Najbolje iz Srbije / best of serbia
kušala je da spreči vila, koja prema legendi i dan-danas čuva ovaj kraj. Ipak, vila nije uspe- la da urazumi svatove koji su krenuli ka crkvi na venčanje, ali je od boga izmolila da neka- ko spreči rodoskrnavljenje. Bog je tada spo- jio nebo sa zemljom, pustio jak, hladan vetar i okamenio svatove sa mladencima. Druga priča kaže da figure u Varoši pred- stavljaju okamenjene đavole koje su ljudi du- go nosili na leđima, trpeći zlo i nevolje. Preno- ćivši pored obližnje Crkve Svete Petke, ljudi su se otarasili svojih demona i oni su ostali oka- menjeni. Veruje se i da Sveta Petka pomaže bolesnima i nevoljnima koji posete ovo me- sto, pa otuda i običaj: maramicom se dodir- ne bolno mesto i pomisli želja, a zatim veže na stub kako bi sa njom sve muke i proble- mi (đavoli) ostali u Đavoljoj varoši. Marami- ce ostaju na ovom mestu sedam dana, a zatim se zakopavaju i muka večno ostaje u zemlji. U zbilji ove figure rezultat su specifične erozije koja traje vekovima. Kiše su ovde od davnina rastvarale i odnosile tlo, a za sobom su ostavile više od dve stotine zemljanih figu- ra različitih oblika i dimenzija. Visine od dva do 15 metara i širine do tri metra, sa kamenim kapama na vrhu, one rastu, menjaju se, skra- ćuju, sasvim sporo nestaju i ponovo se rađaju. I vetar, sunce, zima i toplota su učinili svo- je, pa što duže gledate ove kule, sve manje ve- rujete da ih je priroda oblikovala. Teško je ra- zumeti kako jedna zemljana statua u osnovi široka tri metra i visoka više od 10 metara na tananom vrhu od tek dvadesetak centimeta- ra drži kameni blok od 100 i više kilograma. Ovaj geomorfološki fenomen jedinstven je u našoj zemlji i vrlo redak u svetu. U Evro- pi sličnih kula ima u Alpima, u Americi je to Bašta bogova. Međutim, u Đavoljoj varoši figure su brojnije, veće i znatno postojanije. Mada je nauka rekla svoje, narod je na svoj način pokušao da objasni ove čudno izvajane i još čudnije poređane zemljane figure, obližnju vodu nesvakidašnjeg ukusa i mirisa, mistič- ne zvuke kad dune vetar, od kojih hvata jeza. I onda je jasno da ova varoš i nije mogla biti nazvana drugačije nego Đavolja.
Attempting to foil this plan of the dev- il was a fairy that is still said, according to legend, to protect this region. Nevertheless, the fairy failed to reason with the wedding party that was heading to the church, but she prayed for God to somehow prevent the ceremony. God then fused heaven and earth, released a strong cold wind and petri- fied the wedding party and the couple who were heading to be wed. According to a second story, the figures in the Varoš represent petrified demons that people carried on their backs for a long time, enduring evil and troubles. Whilst spending the night beside the nearby Church of St. Petka, the people were released from their demons, which were in turn left petrified. It is also believed that St. Petka helps sick and depressed people who visit this place, which is why there is a custom of using a handkerchief to touch a painful spot on the body and thinking of a wish, then tying that cloth to one of the earthen towers in order for all torments and problems (devils) to re- main in Devi’s Town. Such handkerchiefs re- main in this place for seven days, then they are buried, consigning the torment to re- main underground eternally. In reality, these figures are the result of a specific form of erosion that has lasted for centuries. Rain has dissolved and carried the soil away from here since ancient times, leaving behind over two hundred earthen
figures of various shapes and sizes. With a height ranging from two to 15 metres and a width of up to three metres, with stone caps on their heads, they grow, change, shorten, disappear very slowly and are born again. And wind, sun, winter and heat have done their part, such that the longer you look at these towers the less you believe they have been shaped by nature. That’s because it’s hard to understand how an earthen statue that’s three metres wide at its base and over 10 metres tall can hold a stone block weighing more than 100 kilo- grams on its small top that measures only around twenty centimetres. This geomorphological phenomenon is unique in our country and very rare world- wide. In Europe there are similar towers in the Alps, while the place where they appear in America is known as the Garden of the Gods. However, the figures in Devil’s Town are more numerous, larger and significant- ly more stable. And while science has presented its findings, the people have tried in their own way to explain these strangely sculpted and even more strangely arranged earthen fig- ures, the nearby water with its unusual taste and smell, and the mystical sounds heard when the wind blows, which cause one to shiver. And then it is clear that this town couldn’t have been named any different- ly than Devil’s town.
SEVEN NEW WONDERS OF THE WORLD Đavolja Varoš was Serbia’s representative in the 2007 selection of the Seven New Wonders of the World, ending up as the best- placed candidate in Europe, among the broad selection of 77 proposals. It nevertheless didn’t make it among the 28 final- ists, but still attracts many tourists from all over the world. SEDAM NOVIH SVETSKIH ČUDA Godine 2007. Đavolja varoš bila je srpski predstavnik u izboru za sedam novih svetskih čuda, i to kao najbolji plasirani kan- didat u Evropi u širem izboru od 77 predloga. Ipak, nije ušla u 28 finalista, ali i danas privlači mnogo turista iz celog sveta.
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