Vrmdžansko jezero

Directions

Врмџанско језеро

Vrmdžansko jezero is a tiny, almost circular lake near the village of Vrmdža, at the southern foot of Rtanj. Surrounded by woods, with benches, tables and wooden shelters, it is a favourite spot for a picnic and for fishing.

How it formed

The lake is of karst origin. According to local history it appeared in 1892, when a sinkhole filled with water after heavy rain and snowmelt. A small spring that never dries up feeds it, and the water is so cold that the fish grow slowly.

History

Vrmdža, named by local tradition for its water and its forty or so springs, was once a town. A Roman fort protected the imperial road here, and the walls of the old town, the Vrmdžanski or Latin town, still stand on a steep rock in the village. It was a Serbian town in the Middle Ages, until Musa Kesedžija destroyed it in 1413 after a long siege, and legends of hidden treasure still cling to it.

Nature

Deer, pheasants and hares live in the forest, and in winter wolves, jackals, wild boar and badgers may appear.

Visit

Getting there

Nearest settlement: Sokobanja

Swimming

No reliable information

Fishing

Allowed

Tips

Vrmdža is about half an hour from Sokobanja on an asphalt road; follow the signpost. A macadam road continues past the village centre and the old town to the lake, passing a strong spring of cold drinking water and a century-old watermill that is now the “Kod deda Mije” ethno restaurant. There are places to camp at the lake, and April to September is the best time.

In the village, see the Church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1819 on 13th-century foundations, and the old school, among the oldest in south-eastern Serbia. Some households rent out rooms and bungalows, and the Vrmdža Fest shows environmental documentaries on a summer stage. The climb up Rtanj takes several hours on foot.