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Mystery, history and quirkiness - with these three words we would describe this tour on the south-east of Serbia. Why? Come along with us and we will show you...

 

Highlights: Devil’s Town stone formations, springs, Nis Fortress, Constantine the Great, Ćelekula (The Skull Tower)

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Devil’s Town

 

In the south of Serbia, 27 km south-east of Kursumlija, lies a first-class natural landmark – Djavolja Varos (”Devil’s Town”). Two rare natural phenomena in the same place: 202 stone formations created by erosion, between 2 and 15 meters in height and the middle diameter of under 1 m, topped by stone blocks weighing as much as 100 kg, appearing almost unreal and yet lasting for centuries, and two springs of highly acid water (pH 1,5) with high mineral content (15 g/l; content of some elements even 1000 times as high as in ordinary drinking waters) make DjavoljaVaros a true natural wonder

 

The natural surrounding area adds to the attraction of these two wonders, depicting a rather harsh, almost mystical atmosphere, but at the same time both picturesque and placid, just like the remains of the town, an old church, a cemetery, and several interesting mines.

 

Djavolja Varoš has been placed under the protection of the state in 1959, whereas in 1995, upon the Resolution of the Serbian Government, it was declared the natural heritage of utmost importance, granting it the first-category level of protection – NATURAL MONUMENT. Therefore, the whole 67 hectares of its territory are protected.

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City of Nis

 

Niš - The third Serbian city by size, after Belgrade and Novi Sad, Nis is a cultural, economic, commercial and university seat of southeast Serbia with 13 faculties in total. One of the oldest European cities, as testified by numerous prehistoric finds on the territory of the city (Bubanj and Velikahumskacuka) long known as “the east/west gateway” since it is situated at the crossroads connecting Europe with the Middle East. Surrounded by magnificent mountain ranges of Mt. Suva Planina, Svrljiške Planine and Mt. Selicevica and place where you can taste the best burek in Serbia. The birthplace of the famous Roman Emperor Constantine the Great who issued the Edict of Milan in 313 embracing Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire.

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The Skull Tower

 

The Skull Tower (Serbian: Ćelekula) is a tower composed largely of human skulls located in the city of Niš. During the 1809 Battle of Čegar, fought during the First Serbian Uprising, Serbian rebels under Stevan Sinđelić were attacked by Ottoman forces on Cegar Hill, near Niš. Rather than be captured by the Turks and defeated, Sindjelic fired his gun into a powder storage, killing himself and all Serbian rebels and Ottoman soldiers in the vicinity. Soon after, Hurshid Pasha, the Ottoman vizier of Niš, ordered that a tower be made from the skulls of the Serbian revolutionaries killed there. The tower is 10 feet (3.0 m) high, and originally contained 952 skulls embedded on four sides in fourteen rows.

 

ITINERARY:

 

Departure from Belgrade in the morning 8:00, drive to "Devil's town" with refreshment break 8-12h, visit attractions of the site – 12:30-14:00 sightseeing of soil formations, pillars with stone caps formed by the process of erosion, this place which was candidate for World nature wander. Lunch time in the restaurant near Devil’s town. Departure to city of Nis and sightseeing 15h-18h (Fortress, The Skull tower, city center). Departure to Belgrade, arrival at around 21:00.

 

*Optional - members of our tours can continue from Niš to Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey or elsewhere in the region on their own.

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Translation support Angloland​