a spacious fertile valley, the whole of this region of Western Serbia was called Radjevina. In it, there are thirty three settlements, of which twenty-three are in the municipality of Krupanj, and the remaining are in the municipalities of Loznica, Osečina, Ljubovija and Mali Zvornik. The castle stone here once was the summer residence of the knight Radj, one of the seven knights of Prince Lazar in the battle of Kosovo. Knight Radj was the ruler of the Macvanian Banovina – Pocerina, Mačva, Jadar and the area from Povlen to Košutnja and the Drina river. He was living in the village of Tolisavec and was the son of the mother of Jelena and Father Stefan.
What are the opportunities for hunters in this area?
Hunting association Krupanj, headquartered in Krupanj, runs the hunting ground “Jagodnja” with total area of 31.282 ha, of which 27.638 hectares are the hunting grounds. The association has 366 active members. Continuously grown game species in the hunting ground “Jagodnja” are deer, wild boar, rabbit, pheasant and field partridge. The Hunting Museum, located within the Dobri brod, contains an extremely large and interesting collection of objects and animals found and caught in the territory of Radjevina.
Which events are organized by the municipality of Krupanj?
Numerous. LAZAR’S SATURDAY is held on Lazarevdan (in March or April). It is a competition of folklore groups from Krupanj, Loznica, Sabac, Valjevo, Osečina and other places from the surrounding area.
DANI MEDJAŠA
In the Jagodnja Mountain, on the border of the municipalities of Krupanj, Ljubovija and Mali Zvornik, a competition will be organized in the traditional sports, in mowing with hand-made hair, preparing a bean meal. The organizer of the event is the Tourist Organization of Krupanj.
PETROVDANSKI SABOR
In the church park “Dobri Potok” on Petrovdan traditionally is held a hunt for a golden coin. Within the manifestation there is an exhibition of domestic crafts, old crafts and honey. The organizer of the event is the church municipality of Dobri Potok.
YEAR OF CULTURE In July and August, the Municipality of Krupanj organizes a large number of theater performances and concerts on the plateau outside the Culture Center “Politika”.
FRUITS OF RADJEVINA Every year in the middle of October, the manifestation “Fruits of Rađevina” is being organized, on the plateau in front of the Library “Politika”. It is an economic and tourist event that aims to promote all the products of our region.
Do you have a strategic plan for tourism development?
The sustainable development strategy of the municipality of Krupanj for the period from 2015 to 2020 is a document defining the basic guidelines for the development of the local community through the achievement of strategically defined goals. The main goal of the Sustainable Development Strategy is to improve the process of managing local community development and improving the lives of citizens living in it.
When it comes to tourism, this is definitely a potential for the development of the municipality. The municipality of Krupanj has beautiful landscapes with clear mountain hills, clean air and moderate climate, forested mountains rich in various wildlife, important cultural and historical monuments that make this region interesting for tourists and provides exceptional conditions for the development of various forms of tourism (sports and recreational, excursion, rural, hunting tourism).
Many guests, in the first encounter with this region, point out the extraordinary natural benefits, ecologically clean and unpolluted environment, healthy food, pleasant summer nights, as well as winters with plenty of snow, which together provides opportunities for the development of summer and winter tourism.
FACTS
Krupanj is located 148 kilometers from Belgrade
135km from Novi Sad
65km from Valjevo,
64km from Šabac
28km from Loznica
This article is a part of the project “Seven miracles of Krupanj”, supported by the Krupanj Municipality. Positions of the supported media project do not necessarily reflect statements of the organ supporting the project.
(Come to Serbia)