Beautiful Serbia - Krupajsko Vrelo

“Krupajsko vrelo” was declared a natural monument by the Republic of Serbia. This decision was based on the Environmental Protection Law which confirmed that Krupajsko Fount should be considered a natural region of enormous importance, not only because of its geomorphological structure, but because of its hydrological function, as well as outstanding geological features. This is why this Serbian karsic fount is considered to belong to the group of the most representative gravitational founts.

Krupajsko vrelo is located in eastern Serbia, 135 km from Belgrade, specifically in the western foothills of Beljanica Mountains, on the right bank of the river Krupajsko.

The temperature of the water in the source of Krupajsko varies between 9 and 11 degrees. The water, blue and green in colour, with varying nuances, canćt help itself but hypnotize the beholder. The deep, cold and turquoise is often specked with fallen leaves. You can hear the chirping of hidden birds and a rustling in the tree-tops from which soon enough the previously unseen owners of beautiful chirps take flight. Your eyes follow their display of mid-air dance when you see it. A cave. Only half of it standing above the water. And you can’t shake off the feeling that you yourself have become a character of a very special fable.

I SAID CAVE? Is there any hidden secret inside?

Apart from the almost hidden pathway and the enchanting sight of the fount, beneath its surface the Krupaj springs hides an even more fascinating story. According to the stories of scuba divers who dove to 123 meters depth, once you dive into the lake you enter a maze of underwater canals.

Even the most experienced divers would be lost trying to dive through the “Stomach”, the “Slide”, the “Small Room”, the “6 Meters”, the “Big Room”, the “Ram’s Head” of this half-flooded cave, without a rope to serve as their lifeline. They say the the last stop is the “Canal” after which there is nothing but a dark abyss. Yet, they have also said that at 123 meters there is a partially flooded room, where in the depths of the underground, they found tunnels that lead to the surface.

But, one has to wonder, why would anyone dig tunnels in a underwater cave?

The legend of the mystical lakes of Homolje

This is because Homolje and the Krupaj springs are a home to legend shrouded in a veil of Vlachian magic. The legends say that there is a hidden treasure somewhere in the mountains of Homolje. It is even believed that the mountain itself has swallowed it and that it lies now at the bottom of a golden cave. The cave is supposedly guarded by Tartor, a water spirit, whom the locals also call Old Man or Albatrn. And he is the reason why the locals fear entering the water during their relentless quests for the hidden treasure.

However, even though no one yet succeeded in finding the legendary treasure, one thing is as clear as daylight. The treasure of the Krupaj springs is at everyone’s disposal. Because the treasure of Krupaj springs is its water, which originates in the mountain and gives life to this ecological oasis.

What makes the Krupaj springs ecologically so important?

Apart from its more than obvious and enchanting beauty, the Fount’s ecological worth (so to speak) lies in the quality of its water. The stream, 435 meters in length, flows north from the Fount, and then takes a turn to the west and streams into the Krupajska river. It flows all the way from the dam to the mill. Next to the mill there is a concrete fountain with five metal pipes through which warm water flows at 26˙C. This water originates from a natural thermal source. About ten meters from the fountain there is yet another thermal source which was made into a miniature decorative fountain.

How to get to Krupaj springs?

As we were travelling from Sofia, Bulgaria, the road from our destination to the targeted was 320 km one way. We took the road to Serbian boarder, than to Nis, and after Nis we proceeded straight in the Belgrade direction. In 120 km we took an exit Krupaj.

As the place is relatively close to Belgrade (135 km from it), the easiest way is to go from the capital across Požarevac i Kamenovo, a beekeepers’ village near Petrovac na Mlavi. You turn right when you exit Petrovac and enter Gornjačka ravine. Upon exiting the ravine you reach the village of Krepoljin. There the road parts into two directions. You want to take the right for Krupajsko Fount, which is situated between the two villages of Krupaja and Milanovac.

IMPORTANT!

Don't forget to take your swimming suits and a great mood:) Next to the springs you will find a nice Serbian restaurant with an open mineral pool in front of it. The entrance to the pool in 100 dinars (0.80 euro) for the entire day. Your skin will say a huge "Thank you" for such a treatment - WORTH TRYING!!!

Check out the video about my trip to Krupajsko Vrelo, Serbia