Vrnjačka Banja has seen various investments aimed at improving its infrastructure, tourism facilities, and overall quality of life for residents and visitors
This article was created in collaboration with the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja as part of a media cooperation project on the investment potential of the municipality of Vrnjačka Banja. As part of the series, Diplomacy & Commerce magazine will publish other interesting articles in upcoming issues, including an interview with the president of the municipality, Boban Đurović, and successful entrepreneurs from this municipality
Vrnjačka Banja is the most popular spa town in Serbia, known for its healing mineral waters and beautiful parks. Located in central Serbia, it has been a renowned health resort since Roman times. The town offers a blend of wellness, tourism, and cultural events, with its famous Promenade, lush greenery, and thermal springs attracting visitors seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. In addition to spa treatments, Vrnjačka Banja hosts various festivals, including the Vrnjačka Carnival, and boasts historic architecture and modern facilities for visitors to enjoy.
The town has invested in upgrading its roadways, bridges, and public spaces. Recent projects include the construction of new bridges, such as the one over the Mala River, and the improvement of drainage systems to prevent flooding. Investments have been made in energy efficiency upgrades for public buildings, such as the “Popinski Borci” Elementary School. These projects focus on insulation, modern heating systems, and overall energy conservation.
Vrnjačka Banja has been working to enhance its tourism appeal by renovating hotels, spa facilities, and recreational areas. Investments in the tourism sector aim to attract more visitors and boost the local economy. The municipality has supported various cultural events and public gatherings to promote local traditions and engage the community. These include festivals and public infrastructure for events.
Several projects have received funding and support from the European Union and other international organizations, focusing on sustainable development and improving local infrastructure. These investments are part of a broader strategy to position Vrnjačka Banja as a leading health and wellness destination while enhancing the quality of life for its residents.
08 AUG 2024
Implementation of the Energy Efficiency Project at “Popinski Borci” Elementary School
In collaboration with the Ministry of Mining and Energy, the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja is successfully implementing the energy efficiency project at “Popinski Borci” Elementary School, valued at 28 million dinars. The school has received a new façade with stone wool insulation, new windows and doors have been installed, the old boiler has been replaced with new pumps, and the thermo-technical insulation will soon be completed.
The energy efficiency project at “Popinski Borci” Elementary School will not only improve conditions for students and teachers but also reduce the school’s energy costs. The new façade with stone wool insulation and new windows will help retain heat in the building, while the modernization of the boiler and pumps will increase the energy efficiency of the entire heating system.
Further investments have been planned, considering that a large number of children attend “Popinski Borci” Elementary School. To transition to a single-shift schedule, additional classrooms need to be built. There are plans to apply for a project to build these necessary classrooms with the relevant ministries, which will also result in significant energy savings.
08 AUG 2024
Bridge on the Mala River in Novo Selo Completed
This important investment, realized with the support of UNOPS, was visited by the president of the municipality of Vrnjačka Banja, Boban Đurović. On this occasion, the president stated: “This significant investment will improve connectivity and make everyday life easier for our citizens. I thank everyone involved in the realization of this project, and our citizens for their patience and understanding during the construction work.”
The new bridge for both pedestrians and vehicles, measuring 13 meters in length and 5.5 meters in width, connects to the regional road and will serve the residents of Novo Selo, Rsavci, and nearby villages. The value of this project is 203,545 euros, with the European Union contributing 163,990 euros, and the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja contributing 39,554 euros.
09 AUG 2024
Construction of a Drainage Canal in Novo Selo and Vrnci
With an investment worth 4 million dinars and the involvement of the Municipal Housing Agency as the investor, the project to build a drainage canal between Novo Selo and Vrnci represents a significant step toward improving water management in the area. This investment will enable the efficient drainage of water from a large catchment area of 100 hectares toward the West Morava River, helping to prevent floods and protect local infrastructure and property.
The works were inspected by the president of the municipality of Vrnjačka Banja, Boban Đurović, and the director of the Municipal Housing Agency, Branislav Bežanović, to assess the situation on the ground and monitor the progress of the construction.
The construction of the bridge over the Mala River in Novo Selo has been completed. This bridge, which was destroyed in the 2023 floods and previously damaged in the 2020 floods, is now fully operational again.
14 AUG 2024
EU Contribution Strengthens Infrastructure in Vrnjačka Banja
Thanks to the support of the European Union, a bridge for both pedestrians and vehicles on the Mala River in Novo Selo, within the Vrnjačka Banja municipality, is once again operational. The EU, through the EU PRO Plus program, provided more than 160,000 euros for the construction of the 13-meter-long bridge, which was destroyed during the floods in 2023 and connects this settlement to the regional road.
During a working visit to Vrnjačka Banja, the new bridge was visited by Nikola Bertolini, Head of the EU Delegation’s Cooperation Department in Serbia, who stated: “This bridge is an example of EU solidarity and tangible assistance to the citizens of Serbia, as it improves connectivity and facilitates the daily lives of residents.”
26 AUGUST 2024
Public Event in Vrnjci as Part of the Project “Youth in the Countryside, Support in Action”
As part of the project “Youth in the Countryside, Support in Action,” which provided young people from Vrnjci and Ruđinci with 20 park benches for various public events and gatherings of locals, an open-air movie night was organized in the schoolyard of the “Mladost” Elementary School in Vrnjci on August 24.
— The Center for Children and Youth is behind this project, which organized training on rural tourism and public event organization to develop rural local communities. A survey was also conducted involving 45 young people from rural areas of the Vrnjačka municipality, who reflected on what is good and what is lacking in their communities. As a result, in collaboration with a mentor and with the participation of youth from five local communities, activist plans for the development and revitalization of these communities were created. Thanks to the project, we managed to initiate the organization of public events based on the ideas of the youth, with our technical support, said Valentina Krstić, the project coordinator, expressing hope that the youth will continue what has been started.
Among those who attended all the workshops related to activism and rural tourism and participated in the development of activist plans and programs is Slobodan Cvetković, who had a range of ideas for the youth from his area.
26 AUG 2024
In the “Cities in Focus” competition, Vrnjačka Banja was awarded 6.7 million dinars
Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković signed contracts today with representatives of 10 cities and municipalities that received funds from the Ministry in this year’s “Cities in Focus” competition. The contract for the project “Without Infrastructure, There Is No Culture” was signed in Belgrade by the president of the municipality of Vrnjačka Banja, Boban Đurović.
The Minister of Culture in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, reminded that less than a month ago, the first 14 contracts with cities and municipalities were signed, adding that a total of 350 million dinars has been allocated this year for 47 projects.
The funds allocated to the Municipality of Vrnjačka Banja, amounting to 6.7 million dinars, will allow for the replacement of the carpentry, specifically replacing all wooden windows and exterior doors on the building of the “Dr. Dušan Radić” National Library. The library is located on the Promenade, in a building that was once a villa and has preserved the typical spa architecture from the first half of the 20th century. The library holds around 40,000 titles available to both locals and visitors of Vrnjačka Banja. In addition to library services, the venue also hosts literary evenings, panels, lectures, book promotions, and chamber concerts, with the active participation and collaboration of many cultural, scientific, and other organizations and institutions.
