Aranđelovac (, ) is a town and a municipality located in the Šumadija District of central Serbia. , the municipality has a population of 41,297 inhabitants, while the town has 22,881 inhabitants.

It is situated beneath the mountains Bukulja and Venčac, at about above sea level, away from Belgrade. The municipality encompasses two towns and 18 village communities. Also, Bukovička Banja spa is located in the town.

Etymology

Most of the town territory used to belong to the village of Vrbica, today its suburb. Since prince Miloš Obrenović often resided in the Bukovička Banja, he decided to build a church in Vrbica in 1858 (one of his "repentance churches"), and dedicated it to St. Archangel Gabriel.

By the prince's decree, the growing community surrounding the church was proclaimed the town of Aranđelovac ("The town of Archangel (Angel)") in 1859, occupying major parts of territories of villages Vrbica and Bukovik. By the same decree, the prince ordered establishment of the spa of Bukovička Banja.

Roman period

The remains from the Roman period were discovered on the Mali Venčac peak. They included ceramics, glass cups and dishes, jugs, jewelry (earrings, ornamental pearls, fibulas), cloths (belts, buckles) and coins. As the area is made of limestone, artifacts corroded significantly, except for the glass remains which are exceptionally preserved. The jewelry is made of copper and silver.

Climate

Aranđelovac has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa) that is very close to an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb).

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Settlements

Aside from the town of Aranđelovac, the municipality comprises the following settlements:

  • Banja
  • Bosuta
  • Brezovac
  • Bukovik
  • Bukovička Banja
  • Venčane
  • Vrbica
  • Vukosavci
  • Garaši
  • Gornja Trešnjevica
  • Darosava
  • Jelovik
  • Kopljare
  • Misača
  • Orašac
  • Progoreoci
  • Ranilović
  • Stojnik
  • Tulež

Demographics

According to the 2022 census results, the municipality of Aranđelovac had a population of 41,297 inhabitants.

Ethnic groups

The ethnic composition of the municipality:

{|class="wikitable"

|-

! Ethnic group

! Population

!%

|-

|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Serbs||align="right"|38,478

|93.17%

|-

|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Romani||align="right"|335

|0.81%

|-

|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Montenegrins||align="right"|64

|0.15%

|-

| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Russians|| align="right" |63

|0.15%

|-

|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Yugoslavs||align="right"|51

|0.12%

|-

| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Macedonians|| align="right" |40

|0.1%

|-

| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Hungarians|| align="right" |22

|0.05%

|-

| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Bulgarians|| align="right" |9

|0.02%

|-

| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Romanians|| align="right" |8

|0.02%

|-

| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Muslims|| align="right" |7

|0.02%

|-

| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Albanians|| align="right" |5

|0.01%

|-

| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Croats|| align="right" |5

|0.01%

|-

| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Others|| align="right" |2210

|5.35%

|-

|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|Total||align="right"|41,297

|

|}

Economy

thumb|right|250px|Vineyards outside Arandjelovac

Being a spa resort, tourism and hospitality industry is one of the main economy activity in the town. Arandjelovac has number of hotels, including ', Šumadija, and Izvor, as well as many smaller boutique hotels, and guest houses. In addition the streets of town are littered with many cafés, bars, restaurants and shops. Rural and eco-tourism is also common in the villages around the town.

The most known company hailing from Aranđelovac is Knjaz Miloš, which produces the well-known mineral water, as well as juices, pop, and energy drinks. The naturally carbonised mineral water is extracted from the wells over deep, lying under the white marble of the Vencac mountain. Marble is exploited by Venčac company. This quality material from Venčac is used to build many statues displayed in the town sprawling central park built by number of international sculptors. Company Šamot produces high temperature materials from the local deposits of aluminosilicates, while Elektroporcelan produces electrical and thermal insulation ceramics. Company Peštan specializes in PVC products. Kubršnica is the well known brick and building material factory.

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"

|-

! Activity

! Total

|-

|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|34

|-

|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|99

|-

|Manufacturing||align="right"|4,175

|-

|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|83

|-

|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|270

|-

|Construction||align="right"|381

|-

|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|2,137

|-

|Transportation and storage||align="right"|470

|-

|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|378

|-

|Information and communication||align="right"|103

|-

|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|139

|-

|Real estate activities||align="right"|30

|-

|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|333

|-

|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|159

|-

|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|323

|-

|Education||align="right"|846

|-

|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|756

|-

|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|149

|-

|Other service activities||align="right"|190

|-

|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|361

|- class="sortbottom"

|Total||align="right"|11,415

|}

Tourism

thumb|right|The Main Square in Aranđelovac

Bukovička Banja

Aranđelovac is well known for the springs of remedial sparkling mineral water. Dositej Obradović, author, educator and a leader of the Serbian Enlightenment movement, brought the springs to the public spotlight by frequenting the spa in the late 18th and early 19th century. In 1809 he wrote that "he sleeps good when he drinks the Bukovik mineral water". Folklorist Vuk Stefanović Karadžić mentioned two sources of "sour (or acid) water" (which is a Serbian name for carbonated mineral water) in Serbia: "one sour at Asan-paša Palanka" and one "sour again, in Bukovik".

Pavilion of Prince Miloš

In 1907 the Pavilion of Prince Miloš was built atop one of the oldest discovered springs. The pavilion was projected by architect Branko Tanazević and was one of the first buildings in Serbia made with reinforced concrete. It was built in the Vienna Secession style and consisted of three sections. The mineral water spring was in the central part, bottling facility was in the northern wing, while there was a pastry shop in the southern wing. The southern wing was originally a veranda with a colonnade. Later, it was walled in order to enlarge the indoors of the building, and to mimic the opposing, northern wing. is located adjacent to the park. In addition to accommodation for its guests, the hotel offers congress, spa and wellness services.

Other

The Aranđelovac municipality area also bears historical importance. First Serbian Uprising against the Turks in 1804 started in the village of Orašac ( from the town). A complex in Marićevića Jaruga in Orašac memorizes the location where the rebellion started. February 15, the day of uprising, is celebrated as the day the modern Serbian state is founded.

away from Aranđelovac is the accumulation Lake Garaši, Aranđelovac’s supply of water. The lake encompasses , its deepest point is at , it is rich in fish and it is the town’s anglers' favourite fishing location. Aranđelovac Museum has a permanent exhibition of various items from the Neolith Risovačka Cave, which is located at the very entrance of the town.

Sports

Local football club FK Šumadija has competed in the Yugoslav Second League. The town has styled itself as "The City of Handball" and have a successful women's team ŽRK Aranđelovac as well as a men's team .

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File:Венчац.jpg|Mountain Venčac

File:Bukulja.jpg|Mountain Bukulja Forrest

File:02-Maja Stosic-Jezero Garasi.jpg|Lake Garaši

File:L'église orthodoxe d'Arandjelovac.jpg|Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

File:Crkva Svetog Arhangela Gavrila u Arandjelovcu 01.jpg|Church of St. Archangel Gavrilo

File:Orasac 2016 01.jpg|Orašac

File:Orasac skola.jpg|Orašac School Building

File:Аранђеловац са Букуље.JPG|Aranđelovac town panorama

File:Aranđelovac, Hotel Izvor - panoramio.jpg|Hotel Izvor

File:Aranđelovac, fontana u banji - panoramio.jpg|Town park fountain

File:Aranđelovac, Staro zdanje - panoramio.jpg|Staro zdanje Building

</gallery>

Twin towns – sister cities

Aranđelovac is twinned with:

  • Ptuj, Slovenia
  • Han Pijesak, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Kavala, Greece
  • Turčianske Teplice, Slovakia

Notes