Kuršumlija

KurÃÂ¡umlija () is a town and municipality located in the Toplica District of the southern Serbia. It is situated near the rivers Toplica, Kosanica and Banjska, southeast of Mount Kopaonik and northwest of Mount Radan. As of 2022 census, the municipality has a population of 15,905 inhabitants.

Geography

KurÃÂ¡umlija sits on the area of and administratively is in Toplica District. It borders the municipalities of Brus, Blace, Prokuplje and MedveÃÂa. Its southwest border (105 km) marks the border between Serbia and Kosovo.

Climate

KurÃÂ¡umlija has an Oceanic climate (KÃÂ¶ppen climate classification: Cfb).

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 (ÃÂ¾upan), and the founder of NemanjiÃÂ dynasty, built his residence here, as well as the two monasteries of St Nicolas and the Holy Mother of God (before 1168).

There are many historical sights in KurÃÂ¡umlija 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, KurÃÂ¡umlija was part of the Sanjak of NiÃÂ¡.

Toponyms such as ArbanaÃÂ¡ka and ÃÂjake show an historic Albanian presence in the Toplica and Southern Morava regions (located north-east of contemporary Kosovo) before the expulsion of Albanians during 1877Ã¢ÂÂ78 period.

The rural parts of Toplica valley and adjoining semi-mountainous interior were inhabited by compact Muslim Albanian population, while Serbs in those areas lived near the river mouths and mountain slopes, and both peoples inhabited other regions of the South Morava river basin.

As in the wider Toplica region, KurÃÂ¡umlija also had an Albanian majority. These Albanians were expelled by Serbian forces in a way that today would be characterized as ethnic cleansing. According to the travels of M. RakiÃÂ, There were 127 villages in the KurÃÂ¡umlija district, with KurÃÂ¡umlija being the only town. After the Serbo-Ottoman war in 1878, the town remained completely vacant, and the Muslims who left the region were Albanians. It is estimated that approximately 17,604 Albanians left the KurÃÂ¡umlija district during this time.

In 1878, KurÃÂ¡umlija became a part of the Principality of Serbia, which in 1882 became the Kingdom of Serbia. From 1929 to 1941, KurÃÂ¡umlija was part of the Morava Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

1999 NATO bombing

KurÃÂ¡umlija was bombed on multiple occasions during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav army barracks were struck by NATO bombs on 24 March 1999, after which nine officers and two soldiers were killed. A total of 41 soldiers were injured in the same bombing that night. On 12 April 1999, six civilians were killed in Merdare from NATO airstrikes on the border of KurÃÂ¡umlija and Podujevo.

Settlements

Aside from the town of KurÃÂ¡umlija, the following villages comprise the municipality of KurÃÂ¡umlija:

Demographics

The municipality of KurÃÂ¡umlija includes one urban and 89 rural settlements. As of 2022 census, the municipality has a population of 15,905 inhabitants. As of 2011 census, the municipality of KurÃÂ¡umlija has 6,962 households with 2,76 members on average, while the number of homes is 11,374.

The religious structure of the municipality is predominantly Serbian Orthodox (18,764), with minorities like Atheists (22), Muslims (17), Catholics (14) and others. Most of the population speaks Serbian (18,687).

The composition of population by sex and average age:

Male - 9,862 (41.54 years) and
Female - 9,351 (44.43 years).

A total of 7,356 citizens (older than 15 years) have secondary education (44.8%), while 1,606 citizens have higher education (9.8%). Of those with higher education, 898 (5.5%) have university education.

Ethnic groups

The ethnic composition of the municipality:

Tourism

KurÃÂ¡umlija is known for a natural monument of hoodoos near Mount Radan known as ÃÂavolja VaroÃÂ¡ ('Devil's Town'). There are three spas (banjas): the Prolom Banja, KurÃÂ¡umlijska Banja, and Lukovska Banja. Prolom water is bottled at the Prolom Spa.

Economy

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2022):

Sports

Local football club OFK Kosanica has competed once in the second tier, in the 2004Ã¢ÂÂ05 Second League of Serbia and Montenegro.

Gallery

Notable people

The most notable Grand Prince of Serbia, Stefan Nemanja, established his first capital, Bele Crkve, near the location of today's KurÃÂ¡umlija in 1166Ã¢ÂÂ1172. His wife, Grand Princess Anastasia (Ana), died and was buried here as a nun, St. Anastasia Nemanjic.
Sultania Mara, daughter of Despot ÃÂuraÃÂ BrankoviÃÂ, later wife of the Ottoman Emperor Murad II, and step mother of Emperor Mehmed II also at the end of her life came to live here as a nun in monastery of Holy Mother of God, where she made a fortress called Mara Tower. She died in around 1487.
Kosta PeÃÂanac, a notable Serbian soldier in the First and Second World War. His house is protected of by the municipality.
Dragoljub MiÃÂunoviÃÂ (born in 1930. in Merdare, KurÃÂ¡umlija), professor of at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy. He was a dissident during the Communist period, and the first president of the Democratic Party. He was the first president of parliament of State Union of Serbia & Montenegro.
MomÃÂilo ÃÂokiÃÂ, He played a total of 13 matches for the Yugoslavia national football team. His debut was on 13 April 1930, against Bulgaria, in Belgrade, a 6Ã¢ÂÂ1 win, and his fairway match was on 13 December 1936, in Paris against France, a 0Ã¢ÂÂ1 loss. He played all the matches at the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay.
ÃÂ½arko DragojeviÃÂ, director, born in KurÃÂ¡umlija, professor at the Faculty of Drama at the University of Belgrade. He is director of several notable films, including (House by the tracks) and (Night in my mother's house). He also directed many documentaries, among them series on Serbian monasteries for the Serbian national broadcaster (RTS).
Vojin ÃÂ uloviÃÂ, academician, humanist, doctor of gynaecology. 7 July and October awards of city of Belgrade winner. Also Serbian medical society award winner and Serbian warrior medallist. Smederevo and KurÃÂ¡umlija municipality freeman.

References

External links