Vrelo: Church, Cultural History and Wetland

Vrelo combines a church that is a cultural monument with a landscape whose distinctive character is evident in the Ždralovica wetland. If you are choosing a destination for a stay, these two aspects offer practical guidance: the church represents architectural and art history, while springs, marsh plants and an oxbow lake characterize the waterscape. The local history also includes Staro Vrelo, considered the oldest part of the settlement according to local interpretation, and a football match from the summer of 1939. For travelers weighing cultural and natural attractions when choosing a destination, Vrelo offers several specific points of interest.

Church and Religious Art

The Church of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas was built in 1848 and is designated as a cultural monument. Its builder was Todor Todorović. The iconostasis is considered one of the finest works by the painter Lazar Krdžalić. An iconostasis is a screen decorated with icons that separates the congregational area from the altar. It draws the eye to religious art and makes the furnishings, as well as the building itself, a distinct point of reference in art history. On May 23, 2026, the church celebrated the Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas as its patronal feast.

A 2022 account describes a gold-embroidered church pall preserved in the cultural monument in Vrelo, which received an award at the World’s Fair in Paris. The object adds a textile with its own exhibition history to the story of the building and iconostasis. The award in Paris connects the preserved piece with an international exhibition, while the year of construction and the builder anchor the church’s history in the local area.

Ždralovica and the Waterscape

The 15-hectare Ždralovica wetland lies near Vrelo and Sovljak and is fed by springs from Vrelo. Marsh plants define its vegetation. It has a distinctive seasonal feature in winter: the wetland stays lukewarm and does not freeze over. Its area, spring-fed water supply and winter behavior describe different aspects of the same natural area: its extent, its connection to water and its seasonal character. This makes Ždralovica tangible not only through its name, but also through specific landscape features.

Another name for a body of water in the area is Jezava. In the Vrelo and Sovljak area, it is an oxbow lake through which water drains during floods. This distinguishes Jezava from Ždralovica: the wetland is characterized by its springs, vegetation and winter conditions, while Jezava is characterized by the drainage of floodwater. The contrast highlights two different roles water plays in the local landscape and adds a hydrological dimension to the nature theme.

Settlement History and Sport

According to local interpretation, Staro Vrelo is considered the oldest part of the settlement. This should be distinguished from the geographical description of the main spring area, Rašća: the parts of Vrelo branch out from this spring area. These two details offer different points of reference. Staro Vrelo denotes a historical classification within the settlement, while Rašća describes the starting point from which its parts extend.

Football is also part of the local history. The first football match in Vrelo, between Vrelo and Brezovica, was played in the summer of 1939 in the Čanić meadows. The two teams, the season and the named venue make this a specific event. It adds a different perspective on the settlement’s past to the church’s religious history: a football match rather than a building or a sacred work of art.

Discover more destinations: Popadić, Berkovac, Valjevo, Gornja Toplica, Rakari, Slavkovica, Mionica, Ćelije

For the broader travel overview: Kolubara District.