Hotel Planinka, a 4-star hotel in Kuršumlijska Spa, is the culmination of decades of experience in tourism (hospitality) by the company Planinka A.D. from Kuršumlija. Planinka A.D. (joint-stock company) includes three spas: Prolom Spa, Lukovska Spa, and Kuršumlijska Spa, as well as a factory for bottling the well-known drinking water “Prolom Water”, which is also used for therapeutic purposes.
Hotel Planinka covers an area of 18,500 m² and contains 178 modernly designed standard, comfort rooms, and suites with private terraces overlooking the enchanting natural surroundings. The hotel consists of three sections: a medical block covering 800 m², the “Banjska” wellness center covering 1,100 m², and a Family Fun Center for family entertainment and relaxation covering 230 m².
Thanks to the combination of natural healing factors (thermal mineral water, healing mud, and climatic conditions), modern medical procedures, wellness programs, and treatments, along with the hospitality of the hosts and a rich gastronomic offer, Hotel Planinka has become a favorite place for rehabilitation, rest, revitalization, relaxation, and entertainment.
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1. Originality
Hotel Planinka is located just 11 km from the town of Kuršumlija, at an altitude of 442 meters above sea level, in the expanded basin of the Banjska River valley. The hotel is nestled among linden and pine forests in what was once a Roman and royal spa, now known as Kuršumlijska Spa. Together with Prolom Spa and Lukovska Spa, Kuršumlijska Spa forms the spa triangle of the Toplica region in southern Serbia, making it a unique air and spa destination. This was further confirmed by the selection of Kuršumlija Municipality as the best spa destination in Serbia in 2019, as part of the EU initiative, the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) by the European Commission. The Municipality of Kuršumlija was recognized as the best tourist destination in the category of “Health and Wellbeing Tourism” and has been part of the prestigious European EDEN network ever since.
2. Impact and benefits
On the EDEN initiative website: Here is the link to the EDEN initiative website for potential text updates and to access the EDEN video: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/tourism/awards-and-outreach-activities/eden_en
Winner in the ‘Health and Wellbeing Tourism’ category
In the south of Serbia, Kuršumlija is a small municipality that offers a preserved oasis of nature, with grasslands, hills, and volcanic geysers beneath which lie warm springs of medicinal mineral waters. Kuršumlija, with its three rivers (Toplica, Banjska, and Kosanica), three spas (Prolom, Lukovska, and Kuršumlijska), and the unique geomorphological phenomenon of Devil’s Town, is an ideal escape from the city to rest in nature. In addition to the natural beauty of the Radan mountain and the surrounding spa area, Kuršumlija boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage (around 70 churches, two medieval monasteries, and towers), justifying its epithet as ‘ideal’.
Devil’s Town is a globally recognized natural and cultural monument and a rare natural phenomenon. It consists of 202 earthen figures, which are unique landforms, and two highly acidic springs with high mineral content. Devil’s Town was the highest-ranked European candidate in its category, among 77 candidates for the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Serbia.
Kuršumlijska Spa has a rich spa heritage, spa culture, and a long tradition of using thermal waters for therapeutic purposes. The spa heritage, culture, and tradition in Kuršumlijska Spa date back to Roman times. Kuršumlijska Spa has been known for its healing thermal springs and the therapeutic properties of its thermal waters since Roman times, when it was known as Aqua Bas – Aquarium Bassuanae. Numerous archaeological finds (coins, altars, milestones, a monument depicting the goddess Hygieia, a tomb, and other artifacts) testify to the existence of a significant Roman settlement in the area of Kuršumlijska Spa. The altars dedicated to the goddesses of healing waters, the Nymphs, and Hygieia – the goddess of health and medicine – highlight the Roman spa heritage, culture, and tradition, as well as the existence of a spa treatment center during that time. The Roman bath, which dates back to this period, has been restored on two occasions up to the present day.
The healing properties of the thermal waters and the long and rich spa culture are further emphasized by the fact that during the reign of the Karađorđević dynasty (Royal times), by decree of King Alexander I Karađorđević in 1929, Kuršumlijska Spa was granted the status of a health resort of exceptional significance, when the thermal water of Kuršumlijska Spa was declared “publicly beneficial and healing water.” Due to its excellent air quality, Kuršumlijska Spa was declared a climatic health resort in 1956, and in 2023, it was also designated as an air spa.
In addition to its healing waters, Kuršumlijska Spa is also known for its healing mud, which, when combined with the healing waters, is used not only for rehabilitation but also for prevention in innovative medical-wellness programs. It is also used for complete relaxation and achieving balance of mind, body, and spirit in innovative preventive wellness programs.
The unique climatic factors, combined with innovative medical, medical-wellness, and wellness programs featuring healing thermal waters and mud, contribute to the quick recovery of guests who come for rehabilitation, as well as to the complete relaxation and revitalization of wellness guests, whose primary goal is prevention.
Kuršumlijska Spa is also known for its innovative medical-wellness treatments, which combine medical procedures with wellness treatments for wellness guests who seek health assessments and medical recommendations.
Wellness guests at Kuršumlijska Spa also enjoy the benefits of the innovative forest wellness program (forest medicine-bath), a leading global wellbeing trend, as well as a mindfulness program. Guests are guided through the forest wellness program by internationally certified forest wellness guides.
The thermal mineral water, with a temperature of 35°C in all pools, allows for bathing and enjoyment in the fresh mountain air throughout the entire year.
To provide guests with a unique spa experience, Hotel Planinka prepares local specialties from the Toplica region in a traditional way. The recipe for the traditional dish proja (traditional cornbread) was included in the wellness cookbook for Global Wellness Day (GWD), “Wellness Food Around the World E-Book,” and was featured on its cover with preparation instructions. We also offer guests the unique craft Prolom Beer, made with the healing Prolom Water, as well as bottled Prolom Water.
