Banja Koviljača
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Banja Koviljača Бања Ковиљача |
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 Banja Koviljača
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| Coordinates: 44°31′N 19°09′E / 44.517°N 19.150°ECoordinates: 44°31′N 19°09′E / 44.517°N 19.150°E | |
| Country |
 Serbia
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| District | Mačva District |
| Municipality | Loznica |
| Government | |
| Elevation | 128 m (420 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 7,000 |
| Postal code | 15316 |
| Area code(s) | 015 |
| Vehicle registration | LO |
| Website | www.banjakoviljaca.rs |
Banja Koviljača (Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: [bâɲa kɔʋǐʎat͡ʃa], Serbian Cyrillic: Бања Ковиљача) is a popular tourist town and spa situated in the Loznica municipality, Serbia. It is the oldest spa in Serbia. Banja Koviljača is located on the west border of Serbia by the Drina river, 137 kilometres (85 mi) from Belgrade. The population of the town is 6,340 people (2002 census).
Banja Koviljača means the "Koviljača Spa" in English. It is also known as Kraljevska Banja ("The Royal Spa").
Banja Koviljača has a number of sulphuric and iron-bearing thermal mineral springs, ranging in temperature from 21 to 38 degrees Celsius. Patients drink and bathe in these waters, which are also used for the preparation of mud packs.
The location of the spa was chosen for its useful natural elements: the Drina river, which could be forded; the wooded mountain Gučevo, which served as shelter from enemies; the plains, which supplied food; and the water, which was (and still is) considered to have medicinal properties.
Originally Town of Koviljka or Koviljkin grad was built by the Romans, and there are some claims that the name of this Roman settlement is "Genzis", but it was never confirmed. The first document mentioning the spa was written in 1533.
In the 18th century, Turks from Mačva and Podrinje came to visit this region. Some documents state that in 1720 Turks from the city of Zvornik built a medical bathroom for women named the "Stinking Spa", due to the sulphuric water from the springs. A legend states that a caravan had been passing in the area and had to leave its horse behind, collapsed from exhaustion, rolling in the mud. It is said that when the caravan returned, the horse had been cured.
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