Kuršumlija

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Kuršumlija
Куршумлија
Municipality and Town
Panoramic view on Kuršumlija
Panoramic view on Kuršumlija
Coat of arms of Kuršumlija
Coat of arms
Location of the municipality of Kuršumlija within Serbia
Location of the municipality of Kuršumlija within Serbia
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Country Serbia
District Toplica
Settlements 90
Government
 • Mayor Goran Bojović
Area[1]
 • Municipality 952 km2 (368 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)[2]
 • Town 13,306
 • Municipality 19,213
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 18430
Area code +381 27
Car plates PK
Website www.kursumlija.org

Kuršumlija (Serbian Cyrillic: Куршумлија, pronounced [kurʃǔmlija]) is a town and municipality located in Serbia, near the rivers Toplica, Kosanica and Banjska, on the southeast of mount Kopaonik, and northwest of mount Radan. As of 2011, the town has 13,306 inhabitants, while municipality has 19,213.

Geography

Kuršumlija sits on the area of 952 km2 (367.57 sq mi) and administratively is in Toplica District. Its borders the municipalities of Brus, Blace, Prokuplje, Medveđa, Podujevo, and Leposavić. Its southwest border (105 km) is with the disputed territory of Kosovo.

History

The Romans established the Ad Fines military outpost in the 3rd century AD. There are also remains of churches from the Byzantine period. The Serbian principality of Rascia expanded from this region. Stefan Nemanja, a Serbian lord (župan), and the founder of Nemanjić dynasty, built his residence here, as well as the two monasteries of St. Nicolas and the Holy Mother of God (before 1168).

There are a lot of historical sights in Kuršumlija from that era: Mara Tower, Ivan Tower, and many medieval churches. The name in that period was Bele Crkve (White Churches) and Toplica. After the invasion by the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century, the Ottomans gave the town its current name, simply by translating the old name, Bele Crkve (White Churches). During Ottoman rule Kuršumlija was part of the Sanjak of Niš.[3]

Kuršumlija liberated from Bulgarian occupation, 1917

Albanians were a majority population in some areas of the Sanjak of Niš, like the Toplica region and some villages in the district of Vranje, prior to the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)[4] In 1878, Kuršumlija became a part of the Principality of Serbia, which in 1882 became the Kingdom of Serbia. From 1929 to 1941, Kuršumlija was part of the Morava Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Features

Đavolja Varoš (Devil's Town)

Kuršumlija is known for a natural monument of hoodoos near Mount Radan known as Đavolja Varoš ('Devil's Town'). There are three spas (banjas): the Prolom Banja, Kuršumlijska Banja, and Lukovska Banja. Prolom water is bottled at the Prolom Spa.

Demographics

Kuršumlija Municipality include one urban and 89 rural settlements. According to the 2011 census there are 19,213 inhabitants in the municipality.

Ethnic groups in the municipality:

Ethnic group Population
Serbs 18,528
Roma 339
Montenegrins 47
Others 299
Total 19,213

Notable People

Sultana Mara, of Serbian royal family Branković, died in Kuršumlija

See also

References

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External links

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  4. Bataković, Dušan T. (2007). Kosovo and Metohija: living in the enclave. Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Balkan Studies. p. 35. Retrieved 22 June 2011. "Prior to the Second Serbo-Ottoman War (1877-78), Albanians were the majority population in some areas of Sanjak of Nis (Toplica region), while from the Serb majority district of Vranje Albanian-inhabited villages were emptied after the 1877-1878 war"
  5. in memoriam academician Vojin ŠuloViĆ(1923-2008)