For a complete spa destination experience, we organize numerous excursions to nearby spa destinations, cultural and historical monuments, and the natural monument Devil’s Town (including tours to Lukovska Spa, Prolom Spa, and a visit to the first endowment of Stefan Nemanja).
The spa not only provides rehabilitation and wellness services but also offers an entertainment program in both indoor and outdoor play areas for our youngest visitors.
For all nature lovers, we have provided a large number of health trails.
Medical examinations and treatments at Kuršumlijska Spa can be conducted on weekdays, weekends, and holidays, and the hotel offers 24-hour healthcare services.
Impact and Benefits
Kuršumlijska Spa features several different sources of healing thermal mineral waters, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 64°C. The thermal mineral water used in the medical block of Hotel Planinka and in the pools belongs to the category of highly mineralized, mildly acidic, sodium bicarbonate hyperthermal waters.
According to the Institute, the healing thermal waters of Kuršumlijska Spa are considered to be very high quality mineral waters from a balneotherapy perspective, thanks to their favorable anionic-cationic composition, temperature, and the presence of dissolved hydrogen sulfide. The water is well-mineralized, containing over 2 grams per liter of dissolved solid substances, and has exceptional hyperthermality, allowing it to be cooled to desired temperatures for application, depending on the indications for use. It contains significant amounts of dominant sodium ions, bicarbonates, as well as considerable amounts of carbon dioxide, exhibiting therapeutic effects, especially in the treatment of rheumatic, neurological, and ischemic diseases of peripheral circulation.
For treatment and prevention, medicinal mud is also used, made by combining high-mineral-content soil with thermal water. The soil is finely ground, sieved, and mixed with the medicinal water, then applied to the affected joint areas. The mineral mud has notable therapeutic effects and is beneficial for various ailments.
In addition to natural balneological factors (water, mud), we also utilize well-known physical therapy modalities as part of the balneophysical treatment: various types of electrotherapy procedures (TENS, IFS, GAL, DD, Polarized Light, H-therapy), ultrasound therapy, TECAR therapy, laser therapy, magnetotherapy, the method of mechanical spinal decompression, and kinesiotherapy (exercises aimed at increasing the range of motion in joint segments and strengthening gross muscle strength), all with the goal of providing the most effective and comprehensive balneorehabilitation treatment for our guests.
Thanks to the unique characteristics of the thermal mineral waters, balneological knowledge, and medical research, the following indications for treatment in Kuršumlijska Spa have been established:
- Inflammatory Rheumatism:
• Rheumatoid arthritis (in remission)
• Ankylosing spondylitis (early stage) - Degenerative Rheumatism:
• Spondylosis (ossification) of the cervical and lumbar spine
• Discartrosis, herniated disc with or without radiculopathy (e.g., lumbosciatica, cervicobrachialgia)
• Gonarthrosis, coxarthrosis
• Osteoarthritis of the small joints of the hands and feet - Extra-articular (non-joint) Rheumatism:
• Fibrositis
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Epicondylitis (“tennis elbow” and “golfer’s elbow”) - Metabolic Bone and Joint Diseases:
• Osteoporosis
• Gout - All Types of Sports Injuries
- Post-fracture Conditions and Post-surgical Interventions on the Bone-Joint System
• Conditions after hip and knee prosthesis implantation
Additional Diagnostic Examinations:
• Examination by the spa physician (a Specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a General Medicine Specialist)
• Ultrasound examination of the abdomen and musculoskeletal system
• Ultrasound bone density measurement – osteodensitometry
Guests who wish to unwind from everyday stress have access to Wellness and Spa facilities, which include a total of 8 pools filled with thermal water. These include a semi-open pool, 3 children’s pools, 2 indoor pools, and 2 infinity pools with views of the Spa river and lush forests bathed in all shades of green. The facilities also include 4 Finnish saunas, an infrared sauna, 2 salt rooms, a steam bath, a cold cave, tepidariums, a relaxation room that prepares the body for another round of wellness treatments, a bucket shower, and dry and wet Kneipp paths.
Soaking in thermal mineral water at a temperature of 33-35 degrees Celsius positively impacts the nervous system, metabolic processes, and overall fitness. Due to its balneological properties, the thermal mineral water of Kuršumlijska Spa has a multifaceted beneficial effect on health. When combined with massages, facial treatments, and body treatments, it provides complete relaxation for the mind.
3. Sustainability
The Municipality of Kuršumlija has been recognized and awarded as a sustainable spa tourist destination under the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) initiative. This initiative rewards and promotes sustainable tourism practices in smaller tourist destinations. Since 2007, the initiative has aimed to foster sustainable tourism destination management models across Europe by selecting and promoting EDEN destinations.
Hotel Planinka is highly committed to renewable energy sources and energy savings to contribute to global environmental preservation.
The hotel has been renovated using materials that help maintain the building’s thermal efficiency. Thermal mineral water, with a source temperature of 67 degrees Celsius, is used as the primary energy source for heating and air conditioning the hotel, wellness center, and medical block. The water is circulated through heat exchangers to heat the entire building without the need for additional energy sources. After its temperature has been utilized, the remaining water is directed to the wellness center pools and used for medical hydrotherapy. Hotel Planinka also uses heat pumps as a source of heating and air conditioning, again utilizing thermal mineral water. The hotel and its surroundings are illuminated with LED lights to reduce electricity consumption and mitigate global warming.
In Kuršumlijska Spa, we prioritize recycling by separating all types of glass and plastic for recycling. Special attention is given to wastewater treatment through a BIO disc system, which purifies all wastewater from our hotel.
MORE INFORMATION
Kosovska 38 Kuršumlija, Toplički
