The Textile Museum in Strojkovac is the only museum of its kind in Serbia. In the Leskovac area, it adds a distinctive cultural note to the Jablanica District—a region whose history can be explored in different ways at archaeological sites, museums and monasteries.
Byzantine History and Regional Collections
The archaeological site of Caričin Grad lies in the Lebane area, in a valley between the Jablanica and Pusta Reka rivers and 30 kilometres southwest of Leskovac. Most contemporary researchers associate the early Byzantine city with Justiniana Prima and regard it as a foundation of Emperor Justinian I (527–565). The visitor centre is at the foot of the site and provides an introduction to Caričin Grad as a Byzantine archbishopric. Its facilities include replicas of finds from the site, information panels, electronic screens and a virtual reality headset.
The permanent exhibition “A Journey Through Time in the Leskovac Region” also takes visitors far back in time: across two building sections, it presents 8,000 years of history and the lives of the region’s inhabitants from the Neolithic to the late Ottoman period. Other landmarks in the region’s history include the Roman necropolis in Mala Kopašnica, dating from the 2nd century AD, and the Jašunje monasteries. Dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God and Saint John the Baptist, they were founded in 1499 by the nun Ksenija.
In the Vlasotince area, the building known as Kula, or the Old Municipality, combines architectural history with a museum: the administrative building from the period of Ottoman rule was adapted to house the local history museum. Its collections include archaeological, ethnological and historical material. Skobaljić Grad stands on the rocky ridge of the Kukavica Mountains on the left bank of the Vučjanka Canyon; the site was declared a cultural property in 1986. The Vučje hydroelectric power plant is also located in the same canyon. Built in 1903, it is still in operation.
Mountain Landscapes and Trails
Radan Nature Park extends across the municipalities of Bojnik, Lebane and Medveđa in the Jablanica District, as well as Kuršumlija and Prokuplje. The park contains Serbia’s largest and highest volcanic complex. For other nature experiences, the Kukavica Mountains offer opportunities for hiking, nature walks, village tourism and gathering medicinal herbs.
The Vlasina Transversal is part of the European long-distance hiking route E7. It is 90 kilometres long, has eight checkpoints and passes through mountains in the Jablanica and Pčinja districts. As maintenance and trail markings may change, check the route’s current status before setting out. In the Vlasotince area, Zeleničje is also located on the northwest side of Ostrozub, at an elevation of 1,260 metres. This strict nature reserve is named after the cherry laurel, or Zeleniće, a plant endemic to the Balkans.
Thermal Springs, Vineyards and Events
Sijarinska Banja combines thermal springs with a rehabilitation and leisure bathing area. The first geyser is a thermomineral spring with an eight-metre-high column of water and a temperature of 71°C. The pool complex includes a pool with thermomineral water, a large pool with a whirlpool and water cannons, and children’s pools with slides and other attractions. From the junction with the E-75 near Leskovac, the drive through the Jablanica valley to Sijarinska Banja takes about an hour; the town is approximately 50 kilometres from the E-75.
In Vlasotince, the roughly six-kilometre circular route “Stazama graditeljskog nasleđa” (Along the Paths of Architectural Heritage) runs through the vineyards of the villages of Dadince and Kozare. Along the route, visitors can tour wine cellars, taste wines, and buy wine, rakija and traditional pickled delicacies. Availability may vary between producers, so check in advance about visits and tastings.
Event dates can also be useful when planning a trip: the Roštiljijada in Leskovac takes place every year and combines food with music and cultural programmes. “Dani borovnice” (Blueberry Days) in Crna Trava was established in 2014 and has been held annually in the second half of July ever since. Exact dates may vary; check the dates for your trip.
Discover more destinations: Bojnik, Belanovce, Leskovac, Brod, Predejane, Lebane, Sijarinska Banja, Zlatibor District.
For the regional travel overview: Central Serbia.
