You must have heard about the Devil’s Town and its 200 earth towers said to be a petrified wedding party. But have you heard about the Devil’s Rock? You haven’t? Don’t feel bad, you’re not the only one. However, it’s high time you meet the forgotten double of the Serbian 7th World Wonder candidate. Prepare yourself for some breathtaking photos!
Little is known about the mighty conical rocks on the very southeast of Serbia. Even to this day. These unnoticed jewels of the Pčinja district stand silently as the lonely pillars of nature they are. Nonetheless, whoever passes here, can’t help but stop at the sight of these magnificent, unusual and slightly unreal structures.
The Devil’s Rock, or in Serbian Vražji kamen, acts as a magnet to all those who love mysterious places, natural phenomena and unusual destinations. It has the same effect on everybody else as well. To put it plainly, it nearly impossible to stay immune to this kind of rarely seen masterpiece of nature. So, you must be wondering how this wonder came to be…
The Devil’s Deed
Most of the information on the history of this out-of-the-ordinary phenomenon near Vranje comes from the people. The Devil’s Rock is shrouded with veil of legends and myths, which were created in an attempt to explain its miraculous origin.
According to one of the stories told by the locals of Gornja Pčinja, it was formed when devils tried to join the banks of the Pčinja river to alter its flow towards Bulgaria.
The fickle river was hard to tame, and the devils dropped the biggest rock they were able to find right in the spot where the Devil’s Rock stands today. Another legend goes as follows: The Pčinja locals spent years and years building a church.
During the night devils would take everything they’d build and put it on top of the Devil’s Rock.
Namely, they were angry at the villagers because they didn’t respect them. Be as it may, atop the Devil’s Rock there is a magical edifice…
The 14th Century Virgin Mary’s Church
And if you thought there was nothing in the vicinity of this wonder of nature – you were wrong. There is a single building.
And it’s precious. The edifice in question is a beautiful, little, medieval sanctity. The Virgin Mary’s church was probably built by the Serbian nobleman called Dejan Marković some time between the year 1350 and 1380.
It is under the protection of the Republic of Serbia as a cultural monument of great importance.
Why is nobody ever married in this church?
The answer lies in another legend told by the Pčinja locals: In times long gone by, a boy and a girl from Donje Trnica fell in love. But their parents didn’t approve of their relationship. Turning a blind eye to their parents’ disapproval, the two love birds decided to make their bond official. The wedding was held at the Devil’s Rock church. When they left the church, the newlyweds mounted their horses as was the custom. However, the groom’s horse, spooked by the music and other loud noises the wedding party was making, charged towards the chasm and fell. Once the bride saw this, she got of her horse and without second thought jumped after him. Since then nobody ever got married in this church.
Apart from the belief that the church is cursed, there is another one that claims that staying in this church can cure infertility. This is why one can oftentimes see women who are unable to get pregnant visiting this church and praying in it.
The Devil’s Rock and the Devil’s Town – Similarities and Differences
Those who have heard of the Devil’s Rock consider it to be unjustly neglected and underappreciated in comparison to its “double” – the Devil’s Town (Đavolja Varoš). This is, to some extent, true as much less is known about the Devil’s rock. Still, these two wonders of nature have a lot in common, from their unusual appearance and odd names to the strange legends that surround them.
In any case, both these phenomena are considered natural monuments of great importance and destinations not often stumbled across. This is why we recommend you pack your bags, make an itinerary and find out everything that sets these two fairy-tale Serbian places apart and what brings them together!
Until then tell us, in the comment section below, whether you think the Devil’s Rock should become the next World Wonder candidate?
Related Articles
Besna Kobila: A Natural Haven in Serbia’s Southeast
December 24, 2024
Best Cities to Live & Work in Serbia in 2025
December 24, 2024
Christmas and New Year Activities: A Guide for Families and Kids
December 23, 2024
10 Unique Serbian Gifts for Christmas and New Year
December 20, 2024
