BANJA VILLAGE (BAJA - BANJA RUDNIČKA)

Located at an altitude of 760 m and crossed by the small river Vrela, this village of 270 inhabitants is part of the municipality of Skenderaj/Srbica. It is one of the oldest localities in Kosovo recorded in the Middle Ages. Historically Serbian (91% of the population in 1981), it is now mainly Albanian (91%) and has only four Serbian families left.

Source. The village owes its Slavic name to its hot water spring (banja is derived from the Latin balneum which means "bath") and its mine (rudnik in Serbo-Croatian) which were exploited throughout the Middle Ages. Renowned for its therapeutic properties and low mineral content, Vrela water comes out of the ground at 25°C. It is now drained to a small basin where the inhabitants of the region come to swim. Between the spring and the basin, the river is built with a flour mill and fountains built by families in memory of their loved ones. Near the pool is a café.

History. Banja was part of the Metochs (outbuildings) of the Gračanica monastery in the 13th century, before being attached to the Banjska monastery by King Miltutin in the 14th century. The village has an old church dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It was erected at the end of the 14th century and served as a mausoleum for the Serbian nobleman Rodop, vassal of the despot Đurađ Branković (founder of the monastery of Devič). Destroyed during the Second World War by the Albanian fascists of Balli Kombëtar, it was rebuilt in 1971. Located in the strategic valley of the Drenica, the village, then mainly Serbian, was attacked by the KLA on 21 May 1998. This assault did not cause any casualties but caused the Serbian inhabitants to flee, most of whom never returned.