Krupanj, my hometown

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Krupanj is a small town and municipality in western Serbia. The town is located in the valley that is surrounded by mountains Boranja, Jagodnja and Sokolska planina. In the valley where this settlement lies, four small rivers Bogoštica, Kržava,Čađavica i Brštica form the Likodra river canyon.

The place where the river Kržava flows into Bogoštica.

The River Čađavica

Archaeologists have found settlements from the Neolithic Age in this territory. In the Middle Ages Krupanj was a mining place. The mines were in several locations and their traces remain to this day.
There were minerals of copper, lead ore, and silver ore. Lead ore had a high content of silver, and silver production was a symbol of this region. Money in the mining business was invested first of all by the Dubrovnik merchants. The work of the mines was organized by German experts.

There were many smelters built on these rivers, and they were powered by water. However, large amounts of mined ore were taken to the town of Srebrenica. Their smelters were more modern. Manufactured silver was sold in Italy, where they bought the most common fabrics they sold in Krupanj and Serbia in general.
During that period, many of the Dubrovnik people stayed in Krupanj. They engaged in trade, had small-scale craft production and, above all, mining related activities. They built a Catholic church in Krupanj.

In 1459. Krupanj together with the rest of the Serbia fell under Ottoman rule. The Turks of the Ottomans demolished the city. In his place, the construction of the new Krupnja started. They also took over all the mines and smelters. The mosque were built in the city.Location was historical problem of Serbia, and especially this border town. They were always between the two empires, between the two powers. At the beginning of their rule, the Turks were not able to fully control this area, and frequent attacks from the Austrian Empire negatively reflected on the work of the mines and on life in this region.

Under Turkish rule, Krupanj remains until 1834, when it is joined by the Principality of Serbia. The exception is two periods. From 1718 to 1738 Krupanj was under Austrian rule and from 1804 to 1813 under the authority of Karadjordje's Serbia.From the merger of the Principality of Serbia, life in Krupanj has normalized. In 1837, the first school was opened, and in 1842 the Church of the Holy Ascension was built.

The Church of the Holy Ascension

One of the great battles of the Serbian army in the First World War was in the area of Mačkov Kamen, one of the peaks of the mountain of Jagodnja. In just a few days more than 2,000 were killed, and more than 20,000 soldiers were wounded. The memorial chapel on Mačkov Kamen and Church of the Holy Ascension, memorial church in Krupanj are built in memory of this event.

The memorial chapel on Mačkov Kamen

Memorial church of the Holy Ascension

In the crypt of the church there is Memorial Ossuary with the remains of the killed Serbian soldiers, photos from the battlefield, as well as monuments to some officers.

On the outside of the church yard, there is memorial fountain dedicated to the Swiss Doctor of Chemistry and criminology-pioneer, forensic, scientist Archibald Reiss. He was great friend of Serbia and the Serbian people.

In the second world war, the Germans set fire to the whole city. Only the old pharmacy building (its owner was Austrian), the building of the hospital and the Church of the Holy Ascension weren't damaged.

The old pharmacy building

Former hospital building (Home for the elderly)

Krupanj is still a small town, unfortunately infrastructural and economically underdeveloped. However, due to its nature and cultural sights, it becomes attractive to tourists. Many sports clubs perform a part of their preparations during the summer in Krupanj.
If you visit Krupanj, I suggest you see the ethno complex "Dobri potok", the Krupnj museum and The Soko monastery (dedicated to St. Nicholas).

The ethno complex "Dobri potok"

The Soko monastery (dedicated to St. Nicholas).

All photos are mine, except photo 1

Goran