Niška Banja ( sr-Cyrl, Нишка Бања) is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

and one of five city municipalities which constitute the city of

Niš Niš (; sr-Cyrl, Ниш, ; names of European cities in different languages (M–P)#N, names in other languages), less often spelled in English as Nish, is the list of cities in Serbia, third largest city in Serbia and the administrative cente ...

. It is also one of the spa resorts in Serbia. It is located east of

. According to the 2011 census, the population of the town is 4,380, while the population of the municipality is 14,098.

Geography

Niška Banja is situated from Niš, just south from the main Niš–

Sofia Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...

motorway. The municipality borders Palilula and Medijana municipalities in the west, Pantelej municipality in the north-west,

Svrljig Svrljig ( sr-Cyrl, Сврљиг, ; until 1904 Derven, sr-Cyrl, Дервен, link=no) is a town and municipality located in the Nišava District of the southern Serbia. According to 2022 census, the town has a population of 6,762 inhabitants, wh ...

municipality in the north,

Bela Palanka Bela Palanka (Serbian Cyrillic: Бела Паланка, ) is a town and municipality located in the Pirot District of southeastern Serbia. According to the 2022 census, the population of the town is 7,140, and the population of the municipality i ...

municipality in the east, and Gadžin Han municipality in the south. Niška Banja is situated at the bottom of Suva Planina Mountain. The closest airport is Niš Constantine the Great Airport.

Demographics

As of 2022 census, the municipality has a population of 12,940 inhabitants, with 4,380 in the eponymous settlement.

Settlements

Tourism

Niška Banja spa is one of the best known centers of health tourism in

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

and it is the third most popular spa in

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

after

Vrnjačka Banja Vrnjačka Banja ( sr-cyr, Врњачка Бања) is a town and municipality located in the Raška District of central Serbia. The population of the town is 9,252 inhabitants, while the population of the municipality is 25,065 inhabitants (2022 ce ...

and

Sokobanja Sokobanja ( sr-cyr, Сокобања, ) is a spa town and municipality located in the Zaječar District of the eastern Serbia. As of 2022, the population of the town is 7,188, while population of the municipality is 13,199. Geography Sokobanja ...

. It is well known for its hot, radio-active water containing radon. The spa is home of a Summer cultural festival. There are several hotels in Niška Banja: Partizan, Radon, Srbija, Ozren, and Terme. Also, numerous villas are available.

History

Niška Banja is situated at the bottom of Suva Planina Mountain. It was first mentioned centuries ago, in 448, and with the remains and traces of antique (thermae - public baths ll cent.) and early

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...

period it has been keeping its tradition and uniqueness. Saint Proust noted once down in 1768 that its bathroom in open was like the one in Budim. Even rice was grown here once. During the 1920s, Banja started to develop intensively and methodically. Lights appeared in 1925, many famous people built their villas, promenades and parks were arranged, comfortable hotels were built and trams came from

all the way there in 1929. Today the spa is served by frequent

buses A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a motor vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van, but fewer than the average rail transport. It is most commonly used ...

instead of trams.

Health

In Niška banja, there are 3 main springs that are used in the treatment of diseases. "Main Spring" ("King's Spring") provides 35-40l/s of water. It belongs to the most generous springs in Serbian spas, and the water temperature is from 38.2 to 38.9°C. It is counted among the radioactive homeotherms. Water from this spring in Niška banja contain microelements and small amounts of radioactive Radon and Kalium. Radioactivity is 425±31 mBq/l if we talk about Alpha particles and 702±37 mBq/l from Beta particles. "Suva banja" is the second most important spring in Niška Banja. Gives 14-42 l/s of water. The water temperature varies from 12°C to 37°C. According to balneological classification, it belongs to radioactive hypothermia. It is characterized by considerable variability in temperature, yield and radioactivity. At the "School Fountain" spring, the water temperature is from 17°C to 19°C, and the yield is about 2.5 l/s. It is used for drinking treatment. It belongs to radioactive hypothermia, with a significant content of calcium, magnesium, hydrocarbons, aluminum oxide, iron oxide and silicon dioxide. The institute uses water from the natural spring "Glavni izvor" ("The King's Spring"). The water from this source is properly captured in the "Stari Kupatilo" building. Thus captured, a larger amount of water is piped to the different facilities of the Institute (pool "Staro Kupatilo" - 28.8m3, pool "Therme" - 36m3, pool "Zelengora" - 33m3, pool "Radon" - 500m3 and a larger number of tubs in all facilities). Niška Banja is thought to heal coronary and blood vessels diseases, increased blood pressure and rheumatic disorders. It also offers the treatment of orthopedic injuries, body weight control, anti-cellulite treatments and postoperative rehabilitation. The Institute of Niška Banja is equipped with modern amenities.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Niška Banja is twinned with: * Sofades,

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

Notable people

Ljubiša Samardžić Ljubiša Samardžić ( sr-cyr, Љубиша Самарџић; 19 November 1936 – 8 September 2017), nicknamed Smoki, was a Serbian actor and director, best known as Šurda in the ''Vruć vetar'' TV series, and Inspector Boško Simić in the com ...

, grew up in Jelašnica * Vojislav V. Jovanović, Serbian novelist and writer of short stories, prose and poems.

Gallery

Niš i gradska opština Niška banja.jpg, A look at the Niska banja from the hill.

References

External links

Official website of the Municipality of Niska BanjaWeb portal with accommodation in Niska BanjaWeb portal Niska Banja
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niska Banja Populated places in Nišava District Municipalities of Niš Spa towns in Serbia