Banja Koviljača

Banja Koviljača (Бања Ковиљача) is a town and a spa situated in the Loznica municipality, Serbia. It is the oldest spa in Serbia. Banja Koviljača is located on the west border of Serbia by the Drina river, 137 kilometres from Belgrade. The population of the town is 6,340 people (2002 census).

Name

"Banja Koviljača" means the "Koviljača Spa" in English. It is also known as "Kraljevska Banja" ("The Royal Spa").

Features

Banja Koviljača has a number of sulphuric and iron-bearing thermal mineral springs, ranging in temperature from 21 to 38 degrees Celsius. Patients drink and bathe in these waters, which are also used for the preparation of mud packs.

The location of the spa was chosen for its useful natural elements: the Drina river, which could be forded; the wooded mountain Gučevo, which served as shelter from enemies; the plains, which supplied food; and the water, which was (and still is) considered to have medicinal properties.

History

Archaeologists have found the site of a Roman settlement, "Genzis" in the area of Banja Koviljača. The first document mentioning the spa was written in 1533.

In the 18th century, Turks from Mačva and Podrinje came to visit this region. Some documents state that in 1720 Turks from the city of Zvornik built a medical bathroom for women named the "Stinking Spa", due to the sulphuric water from the springs. A legend states that a caravan had been passing in the area and had to leave its horse behind, collapsed from exhaustion, rolling in the mud. It is said that when the caravan returned, the horse had been cured.

Vuk Stefanović Karadžić, describing this region in 1827, wrote about the sulfuric puddle and cold mineral springs. According to Karadžic, its real name, Spa, was derived from the old town, fortress, which had been built on the hill above the current Spa. According to Kanić, Spa received its name from a very popular plant "Kovilja" (Stipa pennata lin.) which grows on nearby slopes and hills.

The first chemical analysis of the water was performed by the chemist Pavle Ilić in the year 1855. The first guest house was built in 1858 with ten rooms. In 1867, under the order of the duchy Mihailo Obrenović, the spa won state protection.

Modern development

Development of Banja Koviljača began on August 1, 1898, when a law was passed opening it to the people of the Podrinje district for exploration. Intensive development occurred until 1930, when Koviljača's jurisdiction was changed to Drinska Banovina, the capital in Sarajevo.

Until 1970 this sanatorium operated under the name “Natural Sanatorium Spa Koviljača”. From 1970 to 1998, it was known as the “Institute for dissipated and post-traumatic conditions”.

In 1980, a facility for therapy and amenities was added. Since 1998 it has been called the “Special hospital for rehabilitation Spa Koviljača”. Medical services are provided by physicians of the Institute of Discopathy.

Geographical setting

Gučevo is a wooded mountain which rises above the Banja Koviljača Spa to the south. The mountain extends from northwest to southeast and from Koviljača to the mountain Boranja. It is 15 kilometers long. The peak of the Gučevo Mountain is Crni Vrh, and its altitude is 779 m above sea level. Mount Gučevo is composed mainly of limestone and sand.

In the past, there was a terrain fissure on the mountain, which was significant to the occurrence of thermo-mineral waters. The mountain of Gučevo has many clear water springs which grow into smaller brooks overhung by high beech forests. The river Drina dominates the area and meanders between Mačva and Semberija.

Manifestations

*International folklore festival Europe dances - August, Banja Koviljača, Loznica

ee also

*List of places in Serbia

External links

* [http://www.banjakoviljaca.co.yu Official Banja Koviljača Website]
* [http://www.domverablagojevic.org.yu Youth & Children Home "Vera Blagojević" Banja Koviljača]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/YI/2/Banja_Koviljaca.html Banja Koviljača]