Historical background of the Spa

With its medical hot spring, Laktaši municipality has attracted our ignoramus predecessors from the pre-historic times. This is proved by archeological findings at the locality of Brdašce, in the near vicinity of the Spa, where remains of animals from the Stone Age were found. Brdašce used to be inhabited by hunters, on which there are findings of primitive stone tools. However, the thermal hot spring attracted people in later epochs, according to remains from their bronze and Iron Age found in the same locality.

            Although we could dispute the knowledge of former inhabitants of the area, there is no doubt that the Romans were very well aware of the curative value of Laktaši thermal water, which they had used for centuries. Artifacts prove this from the second, third and fourth century, such as coins forged for the Czars Gordian III (238-244), Philip I (244-249), Galion (253-268), found near the spring. These numismatic findings show the live custom of “presenting“ coins to the spring, which, by the way, is still kept nowadays. Apart from that, excavations made in 1889 at the locality „Zidine“ (“Walls“) in Jelića forest revealed remains of a public bath (Thermal bath), constructed by the medical water spring. Foundations of a building with special heating system were discovered at that time, as well as Roman bricks, pottery and glass. Researches from the year 2000 proved the existence of Roman thermal baths with floor bricks as well as pieces of pottery, glass and coins. Traces of several rustic villas, and/or properties of Roman landowners, confirm with certainty that those landowners and their families, apart from soldiers, used thermal baths.

Upon the Roman rule came the so-called “dark Middle Age“ from which there are not many historic evidence on Laktaši spa so that we cannot speak about any organized use of the thermal water of Laktaši.

The Turkish conquest at the beginning of the 16^th century brought no significant changes to that effect. The situation was such all the time until the 19^th century when the interest for the spa became significant. Itinerary writers from that period wrote about the beneficial values of the spring, but also about poor conditions of the spa and the lack of visitors. One of them described how fully dressed visitors were entering the spring covered by simple stones and then ran around the hill in order to get dry faster.

Only upon the arrival of Austro-Hungarian rule there started a serious, scientific interest in remedial thermal springs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, therefore in Laktaši as well, for which the gratitude belongs to the professor Ernst Ludwig. This geologist from Vienna was the first scientist who carried out researches to define the substance of medical springs in Laktaši. Nevertheless, the biggest credit for the research and knowledge of the spas in Bosnia and Herzegovina is given to the famous academic Fredrik Kacer who carried out researches in over 90 thermal springs while working in Zemaljski museum.

               Anyway, along with the Habsburg’s rule started the period of European influence and the overall progress, which reflected the fate of Laktaši spa. More and more villagers living in the surrounding visited the spa, as well as tourists from far-away regions. This positive trend continued in the new, Yugoslav state so that around the year 1920 the trader Vlado Popović opened the first pub offering 5 rooms with about ten beds, food and entertainment. The named owner is remembered for providing his guests with the first gramophone, radio, and orchestra. Soon after, the famous family Kesić opened a pub that offered accommodation for the spa visitors.                                                                 

              Among the first guests who stayed longer were members of the Jewish families Sarafić, Nahmisas and others from Banja Luka. At that time, medical doctors Slavko Pišteljić and Branko Čubrilović from Banja Luka were often visiting the spa, whereas Vlada Simeunović would come from Belgrade.The establishment of the Vrbas County in 1929 and the arrival of Svetislav Tisa Milosavljević to its lead brought a new era to the entire Krajina, including the Laktaši spa. In one of his first visit to the County, Milosavljević perceived that there was a thermal medical spring in Laktaši, completely neglected, so that “people bathed under the clear sky“, in simple, stone basin with no road to it at all. That is why the entrepreneur governor issued an order for the construction of an appropriate access road and “a modest construction, under which there would be a bath“ above the spring itself. Works started in June 1930 so that by the next year there was built a round, dome like object within which was the pool 5 meters in diameter big. That is how the national bath was created of “simple arrangement“, which still symbolizes the Laktaši spa. Until the year 1937 the construction of one more pool covered by similar dome construction was finished, springs were captivated and 6 baths were built. Nevertheless, there was no adequate accommodation for guests yet.

            Upon the Second World War, the first public facilities were built - spa pavilions (1947) and barracks, then the car camp (1962), and the big outdoor, Olympic and children’s pool filled with thermal water from the spa. The new milestone in the development of Laktaši spa and tourism was the construction of the hotel “San” in 1982. It is “B” category hotel with 150 beds, a pool with thermal water, baths for massage and treatment, sauna, electro-therapy and other contents. At the same time, Laktaši was growing into a nice, organized town, which again was known at a distance, first of all by its healthy spa

A GIRL AND A SPA

From ancient times people have believed that the thermal water of Laktaši heals eyes, nerves, stomach diseases, joints, skin diseases, rheumatism, heart and vessels and that it “prevents males and females from getting old”. There is a saga of a girl who was losing her eyesight day after day. Being afraid of losing her sight fully, the girl started washing her face by the spa water three times a day starting on St. George’s day (6th may) till St. Ilija’s day (2nd August). Already on Vidovdan (28th June) the girl’s troubles disappeared – her sight was back. Moreover, she had no troubles afterwards but, according to the legend, could use the thread and needle in her late age she saw.