Geocultural heritage as a basis for geotourism development: Banjska Monastery, Zvečan (Serbia)

The Banjska Monastery is a medieval monastery in Serbia of great cultural and spiritual importance to the Serbian population, as it served as the endowment and burial church of King Milutin, a powerful Serbian ruler of the fourteenth century. This article aims to assess the geoheritage value of the Banjska Monastery, located near Zvečan, using the Urban Geoheritage Assessment Model (UGAM), and to explore its potential for geotourism development by converting its heritage value into tourism value. To support UGAM parameters (such as educational potential, geoheritage diversity, and paleontological significance), macroscopic observations of the building stones were conducted, along with petrological analyses of five samples collected from the monastery and micropaleontological investigations of three limestone samples. These analyses aimed to identify microfacies, composition, structural characteristics, and sedimentary environments. The investigation revealed two rock types: sedimentary rocks (limestone, sandstone, and tufa) and metamorphic rocks (marble). UGAM results revealed high scores for scientific and natural value, confirming the site's strong potential for urban geotourism development. However, the model also highlighted deficiencies in tourist infrastructure, particularly in information boards, guided tours, and visitor centers. These findings may assist local policymakers and stakeholders in converting natural heritage values into tourism assets.