Aranđelovac Аранђеловац |
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Town and municipality | ||
The city view from Bukulja mountain
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Location of the municipality of Aranđelovac within Serbia |
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Coordinates: 44°18′N 20°34′E / 44.300°N 20.567°ECoordinates: 44°18′N 20°34′E / 44.300°N 20.567°E | ||
Country | Serbia | |
Region | Šumadija and Western Serbia | |
District | Šumadija | |
Settlements | 19 | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Dimitrije Jovanović | |
Area | ||
• Municipality | 376 km2 (145 sq mi) | |
Population (2011 census) | ||
• Town | 24,580 | |
• Municipality | 46,079 | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
Postal code | 34300 | |
Area code | +381(0)34 | |
Car plates | AR |
Aranđelovac (Serbian Cyrillic: Аранђеловац, Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: [ǎraːnd͡ʑɛlɔv̞at͡s]) is a town and a municipality located in the Šumadija District of the central Serbia. It is situated beneath the mountains Bukulja and Venčac, at about 255 metres (837 ft) above sea level, 75 kilometres (47 miles) away from Belgrade. The municipality encompasses two towns and 18 village communities. Bukovička Banja Spa is located in the town. According to the most recent, 2011 census, there are 24,580 inhabitants in the town itself, while the whole municipality has a total of 46,079 inhabitants.
Most of the town territory used to belong to the village of Vrbica, today its suburb. Since duke Miloš Obrenović often resided in the Bukovička Banja, he decided to build a church in Vrbica in 1858 (one of his "repentance churches"), and dedicated it to St. Archangel Gabriel. The growing community surrounding the church was then proclaimed the town of Aranđelovac ("The town of Archangel (Angel)") by the power of duke's decree occupying major parts of territories of villages Vrbica and Bukovik.
Aranđelovac is well known for the springs of remedial sparkling mineral water. Dositej Obradović, a leader of the Serbian Enlightenment movement, brought the springs to the public spotlight by frequenting the spa in the late 18th and early 19th century. By personal request of Prince Miloš Obrenović, the water from Bukovik mineral springs was transported and used in his court. Hand-bottling of the mineral water for commercial use began at the beginning of the 20th century, and through the decades to come to receive the highest international honors for quality.