Stimlje

in Stimlje

ŠTIMLJE - located in the southern part of the central area of Kosovo and Metohija, this city is also the center of the municipality of the same name. Štimlje is located about thirty kilometers from Pristina to the southwest and is located right on the main road that connects it with Prizren. Štimlje is located near the confluence of the Aegean, Black Sea and Adriatic basins. When it comes to historical significance, Štimlje holds the title of one of the cities where the castles of Serbian medieval rulers were located - one of them is located right here, in the beautiful area surrounding the former Lake Svrčina. King Stefan Dečanski lived here, and in 1326, at the same location, he issued a charter to the people of Dubrovnik regarding customs duties in Novi Brdo. With that charter, the inhabitants of this village were obliged to give the king's endowment - i.e. church of St. Archangel built near Prizren - they supply wax and honey. In the relative vicinity of the castle (some 10 kilometers to the southwest) the Topilovački Grad was also built, precisely to serve as a shield for the castle. Although the remains of the palace itself have not survived to this day, you can still find the remains of the fortifications, overgrown in the dense forest of the area. In the period from 1920-1922. year, the church of St. Archangel Michael was built on the remains and foundations of the medieval church that was once located here. This temple dedicated to the saint of the same name is located in the diocese of Raško-Prizren and is part of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The church itself stands in memory of the Serbian soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. Next to the church of St. Aranđela Mihajlo, this city also houses the church of St. Nikola, as well as the only mental hospital in Kosovo and Metohija.