The Devil’s Town, better known by its original name as Đavolja Varoš, is a very unique rock formation that is located on Mount Radan, on the territory of the village of Đake, which is part of the Municipality of Kuršumlija, within the Republic of Serbia.
These tall stone formations are actually, as the legend says, a group of petrified wedding guests who were turned into stone because the Devil disliked the amazing harmony among the people who were living in the area. That is why he ordered his local brother and sister to get married, and as they did not want to go along with the Devil’s plan, they prayed to God, who listened to their prayers.
To prevent this from happening, God sent a cold wind to blow very fast, which in turn brought also rain, which helped everyone at the wedding ceremony, sadly, to be turned into stone. Whether true or not, the Devil’s Town is certainly a unique feature from Serbia, as there are 202 exotic formations described as earth pyramids or, as the locals refer to, towers.
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With a height between 2 and 15 meters (7 to 49 ft), this peculiar wonder of nature was created by strong erosion of the soil that was the scene of intense volcanic activity millions of years ago. They survived further natural erosion due to the “caps” or “heads” of andesite that are located atop every formation, and even though they are a relatively new feature, they have great importance to the Serbian people.
Scientifically, the Town was examined in 1955 by Tomislav Rakićević, who brought greater attention to their protection, which, in turn, since 1959, the site has a protected by the state. In addition, there is the 1995 decision by the Serbian Government, which declared the site as a major natural monument subject to category one protection, and it was also made a nominee in the New Seven Wonders of Nature campaign.
Luckily, as there are not that many visitors who enjoy this amazing natural wonder, the grandiose and slightly menacing figures in daylight, which are definitely mystical, shall inspire every single visitor who has been here already to return once again. So if you are in the vicinity and have the chance to visit the Devli’s Town, then you should definitely not miss it.
In conclusion, the Devil’s Town in Serbia stands as a rare and captivating testament to the power of natural erosion and local imagination. The site’s towering earth pyramids and highly acidic “Devil’s Water” springs create a landscape so surreal that it’s easy to see why centuries of folklore have cast it as a place of myth and mystery. If you are to see this as a geological marvel or a legendary scene of petrified wedding guests, this Radan Mountain treasure remains one of the most striking and unique natural monuments in the world.
