The andesite caps
They shield the towers from erosion.
Mickey Mystique — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mickey Mystique — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mickey Mystique — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mickey Mystique — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stefan.tasic — CC BY-SA 4.0
Đavolja Varoš, meaning «Devil's Town», is a strange rock formation on Radan Mountain in southern Serbia, with about 200 earth pyramids or «towers», as locals call them. It lies about 30 km southeast of Kuršumlija and was declared a natural monument in 1959. The towers formed through strong erosion of soil shaped by volcanic activity millions of years ago. Scientists described them in 1955, and their present form is relatively young, because cutting down the surrounding forests let the rain carve the rocks. Their number and shape keep changing. Folk tales call them a wedding party turned to stone by a spell, a legend that only adds to the strangeness. The towers stand 2 to 15 m tall and 4 to 6 m wide at the base, and most wear caps of andesite that shield them from erosion. The rocks behind them come in several colours, and thick beech forest surrounds the site. Two springs rise below, one of them the highly acidic Devil's Water, so do not drink from it. The area also holds medieval mine shafts. It is 89 km from Niš by road and 52 km in a straight line, and a car or day tour is the simplest way there. Wear shoes suited to mountain paths and stay on the marked trails, since the towers are fragile. The light is usually best in the morning or before sunset, and autumn adds forest colour.
They shield the towers from erosion.
A highly acidic spring, not for drinking.
Green around the bare rocks.
Đake village, Radan Mountain, Kuršumlija municipality
From folk tales of a spell that turned a wedding party to stone. The formation itself comes from erosion.
Visitors mention a bus to Prolom Banja, then a mountain path of about 9 km. A car or tour is easier.