Wanted to visit Banja Koviljacha spa center, and this is a short reminder of a legend regarding the place – before we go through Loznica town in the next Glimpse and before we actually reach Banja Koviljacha.
At the time of our journey, the Serbian government has already established the Asylum Center (in 2008) in Banja Koviljacha. The country pledged to take care of the future asylum seekers. Nobody could have predicted that they were yet to come in such numbers, fleeing from the war-torn countries in the Middle East. Banja Koviljacha in 2010 was just another Serbian spa village. Now, in 2017 it is first and foremost the place where unfortunate migrants are welcomed, and given food and accommodation.
Anyway, the legend says that the famous mineral water was found here when some caravan was passing through. One of their horses was exhausted and ill, walking heavily, and so the caravan couldn’t drag the horse with them. Yet, people didn’t kill him either, he was just left behind, to die alone. The horse was in pain, so he was rolling down in the „black mud“. Trying to ease his sufferings, he was lying in „warm waters“, one day after another.
And so, when that caravan came back the same way, little did they know that the same horse was going to greet them, but this time – up and running, grazing grass next to the road! People were astonished to find the horse well again, healed by the small spring’s water on the spot.
It makes you think, doesn’t it? The spa village has helped an animal, while being left behind, alone. Just imagine what it might do to a human being, with a little help from others!
(Had an opportunity to visit Banja Koviljaca a couple of years later when the situation with migrants was somewhat taken care of. More on the blog.)
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The full 19th-century Serbia SERIES
22 responses
Interesting story. Do they actually have thermal baths/spas in the village though? And how was the experience? 🙂
Oh yes, they have thermal spring there. Your skin is smooth and clean after the mud treatment. Loved every minute of it! 😀 Nice break after a long drive. 😉
wow, that’s a great story! Banja Koviljacha spa center sure needs to be visited now!
It is a bit different nowadays. A spa, but a shelter as well… Thanks! 🙂
Really cool! I know thermal waters heal, you always feel different after taking a bath there. Great legend, could easily be true 🙂
Yes, who knows. But it sure sounds interesting, anyway! 🙂 Thanks!
It’s a refreshing read! Like your style
Thank you so much, it means a lot! 🙂
I read it twice and I’ll be honest, you are no going to make me read up the history & geography of Serbia so I can better understand this 😀
Thanks! Feel free to stroll around the blog, you’ll find more stories about Serbia. 🙂
Great reading and nice experience!! How did you feel after bathing in that thermal water?!?! Never been to Serbia and sincerely right now it’s not on my bucket list!! I will wait to read more about this country from you :-D, thanks for sharing it
Hehehe, well, the whole January was about that Serbia travel, so you’re welcome to read more about it! 😉 Thanks!
Nice story – that’s what i preach! Be nice to others – there won’t be mental illness any longer!
Agree, we just need to be kind to each other.
Mother nature has so many ways to heal. That was such an uplifting story about the horse. I bet not having to drag around the caravan helped too.
You’re probably right, otherwise he would have died helping the caravan and it would have been – just another horse. Thanks! 🙂
This was a really interesting read, and I particularly like the story about the horse! I always find places that have natural spas to feel so peaceful, whether or not I actually enter into the springs.
Agree, had that same serene feeling about this spa. Thanks! 🙂
I love a good spa! Nothing better than relaxing and feeling rejuvenated afterwards. A great story about the horse; local legends are always interesting.
Love local stories as well, always try to remember them. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
It’s great to see Banja Koviljacha be such an inviting place for asylum seekers. With the things that are going on today, those people need the most help and I’m glad to see there are those that are still doing it. The story of the mineral water with the horse is definitely an interesting one. The spa sounds like a really nice place to relax and help your skin. When I’ve had skin problems, I went to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, which is legendary healing powers. Sure enough, my skin got better really quickly after dipping in there, and I’d imagine with all the minerals in the spa, it would do the same.
That spa in Iceland sounds great, would love to visit some day. 🙂 Thank you for your feed!