Prokuplje: Culture and History at Hisar

• Prokuplje Fortress, also known as Hisar, is located at the western entrance to the present-day town, on Hisar Hill.
• The Toplica River meets Hisar Hill and partially flows upstream around it. This creates a natural phenomenon.
• The Hisar memorial area serves as a town park, picnic area and viewpoint, and is used for sports and recreation.
• Prokuplje has long been known for its wine-growing.

Three towers have been preserved on the southern and south-eastern sides of the Hisar fortifications. The hill is therefore not only a historical landmark but also a place with a variety of uses: You can explore the fortress, visit the town park, use a picnic area or go to the viewpoint. The Toplica River adds to this character with its unusual course around the hill.

Religious buildings are also part of Prokuplje’s history. The Latin, or Jug-Bogdan, Church is located at the foot of Hisar Hill, about 200 metres from the Church of Saint Procopius. The Latin, or Jug-Bogdan, Church preserves depictions of the washing of the feet, the Last Supper and the Entry into Jerusalem. The Church of Saint Procopius dates from the 9th to the 10th century; its iconostasis was created in 1847.

The Toplica National Museum is located in a former post office building in the centre of Prokuplje. The building was declared a cultural monument on 22 March 1977. A permanent exhibition is dedicated to the Toplica Uprising of 1917 and includes photographs, original documents, objects and weapons. The ethnological collection comprises around 700 items from the fields of clothing, jewellery, textiles, metal and wooden household objects, and ceramics. Part of the “Staro Prokuplje” collection can be seen in the permanent exhibition “Gradska soba”.

Art enthusiasts will find a different focus at the Boža Ilić Gallery. It is located in the pedestrian zone in the centre of Prokuplje, is dedicated exclusively to fine art and mainly exhibits works by academically trained artists. The memorial room “Gvozdeni puk u oslobodilačkim ratovima Srbije od 1912–1918. godine” opened in 2021 in the railway station building. Panels there trace the regiment’s wartime history chronologically through photographs and text.

The archaeological site of Pločnik is located in the village of the same name near Prokuplje. It dates back to the Late Neolithic, specifically the period from 5,500 to 4,800 BC. Pločnik features reconstructed houses made of clay and reeds, with workshops for ceramics, metalworking and weaving. This provides a different way of engaging with the past than the urban museums. The Toplica National Museum’s website also offers virtual tours of the museum and the archaeological site of Pločnik.

If you are looking for a hotel in Prokuplje, it is best to organise your travel planning first around the experiences you want. For a cultural and historical focus, Hisar, the churches, the Toplica National Museum, the Boža Ilić Gallery and the memorial room are the main attractions. If you also want to include Pločnik, you should treat this visit as a separate part of your travel planning. You can then choose the location of your accommodation to suit your personal daily itinerary, without reducing the town to just one attraction.

Events are also part of the cultural profile. The “Noć muzeja” event has been held at the Toplica National Museum since 2009. The “Gradska slava Svetog Prokopija” is a multi-day celebration with liturgy, a procession, sports activities, concerts, exhibitions and book presentations. The “Drainčevi susreti” event begins in Prokuplje. Every year, the Toplica National Museum participates with a varied programme, including public lessons, lectures, discussion sessions, workshops and literary evenings.

For further travel comparisons, you can also look at Merdare, Kuršumlija, Lukovska Banja, Barbatovac, Blace, Prolom Banja, Kursumlijska Banja and Lukovo.

What is Hisar in Prokuplje?

Hisar is the hill at the western entrance to the present-day town, where Prokuplje Fortress is located. Three towers have been preserved on the southern and south-eastern sides of the fortifications.

What does the Toplica National Museum display?

Among other things, the museum displays a permanent exhibition on the Toplica Uprising of 1917, the “Staro Prokuplje” collection and an ethnological collection with around 700 objects.

Which churches can you visit in Prokuplje?

The Latin, or Jug-Bogdan, Church is located at the foot of Hisar Hill. The Church of Saint Procopius dates from the 9th to the 10th century and has an iconostasis created in 1847.

What is there to see in Pločnik?

The archaeological site dates back to the Late Neolithic, from 5,500 to 4,800 BC. It features reconstructed houses made of clay and reeds, as well as workshops for ceramics, metalworking and weaving.

For the overarching travel overview: Toplica District.