Stopića Cave

Stopića Cave (Serbian: Стопића пећина, romanized: Stopića pećina) is a limestone cave near Sirogojno, on the slopes of Mount Zlatibor in western Serbia.[1] It has been protected by the state as the natural monument.[2]

Stopića Cave
Serbian: Стопића пећина
Stopića pećina
LocationSirogojno, Mount Zlatibor, Serbia
Coordinates43.69629°N 19.86957°E / 43.69629; 19.86957
Length1,691.5 m (5,550 ft)
GeologyTriassic limestone
Accesseasy
Show cave opened2009
Visitors89,133 in 2019
Featureswaterfall, tufa bathtubs

Overview

The Stopića Cave is located on the territory of the Rožanstvo village. It is situated 19 km (12 mi) from Zlatibor, in the Sirogojno direction.[3]

The cave is easily accessed. It has a 20-metre-high (66 ft) entrance, a waterfall called "Spring of Life", speleothems and unusual tufa "bathtubs", cave formations which fill with water in time, and then overspill creating a cascade flow. It has two major halls, Dark Hall and Light Hall, and specific openings in the ceiling called dugure. It has a total length of 1,691 m (5,548 ft).[2][3]

The cave was open for public in 2009. In had 61,280 visitors in 2017,[2] and 89,113 in 2019.[3]

Vapa Spa

Vapa Spa (Бања Вапа, Banja Vapa), or Toša's Spa (Тошина Бања, Tošina Banja) is a former spa located close to the Rožanci-Sirogojno road and in the vicinity of the cave. Small Prištavica river flows through it, while there are two pipes where the water springs in the spa. It has been used for centuries by the local population who claimed it had healing properties (nerves, skin diseases, eyes).[4]

The unfinished spa complex, designed in the castle style, is left to the elements, derelict and covered in overgrowth. Construction began by the local Toša Lazović (1914-1999; hence the spa's second name) in 1974 and continued until 1999. On the road, there is a large brick object, designed in the shape of a bottle, marking the turn to the spa. The complex is entered via a fenced concrete bridge through the semicircular built gate. There is another, even more derelict entrance which also consists of a small bridge and a gate.[4]

The castle with towers and terraces is made of red façade bricks and was supposed to be a hotel and the central part of the complex. There are paved pedestrian paths around it, and a small pool next to the river. There are several other built bottle-shaped objects around the building. There are pipes built into each one of them, where the water was supposed to spring out. Lazović for a while bottled and sold the water, but the complex ultimately remained unfinished and in ruins.[4]

See also

References
  1. Nenad Banjac, Ljubinko Savić, Aleksandra Maran, Milena Cukavac, Meri Ganić, Zoran Nikić (2011). Field Trip Guide, Geological excursion, 17-18 September 2011. 17th Meeting of the Association of European Geological Societies, Beograd 2011. p. 32.
  2. Branko Pejović, 9 January 2018, Politika, Stopića pećina sve posećenija i uređenija
  3. Branko Pejović (12 May 2020). Стопића пећина отворена за посетиоце [Stopića Cave opened for visitors]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 20.
  4. Branko Pejović (8 July 2019). "Od Tošine banje i dvorca ostale zidine" [Only derelict walls remained of Toša's spa and castle]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 8.
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