The Tourist Organization of the Municipality of Lebane was established by the Municipality of Lebane as a public service in 2007.
It is dedicated to the development and promotion of tourism potential, as well as economic growth beneficial to all local stakeholders. Various projects showcasing cultural heritage have been implemented in cooperation with both government and non-governmental entities.
In 2010, the “Atlas of Folk Architecture of the Municipality of Lebane” was successfully implemented thanks to the Serbian Chamber of Engineers. This project researched the vernacular architectural solutions of local residents and historical trends in household construction within the Municipality of Lebane. This research resulted in a formal publication.
The subsequent project, “Atlas of Cultural Heritage of the Municipality of Lebane,” was implemented in 2011 with funds from the Ministry of Culture.
It resulted in a half-hour documentary film documenting the tangible and intangible heritage of the Lebane municipality. Based on these two projects, a website was launched in 2012 in cooperation with the Radan House of Culture and the “Branko Radičević” Library. The website consolidated information regarding cultural heritage and current tourism topics. In the same year, the “Lazarica” project was also supported by the Ministry of Culture. The goal of this project was to preserve ancient customs related to the children’s holiday “Lazareva Subota” (Lazarus Saturday), which marks the beginning of spring with traditional Lazarica songs and dances.
During 2012, final works were completed on the “Teodora” Visitor Center at the “Caričin Grad” (Empress’s Town) archaeological site. With assistance from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Economy, the new visitor center was put into operation. As a result, Lebane received a new tourist information point, a souvenir shop, restaurant services, accommodation, and a hall for seminars and professional meetings. Additionally, the project “Romans at the Gates” featured an exhibition of siege engines used during the Roman Empire, such as those used at the city of Justiniana Prima. This interactive exhibition – where visitors, especially children, enjoyed operating the “Siege Goat” and “Catapult” or climbing the “Siege Tower” was organized to mark the centenary of archaeological research at the Empress’s Town. The Ministry of Culture also supported the project “Legend of the Empress’s Town,” which used an exhibition to present characters from local legends, including their clothing and props. The exhibition mannequins depicted Emperor Justinian, Empress Theodora, a soldier, the historian Procopius, a princess, and a young swineherd. The clothing was inspired by the depictions of the imperial couple and their entourage in the mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy.
The Tourist Organization of the Municipality of Lebane (TOOL) has successfully presented the region’s tourism potential at several major events:
- The International Tourism Fair in Belgrade
- The Leskovac Barbecue Festival (Roštiljijada)
- The Ajvar and Winter Food Fair in Leskovac
- The Ethno-Food Fair in Belgrade
- The Leskovac Summer Festival
- The “Golden Kettle of Geysers,” where in 2014, the emphasis was placed on local gastronomy and ethnological heritage.
TOOL also engages in specialized promotion by organizing gatherings and workshops in Lebane directly related to the Empress’s Town, such as the Summer School of Mosaics, the International Thematic Art Colony, and the Photo Summit of Ex-Yugoslavia, which has produced over a hundred works of art and professional photographs.
TOOL participated in the development of key planning documents, including the Lebane Municipality Strategy and the Management Plan for Caričin Grad.
Cooperation was established with various professional institutions active at Caričin Grad: the National Museum in Leskovac, the Institutes for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Niš and Belgrade and the Archaeological Institute in Belgrade. Regarding the “Special Purpose Area Spatial Plan for Radan Mountain and Nature Park,” TOOL contributed to the initial development phases and became a member of the Radan Area Tourism Cluster. Furthermore, in cooperation with tourism organizations in the Jablanica District, a project initiated by the Vlasotince Tourist Organization established a tourist route called the “Southern Railway.” This route combines numerous attractions across the wider region to encourage longer stays and more diverse visits.
A cross-border project with Bulgaria defined the “Serbian-Bulgarian Train,” featuring famous gastronomic products of the Leskovac barbecue. The Lebane Tourist Organization participated in this project to promote local gastronomy, which is now part of the offer at the “Teodora” Visitor Center. Additionally, a cross-border project with the municipality of Saraj in North Macedonia focused on providing rest areas along walking trails in the “Čukljenik” tourist and recreational park.
The Municipality of Lebane has entrusted the Tourist Organization with the management of the new “Caričin grad” Visitor Center as of 2024. The center is a result of the state campaign for integrated development, “Leap into the Future – Serbia 2027.”